Relative selectivity of Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides, Walbaum) by trawls, longlines and gillnets

Published source details Huse I., Gundersen C.A. & Nedreaas H.K. (1999) Relative selectivity of Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides, Walbaum) by trawls, longlines and gillnets. Fisheries Research, 44, 75-93.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

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	Use an alternative commercial fishing method Action Link

Use an alternative commercial fishing method

A replicated study in 1994 of a wide area of seabed in the Greenland and Norwegian Seas, Norway (Huse et al. 1999) found that fishing using gillnets reduced the capture of unwanted, immature Greenland halibut Reinhardtius hippoglossoides, compared to trawling or longlining. Gillnets caught lower proportions of immature halibut (male: 0%, n=411; female: 6%, n=5,740) than longlines (male: 21%, n=1,485, female: 23%, n=4,661) and trawls (male: 37%, n=3,309; female: 71%, n=2,402). In addition, the average length of halibut caught was higher for gillnets (66 cm) compared to trawl- (50 cm) and longline-caught halibut (60 cm). Data were collected from scientific fishing deployments using three different gears in August–September 1994 at different water depths (400–1,400 m). A total of 130 deployments were made of gillnet fleets with 70–110 mm mesh sizes, 71 sets of longlines totalling 335,310 hooks baited with mackerel and squid (species not given), and 70 deployments by a trawler towing a 136 mm mesh codend. Haul speed and duration were not given.

(Summarised by: Chris Barrett/Natasha Taylor)