04
Sep
2018

Progress on monitoring the impact of modified fishing gear in Croatia

In total, two pairs of trammel nets and four pairs of gill nets were used and equipped with LED light visual deterrents. These were attached equally spaced to a total of almost 4.5 kilometres of nets that were used in conjunction with unmodified, conventional nets in order to investigate any resulting differences in target species catch rates and sea turtle bycatch. Data on the catch quantity and quality was recorded and will be analysed in the future while there was one bycaught sea turtle in this period. The researchers established a firm relationship with the fishermen, which is a solid baseline for future fieldwork activities that are set to continue next Spring. In addition, this positive experience led to several other fishermen expressing their interest in collaborating on the project.