Catch comparison between rockhoppers and bobbins ground gear on the Norwegian bottom sampling trawl

Abstract

In a study aimed at improving the reliability of the Norwegian bottom sampling trawl, comparative fishing between standard bobbins gear and rockhopper ground gear were carried out in the Barents Sea. The catch ratios bobbins/ rockhopper (B/R) for cod and haddock show a higher efficiency for rockhopper than for bobbins, especially for small fish. The catch ratio B/R for cod varied by time of day. Rockhopper seemed to have a higher efficiency compared to bobbins during daytime. The same trend was not found for haddock. These experiments confirm earlier experiments that rockhoppper is more effective than bobbins gear in catching fish close to the bottom. This is particulary true for small cod.