2004 - 2005 Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas) North East nephrops gear selectivity 2004/05 - Fisheries Science Partnership

An investigation into the potential for improving the selectivity for whitefish in the North Sea Nephrops fishery using a cut-away headline trawl. The main objectives were to obtain selectivity parameters of the cut-away headline trawl and a typical *Nephrops* trawl in current use in the Farn Deeps *Nephrops* fishery, for the main commercial by-catch species. During October 2004, the commercial twin-rig trawler FV Success III carried out trials to determine the selectivity characteristics of the cut-away headline trawl and a standard *Nephrops * trawl currently in use in the fishery. Success III was typical of this class of twin-rig vessel in the North Sea *Nephrops * fishery. The vessel was chartered during the period 11 October – 24 October 2004. The single rig vessels FV Endeavour and FV Trudie May were chartered for five days between 10 February and 18 February 2005 to carry out parallel tows with the two nets towed as single rigs.