Comparison of Catch and Bycatch with Beam and Otter Trawls in Northeast Shrimp Fishery

Project leader: Captain Bill Lee, F/V Ocean Reporter
Additional Project Participants:
Alan Michael, ADM Associates
Melissa Ferraro
Robert Cotrino, F/V Gretchen Marie
Bob Fisher, F/V Marina Rose
John Hogan, F/V Odie Colonie
Jack Ketchopulos, F/V Special K
Tim Macdonald, F/V Dory I
Dennis O'Connell, F/V Lady Elaine
Jason Pollison, F/V Rumboogie
Paul Theriault, F/V Terminator
Jay VanDerpool, F/V Rover

Final Report

"A 17' beam trawl was built and tested for the possible application of this gear in the northeast shrimp fishery. The 1.75" mesh net was fitted with a Nordmore grate and towed from the fishing vessel during the months of January through March, 2004. Seven additional vessels reported their catch and bycatch while towing for shrimp using standard otter trawls during the same time period and in the same general area as the vessel using the beam trawl. The beam trawl had a significantly lower catch rate for shrimp than the vessels using standard otter trawls. This was, in part, due to the relative size of the gear since the opening of the beam trawl was 17' and that for the otter trawls ranged from 28 - 34'. Percent bycatch (by weight) for the beam trawl was 13%, whereas that for the otter trawl fleet was 10.7%. There was a wide variation in the bycatch rate among the seven vessels using the otter trawl (0.4 - 16.5%). Composition of the bycatch differed with a higher percentage of groundfish in the beam trawl and a higher percentage of pelagic fish in the otter trawl(s). Fuel consumption was greatly reduced with the use of the beam trawl. The gear is inexpensive to make and can be used with a single warp and from small vessels with lower horsepower. Further modifications might make this gear useful under specific conditions, near hard bottom, or where fixed gear is deployed. Additional research that could be done would be an evaluation of the relative impact of the lightweight beam trawl versus the standard otter trawl on the benthic environment." extracted from: Summary of Completed Cooperative Research Projects Funded by the Northeast Consortium, January 2006

(Photo by Bill Lee)

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