Sustainable Practices – Fisheries

Sustainability Practices - Fisheries

BIM works closely with the fishing sector to develop applied technical solutions which meet environmental challenges and improve fisheries sustainability.

Working in collaboration with Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, we also publish key studies and new analytical methods in peer reviewed journals which contributes towards the science which underpins sustainable fisheries.

Catch Comparison for multi gear trials in the Irish Nephrops Fishery

Published in the ICES Journal of Marine Science, we developed a statistical methodology for comparing catches from more than two gears such as quad-rig trawling which is the main gear type used in the Irish Nephrops fishery: Factors which affect gear trial outcomes such as catch weight, net position, day/night hauls can now be included catch comparison analyses.

Read the report here

Reducing unwanted fish catches in the Nephrops Fisheries with a dual codend

We published a paper in the journal Fisheries Research which demonstrates the benefits of a novel double codend trawl with inclined separator panels in mixed Nephrops fisheries. The gear substantially reduced catches of small haddock and whiting while generally maintaining market sized Nephrops and fish catches. Highly effective species separation facilitates alternative selectivity measures depending on landing obligation requirements. Additional benefits include reduced catch sorting times were outlined and the gear has been implemented as a gear option in the Celtic Sea.

Read the report here

Latest report: Match of the day: optimised experimental design in alternate-haul gear trials

Irish gear selectivity work is increasingly conducted on single-rig fishing gears such as seine nets or single trawls incorporating the likes of the Raised-Fishing line. Statistical methodology for comparing two or more gears in twin or multi-rig gear selectivity experiments is well established but less so in the case of single-rig experiments. In collaboration with Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, BIM has published a paper in the ICES Journal of Marine Science which optimises trial design and outputs in single-rig gear selectivity experiments.

Read the report here