
%0 Journal Article
%A Broadhurst, MK 
%A Kennelly, SJ 
%T Effects of an increase in mesh size on the catches of fish trawls off New South Wales, Australia
%J Marine and Freshwater Research
%D 1995/06/01
%V 46
%N 4
%P 745-750
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/MF9950745
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/MF9950745 
%X In response to claims that fish trawls off New South Wales, Australia, caught excessive quantities of under-size fish, the catches of finfish by a conventional fish trawl (constructed of 90-mm mesh in the body) were compared with those by a fish trawl constructed of 100-mm mesh in the body. Catches by the 100-mm trawl showed a 27% reduction in all by-catch and a 28% reduction in the numbers of retained tiger flathead, compared with catches by the conventional trawl. The 100-mm trawl also showed a 48% and 47% reduction in the numbers and weights respectively of discarded tiger flathead and a 57% and 63% reduction in the numbers and weights respectively of discarded rubberlip morwong. For john dory, however, at a particular locality where large numbers occurred, the 100-mm trawl caught significantly more fish than did the conventional trawl (a mean increase in weight of 66%). There is a need to determine species-specific mesh selectivities and to study the behaviour of fish in trawls. The importance of the results for the future management and operational efficiency of trawl fisheries is discussed. 
