Avoiding grey seal depredation in the Baltic Sea while increasing catch rates of cod

The escalating conflict between gillnet fisheries and the growing seal populations in Baltic Sea has increased the need to reduce direct effects in form of reduced or damaged catches. This study describes the design and catch rates of 20 different seal safe cod (Gadus morhua) pot designs suitable for the Baltic Sea. Catches in numbers of individuals and total catch weight were recorded in 2762 pot hauls with pots varying in terms of size, shape, number of entrances, entrance length, pot placement in relation to the sea floor and catch holding chamber. The aim was to investigate the how the different designs and soak times affected the catch rates under similar conditions. Volume and soak time was significantly positively correlated with catch rates and round bottom-standing pots with a fish holding chamber, funnels and 5 entrances had the highest catch rates. The findings are important for the development of cod pots, which can allow the fishers to continue fishing in areas of high seal density with static gear and hence low-carbon emission and minimum bycatch of marine mammals and sea birds.