Tuesday November 26, 2024
NOAA Fisheries —
NOAA Fisheries’ surveys off the U.S. West Coast have begun deploying a new trawl net specifically designed to catch multiple fish species at different depths. Scientists are looking at integrating two fisheries surveys into one. Such a net would save time and money in the long term, and improve data collection for managing West Coast fisheries.
NOAA Fisheries’ scientists collaborated with fishing industry experts from Ocean Gold Seafoods and Seattle-based net manufacturer Swan Nets. They designed a net that improves trawling efficiency and flexibility, called the Multi-Function Trawl net. It allows for trawling species at or near the surface—such as sardines and anchovies—at night. It also allows for trawling in midwater depths, such as for Pacific hake, during the day. NOAA Fisheries previously dedicated two surveys on separate vessels to assess these species, each using a different style of trawl net configuration at different depths.
In late 2023, and continuing this past summer, NOAA Fisheries’ scientists, crew, and fishing industry experts conducted sea trials using the net. They observed the net’s performance and fine-tuned the various deployment configurations.