Recent work to improve the efficacy of square-mesh panels used in a North Sea Nephrops norvegicus directed fishery

In the continuing drive to reduce discards of juvenile gadoids (whiting, cod, haddock) in the Farn Deeps Nephrops directed fishery in the North Sea, we examine the efficacy of the square-mesh panels (SMP) which are currently fitted to the trawls in that fishery. We find that discards can be further reduced by around 40% through simple modification to these square-mesh panels. While some basic measures to improve their efficacy have been identified, we have not yet described the ‘optimal square-mesh panel’ and thus we indicate areas for further research in this field which may yield further dividends in discard reduction.