2007
In January 2007, sea trials of the experimental gillnet gear were completed aboard the F/V Lady Shannon (State Reg. # MS10BM). Two strings of gillnets were constructed of six individual nets each, alternating between the experimental and standard net. The experimental nets were identical in configuration to the standard nets with the exception of the raised-webbing (Table 1). Both strings were set overnight in Massachusetts Bay. Individual species catch weight was recorded to tenths of kilograms separately for the experimental and standard nets.

	experimental net	standard net
number of nets per string	3	3
individual net length	300'	300'
net webbing height	12'	12'
norsel height	48"	0"
mesh size	7"	7"
vertical mesh count	25	25
twine size	0.62 mm	0.62 mm
hanging ratio	1/2	1/2

Table 1. Experimental and standard gillnet gear characteristics, 2007.

2008
As there were several research days left for field trials of the raised-webbing gillnets after the 2007 season, GMRI continued with testing the experimental gear in 2008. In February, sea trials of the experimental gear were conducted aboard the F/V Rachel T (State Reg. # ME685GG) in Massachusetts Bay and the offshore waters of the Gulf of Maine. Standard nets used during this time period differed from the experimental nets with respect to mesh size, vertical mesh count and twine size along with the raised-webbing (Table 2).

	experimental net	standard net
individual net length	300'	300'
net webbing height	12'	12'
norsel height	48"	0"
mesh size	7"	6.5"
vertical mesh count	25	0
twine size	0.62 mm	0.66 mm
hanging ratio	1/2	1/2

Table 2. Experimental and standard gillnet gear characteristics, 2008.