Size selection of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) in trawls

Ludvig Ahm Krag, Bent Herrmann, Svein A. Iversen, Arill Engas, Sigve Nordrum, Bjorn A. Krafft

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

396 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Trawlers involved in the Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) fishery use different trawl designs, and very little is known about the size selectivity of the various gears. Size selectivity quantifies a given trawl's ability to catch different sizes of a harvested entity, and this information is crucial for the management of a sustainable fishery. We established a morphological description of krill and used it in a mathematical model (FISHSELECT) to predict the selective potential of diamond meshes measuring 5-40 mm with mesh opening angles (oa) ranging from 10 to 90 degrees. We expected the majority of krill to encounter the trawl netting in random orientations due to high towing speeds and the assumed swimming capabilities of krill. However, our results indicated that size selectivity of krill is a well-defined process in which individuals encounter meshes at an optimal orientation for escapement. The simulation-based results were supported by data from experimental trawl hauls and underwater video images of the mesh geometry during fishing. Herein we present predictions for the size selectivity of a range of netting configurations relevant to the krill fishery. The methods developed and results described are important tools for selecting optimal trawl designs for krill fishing.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere102168
JournalPLOS ONE
Volume9
Issue number8
ISSN1932-6203
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Keywords

  • MULTIDISCIPLINARY
  • COD

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Size selection of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) in trawls'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this