Reduced bycatch of red king crab (Paralithodes camtschatica) in the cod gillnet fisheries in northern Norway: Fishing trials with norsel mounted gillnets

Abstract

Bycatch of red king crab (Paralithodes camtschatica) in stationary fishing gears, q&ally gillnets, is an increasing problem to the inshore fishermen in the northern part of Norway (Finnmark county). The results are large bycatches of king crabs together with the crabs’ damages on the gear and catch. In the cod gillnet fisheries, the problem might be solved by using specially made gillnets (“norsel-mounted” nets) where the net itself is floated 0.5 meters above the seabed. The norsel-mounted nets were compared with standard nets in the Varangerfjord (eastern Finnmark) in the period 17 March - 28 May 1999. The trials showed that norsel nets needed more floats than the standard nets to get the net to stand properly in the sea (to get the norsels stretched out suitably). By using extra float (rings) on the norsel mounted nets the bycatches of king crab were reduced to an acceptable level with an average of 0.6 crabs/net, compared with 3.3 crabs/net on standard and 6.7 crabs/net on nor-se1 nets without extra float. Norse1 nets caught only about l/3 as many fish as standard nets. The catch results indicated that the gear configuration functioned in order to reduce the bycatch of red king crab. Loss of fish up to 65% is, however not satisfying. Further work is needed to find a solution that gives a minimal loss of fish. Knowledge about the different species’ behaviour is of importance in the further development of a more selective gear.