FN Archimer Export Format PT J TI Reducing discards of demersal species using a 100 mm square mesh cylinder: Size selectivity and catch comparison analysis BT AF Gatti, Paul Méhault, Sonia Morandeau, Fabien Morfin, Marie Robert, Marianne AS 1:1;2:2;3:2;4:2;5:2; FF 1:;2:PDG-RBE-STH-LTBH;3:PDG-RBE-STH-LTBH;4:PDG-RBE-STH-LTBH;5:PDG-RBE-STH-LTBH; C1 Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research, Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland, P.O. Box 4920, St. John's, NL, A1C 5R3, Canada Ifremer, LTBH (Laboratory of Fisheries Technology and Biology), Station de Lorient, 8 Rue François Toullec, 56100, Lorient, France C2 UNIV MEM NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA IFREMER, FRANCE SI LORIENT SE PDG-RBE-STH-LTBH IN WOS Ifremer UPR copubli-int-hors-europe IF 2.453 TC 3 UR https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00600/71236/73595.pdf LA English DT Article AB We assessed the impact of an additional 100 mm square mesh cylinder (SMC) on the selective property of the demersal whitefish trawl in the Celtic Sea. Sea trials were conducted on board a French trawler using twin trawl rigging. We tested the effects of the position of the SMC (in front of and behind the mandatory 100 mm square mesh panel) and of the insertion of a dispersive float. Selectivity analysis revealed the 50% retention length () to be greater than the Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes regardless of species (haddock, whiting or megrim) or rigging configuration. Results did not reveal a clear effect of the SMC position. However, the insertion of the float led to a decrease in selection ranges suggesting enhanced contact probabilities with the square meshes. With the largest values, the SMC placed in the front position (and without the float) proved to be the most selective rigging configuration and was then tested under commercial conditions. Catch comparisons revealed that the test gear retained less fish across all size classes than the commercial gear. For haddock, the test gear retained less fish below 50 cm in length. Catch comparisons also indicated significant discards of fish above the MCRS, i.e. “high-grading” practices. Under the requirements of the landing obligation (LO), unwanted catches must be stored on-board and landed regardless of economic value. The SMC is thus a valuable tool to mitigate the impact of the LO on the demersal whitefish fishing fleets operating in the Celtic Sea. PY 2020 PD JUL SO Marine Policy SN 0308-597X PU Elsevier BV VL 116 UT 000531028400016 DI 10.1016/j.marpol.2019.103777 ID 71236 ER EF