Present
Monitored bycatch of Mustelus mustelus, Squalus acanthias, Myliobatis aquila, Pteroplatytrygon violacea and Caretta caretta in mid-water pair trawl in the northern Adriatic Sea, from 2006-2017
Pelagic (or midwater) trawling in the northern Adriatic developed in the 1950s, targeting mostly small pelagic fish such as anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) and sardine (Sardine pilchardus). Midwater trawling is carried out by two paired vessels having similar size and engine power (average engine power is 440 HP, average length overall LOA is 25 m and average vessel size is 90 GT). The midwater trawl net consists of a cone- or pyramid-shaped body whose size depends on engine power, available towing pull, and vessel size. The horizontal opening of the net is provided by the distance between the two vessels during towing, whereas its vertical opening is ensured by floats on the headline and weights on the groundline. The minimum mesh size of the codend of the midwater trawl is 20 mm (EC Regulation 1967/2006). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0191647.g001 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00365