Preliminary Tests of a Shrimp-fish Separator Section for Use in Shrimp Trawls

1984

This report is not to be cited without prior reference to the authors

A prototype shrimp-fish separator to be installed between the body

and codend of a shrimp trawl was designed and constructed. The

separator uses large square meshes to provide an escape path for fish,

while funnels constructed of small mesh webbing keep the shrimp away

from the big meshes and act as leading panels to guide the fish out of

the trawl. A prototype was installed in the cut away after parts of a

shrimp trawl, which was then mounted on an oval steel frame and towed

just below the surface so that necessary adjustments could be identified

and tested. After a satisfactory design had been developed, fishing

trials were carried out in May, 1984, and further modifications to

improve the separating efficiency were made. Preliminary analysis of

this data shows that up to 61% of haddock less than 39 cm escaped, and

up to 30% of cod less than 42 cm. Visual observations of a similar

separating section were carried out with a remotely controlled

underwater TV vehicle, and these are described.

ICES

ICES CM Documents;1984/B:12