February 19, 2020 — Small-mesh commercial fishermen in the whiting and other fisheries may be eligible to receive — at no cost — new net technology that has shown promise in significantly reducing bycatch of yellowtail, winter and windowpane flounder.
The project, organized by the Long Island-based Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program and funded by NOAA Fisheries, will provide 25 approved fishermen with vouchers that would cover the full $800 cost of a bycatch reduction technology called a large mesh belly panel.
“It’s a concept first tested in 2004 to assist fishermen with concerns and issues to do with bycatch,” said Tara McClintock, a Cornell Cooperative Extension fishery specialist. “We wanted to expand on that work in the small-mesh multispecies fishery.”
McClintock said the panels, which are made of 80-centimeter mesh with 6-millimeter poly-webbing, can be inserted into traditional four-seam, bottom-trawl nets. They replace the original net’s first bottom belly to create larger openings to mitigate bycatch.
She said CCE has performed multiple studies on the innovative net gear aboard industry vessels since 2010, with consistently positive results.