Relative efficiency of square-mesh codends in an artisanal fishery in southern Brazil/Eficiencia relativa de copos de malla cuadrada en una pesqueria artesanal del sur de Brasil

• Published in: Latin american journal of aquatic research Vol. 40; no. 1; pp. 124 - 133
• Main Authors: Silva, Catarina N.S, Dias, Jose H, Cattani, Andre P, Spach, Henry L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Valparaiso Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso, Escuela de Ciencias del Mar 01-03-2012; Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso; Escuela de Ciencias del Mar, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso
• Subjects: By catch; bycatch reduction devices; Codends; Crustaceans; Decapoda; descarte; discards; dispositivos de reducción de capturas incidentales; Fisheries; Fisheries management; gestión pesquera; malla cuadrada; Marine crustaceans; pesca del camarón; Polyethylene; selección por tamaño; shrimp fishery; size selection; southern Brazil; square-mesh; sur de Brasil; Brasil; Brazil
• ISSN: 0718-560X; 0718-560X
• DOI: 10.3856/vol40-issue1-fulltext-12

The relative efficiency of two square-mesh codend designs with the same circumference (~2 m) but different mesh sizes and materials (32 mm polyethylene-PE and 30 mm polyamide-PA) was tested in an artisanal shrimp trawl fishery in Parana, southern Brazil. The two square-mesh codends were hauled alternately with a 26 mm diamond-shaped mesh codend (control) in a twin gear configuration. Although not significant, the mean numbers of total bycatch were reduced by 16.6 and 10.0% with the 32 and 30 mm square-mesh codends, respectively. The results indicate significant improvement in size selectivity for some species (Xiphopenaeus kroyeri and Stellifer rastrifer). The operational changes tested can be a suitable technical solution for reducing the capture of immature organisms in the shrimp trawl fishery in Parana, Brazil.