Discard composition of the Nephrops fishery in the Clyde Sea area, Scotland

摘要

Demersal fishing gear such as otter-trawls generate large amounts of unwanted by-catch. The Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) is the most important shellfish resource in UK waters and although the fishing effort has increased considerably over past decades the ecosystem effects of this fishery have yet to be evaluated. This study provides the first assessment of the catch and discard composition from Nephrops trawls in the Clyde Sea area with particular emphasis on invertebrate discards.