12m 44sLength

This video was produced November 2003. This video detailed research the Division of Marine Fisheries conducted to limit the by-catch of Scup and other marine species in the small-mesh trawl fishery for Loligo squid. Underwater video footage revealed behavioral differences among marine species to an approaching trawl. Over the years several trawl gear modifications were tested in the waters of Nantucket Sound for their ability to limit the catch of scup and other species. The first trawl modification used a separator trawl which revealed the height fish entered the trawl. The second modification compared catches from a Raised Footrope Trawl (RFT) and the separator trawl. It was concluded the RFT was as effective at reducing by-catch species as the separator trawl. Further modifications focused on large square mesh windows in the extension of the trawl but had not worked well if large schools of fish were encountered. The last modification placed 2 types of flexible grids (plastic rings and mesh webbing) inside the extension of the trawl (similar to a Nordmore Grate). Results from the work accomplished this far, has exhibited that certain gear modifications can reduce scup regulatory discards and other marine species. The funding for this project was provided by a grant from National Marine Fisheries Service, Interjurisdictional Fisheries Support Program, (grant number: NA16FI2382). This video was produced by Division of Marine Fisheries biologist Mark Szymanski.