Pelagic Project Mauritania 2005-2006
The Pelagic Project Mauritania 2005-2006 was the continuation of two earlier, but similar, projects for the years 1998-2001 and 2002-2004. The project was carried out in cooperation between IMARES and IMROP and had as most important objectives to further the assessment of small pelagic species, mainly Sardinella, in Mauritanian waters, and the collection of by-catch data by the crews of Dutch freezer trawlers fishing in these waters. The project was commissioned by the Association of Dutch Pelagic Shipowners (RVZ). As far as the assessment of small pelagics is concerned, the scientific observer programme was continued and towards the end of the project period the responsibility for this programme was handed over to IMROP scientists. In the course of the project two acoustic surveys were partly funded by the project, as well as a meeting of the FAO working group on the assessment of small pelagics in Northwest Africa. During 2006, by-catch data were collected by four different vessels for 1072 hauls. In 343 hauls an excluder was used, a proto-type of which was developed during the preceding contract. By-catch rates observed in 2006 were rather low, especially when compared with records from scientific observers for the years 2001-2004. A positive effect of the excluder on the amount of by-catches could not be shown, possibly because part of the by-catches was released while the net was still in the water, and therefore not recorded. The efficiency of the excluder for small cetaceans remains as yet to be proven.
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | External research report biblioteca |
| Language: | Dutch |
| Published: |
IMARES
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| Subjects: | assessment, bycatch, mauritania, pelagic fishery, sardinella, beoordeling, bijvangst, mauritanië, pelagische visserij, |
| Online Access: | https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/pelagic-project-mauritania-2005-2006 |
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