MAFF Funded discard Study - Irish Sea Area VIIa

Summary

This report presents the results of studies of discard levels in Irish sea fisheries in area VIIa. The gears studied were otter trawls both Nephrops and demersal, pelagic trawls and Scottish seines. The species studied were cod, whiting, dover sole and plaice. The methodology was based upon that used by the discard team at the Marine laboratory, Aberdeen. Estimates of discarded fish were made on fishing voyages by Seafish staff who were briefed to avoid introducing changes to normal shipboard procedures. Samples of discarded fish were measured and a representative sub sample of the whole catch was also measured. Length/weight relationships and appropriate raising factors were used to calculate the weight and numbers of discarded and retained fish. The method used for sampling Nephrops is described; the results from those studies are reported elsewhere although no results are recorded in this report. This report has been produced from a scanned original and may therefore contain some formatting and other inaccuracies. In cases where this affects the technical content, a paper copy of the original report can still be obtained from Seafish.

Publication Reference No.

SR428

Publication date

01 November 1993