Approach to the 2014 discard ban in the EU Common Fisheries Policy and trials with bycatch reducing trawl techniques

Abstract

The new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) proposes a change in the old fisheries regulation of the EU. The aim of this thesis is to give a description of the new regulation with a focus on the discard ban and the landing obligations. Because the use of selectivity devices is crucial on this new regulation, the efficiency of the square mesh window (SMW) as selectivity device was evaluated. The efficiency of the device as a bycatch reducing system was studied in the Norwegian prawn (Pandalus borealis) fishery. His efficiency was compared with the mandatory by-catch reducing device Nordmøre-grid. For that, selectivity studies were performed in Balsfjord, Norway. The obtained data was used to observe if the SMW would accomplish the bycatch levels aimed in the new CFP. In addition, the data of the SMW performance was compared with data from similar experiments conducted with the SMW in the Bay of Biscay by the research centre of AZTI-Tecnalia. This was made to compare the performance of the SMW in species rich fisheries with species poor fisheries. Data was descriptively analysed and selectivity analyses were made using SELNET to obtain a clear understanding of the selection patterns. Results show that the SMW does not work efficiently as a selectivity device in target species fisheries, in a clear contrast with the effective selective capacity shown by the Nordmøre-grid. Results also prove the inefficiency of the SMW for mixed species fisheries. Both studies prove the inefficiency of the device to accomplish the bycatch regulation adopted through the new CFP. These results, taking into account the actual development state of the different selective devices in the European fisheries, allow us to conclude that more selectivity studies are still needed to achieve the European target of less than 5% bycatch to avoid discards in mixed fisheries. For that, developments of the SMW or the use of combinations of different devices is suggested.