Improving selectivity through action (Bay of Biscay) “to

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Improving selectivity through action (Bay of Biscay)
“to grade on the bottom, not on the deck”
Example of the REDRESSE Project
(REDuction des REjets et amélioration de la SEléctivité dans le Golfe de Gascogne)
(Reducing discards and improving selectivity in the Bay of Biscay)
(Source: AGLIA)
(Source: IFREMER)
Contact:
AGLIA (Association du Grand Littoral Atlantique) / www.aglia.fr
Thomas Rimaud / (+33) 06.99.04.60.00
[email protected]
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Summary:
The landing obligation will require that all species subject to catch limits be landed, in successive
stages between 1 January 2015 and 2019 at the latest. Bringing unwanted catches ashore has many
consequences for fishing vessels, the fishing industry and marine ecosystems. This is why fishermen
want to continue to improve selectivity and reduce unwanted catches while maintaining a
sustainable economic activity for fishing companies.
The idea of “catching only the best to avoid rejecting the rest” is not new to the fishermen of the
Bay of Biscay. Since the early 2000s, many fisheries have already begun implementing numerous
selective measures/systems. For bottom trawlers, for example:
 Mesh sizes from 55 mm to 70 mm in the early 2000s.
 Implementation of a regulatory square mesh panel (SMP)
Reduction in the catch of undersized hake in the order of 25%. Reduction of more than 50%
in the volume of releases of certain pelagic species.
 Implementation of mandatory selective devices for the Norway lobster (Nephrops): a grid
consisting of semi-rigid bars, square mesh panels, an increase of mesh size in the codend
(70 mm 80 mm), and a square mesh cylinder.
Norway shrimp discards can be reduced 20 to 40%.
 An increase of mesh sizes in some parts of the trawler (belly, top, wings).
At present, as in the past, skippers in the Bay of Biscay are determined to continue their efforts to
improve fishing practices by increasing the selectivity of their fishing gear. This is why they are
actively involved in the REDRESSE project which aims to find technical solutions (devices or
strategies) to improve the selective practices already in place and to reduce discards by minimising
the impact on commercial catches in an effort to maintain the economic sustainability of fishing
businesses.
 This project concerns bottom trawlers, pelagic trawlers, Danish seiners and gillnetters in the
Bay of Biscay.
 Numerous experiments carried out under real fishing conditions will determine the efficiency
of various devices.
 This work is being undertaken as part of a constructive partnership between scientists from
IFREMER and fishing industry professionals to find solutions shared by all.
 The results will be available in 2015 following experiments at sea and analysis of the data by
IFREMER scientists.
Square Mesh Panel (SMP)
Concrete results of the selectivity
process already implemented
Device previously tested: the T90
The rest of this document presents illustrations/diagrams and details the
programmes implemented in the past as well as the actions initiated within
the scope of the REDRESSE Project.
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1 Selectivity, an essential step
The landing obligation was the focus of discussions concerning the development the future
Commercial Fishing Policy (CFP). The provisions surrounding this measure are specified in Article 15
of EC Regulation 1380/2013, and all species subject to catch limits must be landed in stages between
1 January 2015 and 2019 at the latest.
The landing of unwanted catches has many ramifications:
 At the level of fishing vessels: significant increase in the processing of the catch onboard, the
problem of storage capacity in unsuitable vessels, an increased risk of accidents (increased
crew fatigue, decreased ship stability), etc.,
 Industry wide: Difficulties related to storage and onshore processing,
 At the ecosystem level: The current balance of the ecosystem currently includes discard
practices. The effects of their withdrawal on the ecosystem (birds, benthos, etc.) remains
poorly understood.
The work to further reduce the unwanted catches to the source must therefore be continued:
 Since “no one likes the idea of discards…”: Fishermen are for reducing discards as much as
possible as they are wasteful and create extra work;
 To avoid having to bring unwanted catch ashore, a source of significant problems for the
operation of the vessels;
 To ensure the sustainability of the activities, even though there are limitations.
A significant effort in terms of selectivity has been undertaken by fishing professionals. They want
to continue to improve selectivity and reduce unwanted catches while maintaining a sustainable
economic activity for fishing companies.
2 “to grade on the bottom, not on the deck ”: it's a familiar
story!
2.1 The selectivity process already implemented by fishing professionals
Since the early 2000s, the selectivity of fishing gear in the Bay of Biscay has changed tremendously.
Examples could include a few key developments:
 Mesh sizes from 55 mm to 70 mm in the early 2000s,
 Adoption of a regulatory hake square mesh panel (SMP) (Appendix III of EC regulation No.
51/2006) to facilitate the escape of hake (see §2.2.1),
 Implementation of mandatory selective devices for the Norway lobster (Nephrops):
Professionals have five devices are their disposal: semi-rigid bar screen in high position, semirigid bar screen in low position, ventral SMP, increased mesh size in the codend (70 mm
80 mm) square mesh cylinder,
 An increase of mesh sizes in some parts of the trawl (belly, top, wings). These increases are
sometimes very significant (up to 160 mm instead the regulatory 70 mm). It is important to
note that this voluntary change has been gradually implemented by bottom trawlers in
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recent years. Skippers feel that this has a marked effect on the escape of fish as well as a
significant decrease in drag and therefore consumption.
2.2 A few examples of the work undertaken to improve the selectivity of fishing
gear in the Bay of Biscay
In addition to the work conducted by IFREMER's fishing technologists during scientific research or
various projects, by the professionals themselves or by the equipment manufacturers, several
projects within the scope of scientific/professional partnerships were carried out in the Bay of Biscay
(See below).
2.2.1
2002-2004: The ASCGG program (“Amélioration de la Sélectivité des Chaluts du
Golfe de Gascogne”, Improved trawl selectivity in the Bay of Biscay)
In the course of implementing the hake emergency plan (2002) by the European Commission, fishing
professionals took the initiative to work on improving the selectivity of their trawls in the form of an
initial scientific and technical study for the development and validation of selective devices. The
ASCGG program, conducted under the auspices of the CNPMEM1 in partnership with IFREMER
between 2002 and 2004, worked mainly on reducing catches of hake juveniles in the Nephrops
fishery.
Three different devices were tested for hake alone during 116 sea trials, i.e. 540 fishing days or
1557 hauls studied. These trials were carried out over a period of 18 months on board professional
fishing vessels having different fishing strategies and operating in various areas of the Bay of Biscay.
A scientific observer was deployed on the vessel during each of these trials to collect information
about the area and the fishing date, type of bottom, catches and discards.
This work led to the widespread use of the most efficient device, a 100 mm square mesh panel (see
photo), made compulsory by the professionals themselves (decision
by the national Nephrops commission within the CNPMEM). It allows
the catches of undersized hake to be decreased in the order of 25%,
while incurring very little commercial loss. The volume of discards of
certain pelagic species can be decreased by more than 50% because
this device is even more efficient on other non-target species such as
mackerel, and blue whiting, etc. This original initiative, backed by a
rigorous scientific approach, led the professionals to propose an alternative and credible regulation
to the European Commission regarding the management of this fishery. This proposal has been
statutorily validated since 2006 (Appendix III of EC Regulation No. 51/2006); vessels equipped with a
selective hake trawl may operate in the hake box with a 70 mm mesh instead of the previously
required 100 mm mesh. All vessels currently holding a Nephrops licence are equipped with a hake
square mesh panel
2.2.2 2006 to 2009: 2 “Nephrops selectivity” programmes
Owing to the urgency of the hake issue, the work on intra-specific Nephrops selectivity could not be
completed within the ASCGG program. The only device tested was highly innovative: a semi-rigid
polyurethane grid, inclined at an angle of 45°; the bar spacing determines the size of the Nephrops
1
Comité National des Pêches et des Elevages Marins
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retained in the trawl and those released. Following discussion with the professionals, additional work
was thus needed to improve the semi-rigid grid and to propose technical alternatives (ventral square
mesh panels, increased mesh size in the codend).
The tests were always conducted on board ships in the presence of an “observer-sampler” over a
period of 3 to 4 sea days per week, using one of the devices. Various technical adjustments were
required during the programme to deal with certain difficulties encountered during the tests.
In all, 264 days of observation at sea were logged and 543 hauls were sampled.
The results show some interesting prospects for improved selectivity; The amount of Nephrops
discards can be reduced 20 to 40%. The results vary considerably owing to the interaction of highly
complex technical (device, equipment, vessel, etc.) and biological phenomena (behaviour of the
species, environmental conditions).
Based on the results obtained, the professionals decided to expand the use of selective devices for
the 2008 fishing year. The European Commission was sent a summary report with the aim of
obtaining formal validation of the technical solutions developed. Approval was granted during the
Council of Ministers in December 2007.
All vessels holding a national Nephrops licence now has the regulatory obligation to use one of the
five “Nephrops devices” (semi-rigid bar grid in high position, semi-rigid bar grid in low position,
ventral SMP, increased mesh size in the codend (70 mm 80 mm), square mesh cylinder). The
ability to choose a device allows skippers to define the most suitable device based on their fishing
strategies.
Diagrams of the various regulatory devices for bottom trawlers in the Bay of Biscay:
Square mesh panel for hake //obligation to use one of the five Nephrops devices
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Concrete results for reducing discards!
Left: Residual discards with selective devices / Right: Residual discards without selective devices
3 The REDRESSE Project
Project duration: January 2014 – December 2015
Zone of study: Bay of Biscay
3.1 Project objective
In the context of the landing obligation, the REDRESSE project's objective is to develop and test
strategies to further reduce discards from fleets in the Bay of Biscay by experimenting with
different solutions on board commercial fishing vessels (the use of selective devices, strategy
changes, and spatial and temporal measurements, etc.).
The idea is to find technical solutions (devices or strategies) able to improve the selective practices
already in place and to reduce discards by minimising the impact on commercial catches in order to
maintain the economic sustainability of fishing businesses.
3.2 A partnership project
The work is conducted in partnership with the fishery technologists and biologists from IFREMER and
fishing professionals. All partners work together constructively to move forward and find solutions
acceptable to all.
Scientific partner: IFREMER (“Institut Français pour l’exploitation de la Mer”, French Institute for
Exploitation of the Sea)
Professional partners: CNPMEM (“Comité National des Pêches Maritimes et des Elevages Marin”,
National Committee of Maritime Fisheries and Marine Aquaculture) and CCR-Sud (“Conseil
Consultatif Régional pour les eaux occidentales australes”, Regional Advisory Council for South
Western Waters).
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Financial partners: France Filière Pêche, IFREMER, Brittany Region, Pays de la Loire Region, PoitouCharentes Region, Aquitaine Region.
Other project participants:
 French professionals: CRPMEMs, C(I) DPMEMs and producer organisations of the
Atlantic coast,
 Scientists Sea Section (University of Nantes),
 Institutions: French administration,
 Equipment manufacturers: Le Drezen, Docks de Keroman.
3.3 Fleets concerned
This program covers the following fleets:
 Bottom trawlers: Nephrops and fish fisheries,
 Driftnetters: floating gillnet and trammel net,
 Pelagic trawlers: small pelagic and tuna fisheries,
 Danish seiners: whiting and mullet fisheries.
3.4 Action plan
Several processes are considered within the scope of this project (Figure 1):
1. Surveys conducted among professionals: qualitative characterisation of discards and their
reduction solutions,
2. Definition of selectivity indicators and reduction objectives,
3. Choice of technical solutions via workshops and experimentation at sea,
4. Economic and social analysis,
5. Communication.
Figure 1: Organisational structure of the REDRESSE project's action plan
The action implementation calendar is in progress. Results will be available in 2015.
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3.5 Current actions:
Several technical devices were tested following the workshops and surveys (58 surveys) conducted
for each fishery affected by the REDRESSE project.
For the project's start-up, the sea trials concentrated on bottom trawl and pelagic trawl fisheries.
Bottom trawling:
From June to November 2014:
 6 bottom trawlers participated in the tests,
 65 days at sea, i.e. about 175 hauls sampled by an onboard observer,
 Tests were conducted in real fishing conditions,
 7 different devices were tested (4 for Nephrops fishery / 3 for fish fishery).
Device
T902
Trawl with separator
netting
Ball + hake square mesh
panel
Reduction of the number of
meshes in the perimeter
Nephrops fishery
Fish fishery
55 mm (10d)
70 mm (15d)
6d
11d
8d
80 mm square mesh
cylinder (2 m x 1 m)
Ventral square mesh panel
(100 mm)
10d
5d
Figure 2: devices tested for bottom trawling
Sea trials will continue in 2015 and the results will be analysed by IFREMER scientists in 2015.
Underwater photo of the separator netting
(IFREMER)
The T90, the trawl net that
allows the holes of the mesh
to remain fully open
Square Mesh Cylinder
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Mesh turned 90°. When pulled, the holes in the mesh open. The selective effect is more constant as the mesh
holes are always open in the same manner, as opposed to diamond mesh.
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Pelagic trawler:
The primary focus of pelagic trawlers involves the use of powerful acoustic equipment. This
equipment could allow fishermen to obtain more accurate information about the composition
(species and size) of the schools of fish. The long-term objective would thus be to select and fish only
the desired schools (species/size).
Socio-economic study:
The socio-economic study foreseen within the REDRESSE framework will be conducted by the Cellule
Mer (University of Nantes). It aims to assess the costs of implementing the landing obligation for
certain fleets by studying the effect of the various devices tested and possibly other additional
scenarios.
4 Conclusion
At present, as in the past, fishing professionals in the Bay of Biscay are determined to continue their
efforts to improve fishing practices by increasing the selectivity of their fishing gear. This progressoriented approach, however, must be within the socio-economic sustainability limits of the fisheries.
In doing so, professionals want to be a driving force behind proposals in order to maintain the
sustainability of their activity and the entire socio-economic sector that is directly related to it.
In tandem with the steps taken in the Bay of Biscay, many steps have been taken regarding selectivity
or are currently being developed by French professionals:
 The Selecfish project on trawlers in the English Channel/North Sea,
 The "Celtic Sea Selectivity" project concerning high-sea trawl fisheries in the Celtic Sea.
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5 For further information: a few references:
Presentation video of the project:
http://forumfrancefilierepeche.fr/Expo/Expo.html (Page consulted 27/11/2014 at 15:56)
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