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TRASMAR - Assessment of the impact of trammel fishing on benthic habitats to innovate mitigation measures in collaboration with the fishing sector in the Balearic Islands.

Pleamar program

Description

The project will investigate the impact and mitigation of a fishery that is predominantly carried out on habitats or species that have been classified as requiring management. It will provide data on current levels of discard associated with different habitats, and work with the fisheries sector and the regional government to develop mitigation strategies to improve the sustainability of trammel gear. The effectiveness of these strategies will also be analyzed. Within TRASMAR, two types of important habitats (Annex I) will be considered: Posidonia meadows (1120) and biogenic reefs (1170), on which trammel nets are used. It will work with Posidonia oceanica (meadow), Lithothamnium coralloides and Phymatholithon calcareum (maerl).

 

See the project

Line of action:

Marine ecosystems

Status:

Finalizado

Execution date:

2019

General:

Develop and evaluate mitigation strategies to improve the sustainability of these fishing gears.

Specific:

1. Assessment of the impacts of trammel on the habitats of the Balearic Islands and their associated biota.

2. Assessment of long-term impacts on reefs. The status of maerl areas subject to different levels of fishing effort shall be comparatively assessed.

3. Collaborative development of mitigation strategies (participatory workshops between fishermen, scientists and representatives of the regional government in which the results of objectives 1 and 2 will be presented and possible impact mitigation strategies will be discussed).

4. Evaluation of mitigation strategies.

A1 Configuration of underwater camera systems for experimental fishing

A2 Construction and techniques of experimental networks for impact experiments

A3 Organization of an informative meeting to present the project and its objectives to the fishermen. Survey with fishermen to map fishing effort in Natura 2000 areas

A4 Experimental fishing adjacent to Posidonia habitats

A5 Experimental fishing on reef habitats (Maërl)

A6 Assessing Areas with Different Trammel Fishing Intensities via Video

A7 Analysis of acoustic marking data to reconstruct trammel net movement

A8 Video Analytics and Capture and By-Catch Data

A9 Writing and disseminating a report on results to stakeholders

A10 Workshop with fishers to present results on impacts and innovation of mitigation strategies

A11 Construction and techniques of experimental networks for impact mitigation experiments

A12 Experimental fishing with mitigation device on Posidonia habitats

A13 Experimental fisheries with mitigation device on reef habitats

A14 Analysis of acoustic marker data to reconceptualize trammel net movement

A15 Video analysis and capture and by-catch data from the mitigation experiment

A16 Recording and analysis of the data and experiences carried out by the volunteer fisherman fishing with the mitigation method chosen.

A17 Recording and analysis of the data on the reduction of the draft time linked to the quality and price of the product by means of the daily sales records

A18 Stakeholder workshop to present the results of the mitigation trials and the formulation of the good practice guide

A19 Preparation of the guide to good practices.

A20 Dissemination of the guide to good practices.

A21 Preparation of the final report

The main objective of the TRASMAR project has been to study the impact of trammel nets on the most sensitive marine habitats and, at the same time, to propose and test innovative methods to reduce possible environmental impacts. To this end, 48 experimental fishing with cuttlefish and lobster trammel nets have been successfully carried out, thanks to the participation and involvement of four professional fishing boats and their crew. During these fisheries, data was collected from underwater cameras, motion sensors, catches on board and GPS which, once analyzed, allowed to increase the knowledge about trammel nets and their interaction on the seabed.

Although the low impact of fishing with trammel nets is known, during the lifting (collection) maneuvers of the nets there is a certain displacement on the seabed, affecting benthic species that live on the sea floor, such as urchins and crustaceans. This interaction of trammel nets with the bottom can be increased with depth and strong currents, so it mainly affects lobster trammel fishing.

Once the processes involved in the interaction of the nets with the bottom were known in detail, it was possible to study certain measures and recommendations to minimize the interaction of the nets with the fauna and flora of the bottom, as is the case of modified nets. Although it has not yet been possible to find effective net modifications in the case of lobster fisheries, in the case of cuttlefish fisheries, some interesting results were obtained with modified nets that made it possible to reduce the catch of Posidonia without affecting commercial catches.

These results were shared with the fishing sector of the Balearic Islands during the celebration of two participatory workshops. In addition, an information leaflet was prepared, published and disseminated with recommendations to minimise the environmental impact of trammel nets. Apart from the scientific results collected over the years, the TRASMAR project has served to establish alliances between scientific personnel and fishermen driven by a common goal: to maximize the sustainability of artisanal fishing with trammel nets to guarantee economic and ecological profitability in the future.

General Directorate of Fisheries and the Mediterranean Sea (Government of the Balearic Islands) Spanish Institute of Scientific Research (CSIC-IMEDEA) Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-COB)
programa
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TRASMAR - Assessment of the impact of trammel fishing on benthic habitats to innovate mitigation measures in collaboration with the fishing sector in the Balearic Islands.