Fisherman in Norway have been using an improved trawling technique to reduce discards for 20 years. The MINOUW project is working with them and their Southern European peers to adapt the technique for the Mediterranean.
The ‘selvedge’ or guarding net: a tried and trusted technique to reduce discards
Fishermen in Italy, Catalonia and elsewhere in the Mediterranean have been using a simple net modification to greatly reduce by-catch. The MINOUW project has been studying its effectiveness and bringing them together with their peers to share their knowledge and experience.
The slipping method – can a net modification improve by-catch survival rates?
In purse seine fisheries the ‘slipping method’ is used to release bycatch that would otherwise see fisherman exceed fishing quotas. These ‘slipped’ fish suffer from very high mortality rates, and the MINOUW project has been working with fisherman to test techniques that can reduce this.
Can modified dredging gear reduce discards in clam fisheries?
Clam fishermen in Portugal have been using modified fishing gear to reduce discards. The MINOUW project is working with them to measure its impact, and assess if the design can used in other Mediterranean fisheries.