Fish pots trials in the bay of Douarnenez (Brittany, France)

No abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author.

Fishing using fish pots is of growing interest along the French coastline. Ifremer, together with the fishing industry, conducted a project to develop new prototypes of fish pot suitable for the local fisheries. After development in flume tanks, five different designs of pots were tested on board the RV €œThalia€ in the bay of Douarnenez (Brittany, France). These trials looked at the ergonomy and behaviour of the gear, and tested the effect of pot height and design on catches. Specific interest was in limiting the catch of conger eel (with low market value) while maintaining high catches of other commercial species. Each model of pot was used at three different heights daily (0, 1, and 2 m). Catch data were obtained for 3—5 pots over 13 days. The main catch was common pout and conger eel. Analysis of the catch data showed that the gear design and mesh size have an effect on pot performance and selectivity. One of the pot models (with a bottom side entrance) was efficient at limiting the conger eel catch, with an acceptable catch of common pout. The pot height affected the catch of both species. The models with the most interesting catch potential are currently being used by fishers to be assessed under professional conditions.