Use Of A 12 Inch Drop Chain Sweep To Reduce Winter Flounder Bycatch

A cooperative research project was developed to test and evaluate a 12” drop chain sweep coupled with a 24” headrope adjustment on a standard otter trawl as a means to reduce winter flounder bycatch in the small mesh longfin squid fishery. Winter flounder stocks have been identified as depleted and the species is often found as bycatch in the small mesh longfin squid fishery.   Reducing winter flounder bycatch during the lucrative squid fishery is imperative to assist in the rebuilding of the winter flounder stock.

A total of 98 paired tows were conducted. Data analysis showed that compared to the control net, the experimental net did not cause a significant reduction in the harvest of longfin squid. The experimental net did significantly reduce the amount of winter flounder bycatch compared to the control net. The experimental net also significantly reduced the capture of other demersal species compared to the control net. It is evident in the data that the experimental 12” drop chain sweep coupled with the 24” headrope adjustment is effective at retaining squid and reducing winter flounder, total demersals, and many other species of bycatch in the longfin squid trawl fishery.