Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
2016, Vol 16, Num, 4 (Pages: 971-992)
Selectivity of Commercial and Alternative Codends for Four Species in the Eastern Mediterranean Demersal Trawl Fishery
2 Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries, 35100, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey DOI : 10.4194/1303-2712-v16_4_25 Viewed : 7124 - Downloaded : 3203 This paper compares the selectivity of 44 mm diamond mesh codend used in commercial fisheries (D44) and alternative codends 50 mm diamond (D50), a 40 mm square (S40) and a 40 mm 90° turned mesh (T40) for red mullet Mullus barbatus, European hake Merluccius merluccius, Morocco dentex Dentex maroccanus, Atlantic horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus in the Eastern Mediterranean demersal trawl fishery. Sea trials were carried out in the international waters between Turkey and Greece (Aegean Sea), with commercial trawler. Selectivity data were collected using the covered codend method and analysed by means of a logistic equation with the maximum likelihood method. Mean selection curves were estimated and compared using the between-haul variations model. The mean 50% retention total length values (L50) of D44, D50, S40 and T40 codends are 11.1, 12.9, 12.9 and 13.6 cm for red mullet, 12.3, 14.4 and 14.3 cm for hake, 10.0, 10.7, 10.3 and 8.4 cm for Morocco dentex and 16.2, 14.2, 15.3 and 17.1 cm for mackerel, respectively. The results show that there are statistically differences between L50 values of four codends for only red mullet. S40 and T40 codends improve the selectivity of red mullet when considering commercially D44 codend. Keywords : Codend selectivity, mesh shape, Eastern Mediterranean, demersal trawl