Reducing cod catches with the raised fishing line

Project Scope

In addition to the codend, innovative modifications have been developed at the mouth of the trawl. Developed with net models in a flume tank and finetuned on the fishing grounds, the raised-fishing line provides a 1 m gap underneath the trawl, through which, low-swimming species such as cod can escape. Implemented as a gear measure in the Celtic Sea in 2020, this successful Irish innovation avoids fisheries closures and contributes greatly towards improving sustainability of cod stocks.

Read more about these innovative modifications here:

Flume tank report Newfoundland

Staggering the fishing line

Raised Fishing Line