CONSERVATION OF FISH STOCKS THROUGH BYCATCH REDUCTION: A REVIEW

In New England waters, many fish stocks are in precipitous decline while others are already at historically low levels. Bycatch and discard of non-target species is a major contributor to fishing mortality and is a key factor in the observed decline of stocks. In recent years, there have been many initiatives, both globally and locally, to improve selectivity of fishing nets, or more correctly, to reduce the capture and discard of non-target fish. However, it has also become clear that the natural behavior patterns of many species prevent effective selection. For a trawl gear to be truly selective, every fish that enters the net should be tested to insure that those that are small enough to pass through the meshes escape and those that are above the minimum landing size are retained. In general there are two main techniques to aid fish escapement. The first technique is based on making use of species-specific behavior patterns, whereas the second technique involves a process of mechanical sorting on the basis of size. This paper outlines the most widely used bycatch reduction techniques and, where applicable, provides examples within each category where such techniques have been shown to reduce bycatch and discard. The role of bycatch reduction in conservation of fish stocks is discussed.