Design and Test of an Innovative Large Mesh Whiting Trawl to Reduce Spiny Dogfish Bycatch in the Southern New England Whiting Fishery
- Program: Southern New England Collaborative Research Initiative (SNECRI)
- Total Amount Awarded: $199,930
- Project Duration: June 1, 2010 - May 31, 2012
- Status: Completed
Project Team:
- Pingguo He, Ph.D, UMASS Dartmouth-SMAST
- Elias Olafsson, Dantrawl Inc.,
- Patrick McGlade, F/V Enterprise
- Donald Follett, F/V Cody
Project Summary:
The project will test an new innovative whiting (silver hake, Merluccius bilinearis) trawl for the Southern New England whiting fishery, incorporating a super large mesh and belly escape exit design to reduce bycatch of spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) as well as winter flounder, scup, and butterfish. If successful, this trawl design may also be adapted to the Southern New England squid fishery with additional sea trials.