The vertical separation of fish in the aft end of a demersal trawl

Ludvig Ahm Krag, René Holst, Niels Madsen

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Two multi-compartment separator frames were used to study the vertical separation of some commercially important fish species in the aft end of a trawl, with the aim of separating cod (Gadus morhua) from other species. A non-linear multinomial model with random effects was used to analyse the data and to compare the performance of the two frames. The vertical distribution of cod in the aft end of the trawl was close to uniform, whereas haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), whiting (Merlangius merlangus), plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), and lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) showed more uneven distributions. The use of guiding bars in the separator frame significantly (p <0.05) increased the catch of cod, plaice, and lemon sole in the upper compartment. The vertical separation of cod was density-dependent; high densities of fish resulted in a more uniform distribution of cod. The species separations found differ from those reported from the studies of species separation in the region of the trawl mouth.
Original languageEnglish
JournalICES Journal of Marine Science
Volume66
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)772-777
ISSN1054-3139
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

Keywords

  • trawl
  • cod
  • multinomial mixed effects models
  • fish behaviour
  • species selectivity

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