Catch comparisons between low profile and high profile skimmer trawl nets in the inshore shrimp fishery of North Carolina / by Kenneth L. Hines.
| Author/creator | Hines, Kenneth L. author. |
| Other author | Rulifson, Roger A. (Roger Allen), 1951- degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of Biology. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 1997. |
| Description | vi, 165 leaves : illustrations, map ; 28 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Summary | A gear development study was conducted during May-June 1995 comparing the catch composition of a standard high profile skimmer trawl net (12 ft) and a low profile skimmer trawl net (3 ft) in the North and Newport Rivers, North Carolina. A skimmer trawl is a pushed net attached to frames in comparison to a traditional otter trawl, which is a net pulled behind the vessel. Each gear type was alternately rigged on the port and starboard sides of a commercial shrimping vessel and catches were sampled using the protocol of the Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program. The objective of the study was to determine if modifying skimmer trawl nets by decreasing the vertical height would reduce finfish bycatch, yet maintain shrimp catch. Total shrimp catch in the low profile net was significantly lower than in the high profile net (p = 0.0001), and significantly lower for brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus) by -39.1% (p = 0.0001). Pink shrimp {P. duorarum) catches were not significantly different (p = 0.1934) between gear types. Subsamples of the catches indicated that the proportion of biomass in the total catch (excluding debris) represented by finfish was similar in the two nets (53.8% low profile, 50.0% high profile). Brown shrimp catches were significantly higher during night, ebb tides, and last quarter of lunar phase, while pink shrimp catches were greatest during first quarter high tides. Results indicate that the low profile net was not effective in further reduction of bycatch under most conditions since the skimmer trawl design already is an efficient bycatch reducer. However, the low profile net may be advantageous to fishermen under conditions of: (1) high wind, (2) shrimping in areas where tight turns are mandated, (3) presence of large amounts of floating debris, and (4) shallow water. |
| General note | Submitted to the faculty of the Department of Biology. |
| General note | Advisor: Roger A. Rulifson |
| Dissertation note | M.S. East Carolina University 1997 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 51-53). |
| Genre/form | dissertations. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joyner | University Archives | ASK AT SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DESK | ✔ Available | Request Material |
| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |