Title: Report of the Workshop on Standardization of Selectivity Methods Applied to Trawling in the Mediterranean Sea, Sète, France, 9-11 February 2005 =
First published: 2007
Description: A GFCM Workshop on Standardization of Selectivity Methods Applied to Trawling in the Mediterranean Sea has been organized by the French Research Institute for the Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER) with the participation of FAO regional projects, COPEMED (Cooperation Networks to facilitate Coordination to Support Fisheries Management in the Western and Central Mediterranean) and ADRIAMED (Scientific Cooperation to Support Responsible Fisheries in the Adriatic Sea). The examination of different selectivity studies presented to the workshop showed the technical and practical difficulties in defining a single method to apply in the various situations encountered in the Mediterranean, but the need for using common rules to facilitate the exchange and the comparison of the results was underlined. Fish behaviour, survival after escapement and experimental reliability of statistical methods were discussed. The workshop acknowledged that square meshes are more selective than diamond meshes. It further stressed the need to investigate the selectivity impacts of square meshes on various species of different shapes (e.g. flatfishes) and to evaluate selectivity in economical terms. The workshop recommended the realization of a practical guide for selectivity studies in the Mediterranean and the establishment of a common selectivity database including both technical elements of the experimentations and parameters of selectivity obtained. The need of establishing a network of fishing technologists including the fishing sector representatives was also expressed.
Subjects: Fisheries, Congresses, Gear selectivity, Trawls and trawling