Fishing-net mesh change favoured
Bigger mesh sizes in bottom-trawling net codends may bring the best future catches in New Zealand waters, a fisheries technologist, Mr G. Clarke, has said after 12 months of research with the Marine Department’s research vessel W. J. Scott The cod-end is a 12ft-long sleeve, closed at one end, into which fish are funnelled by the trawl net as it is dragged along the sea bottom. The mesh size is measured diagonally, from knot to knot.
Trials had shown that with a smaller cod-end mesh the total catch was bigger, but many smaller fish were too damaged in the net to be landed for market, Mr Clarke said.
If these smaller fish escaped through a larger mesh, they could be caught when they had grown, he said. As a result, fish stocks would be less likely to become depleted. The trials with the W. J.
Scott, conducted all round the coasts, were to determine how many fish could be taken from a particular area on a year-after-year basis without fishing out the area. At present, a 4in mesh codend is in general use for bottom trawling. The 400 hours of fishing were done witii 4in, 4 Jin, and sin codends. Mr Clarke will recommend the adoption of the sin mesh.
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Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32958, 3 July 1972, Page 12
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214Fishing-net mesh change favoured Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32958, 3 July 1972, Page 12
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