Survival experiments with cod trawls: summer 2000

Abstract

Survival trials with gadoid fish sorted out from a demersal trawl by sorting grids and mesh selection, were carried out in August 2000 off the coast of East Finnmark. The experiments offered no evidences that the sorting grid in cod trawls results in higher mortality rates in sorted undersized gadoid species than trawls that lack a sorting grid. Indeed, the results suggest that haddock mortality rates are lower when a grid is utilised. No mortality was observed in cod or saithe in the course of these experiments. These species appear to be able to tolerate selection via both meshes and grids. A certain degree of uncertainty with regard to the experimental methods employed, however, means that the trials will be repeated in order to obtain more certain results for the haddock.