General characteristics of bottom trawl fishery and effect of haul duration and total catch on discard in the Western Black Sea

Abstract

In this study, general characteristics of bottom trawl fishery and relationships of inter parameter such as haul duration, total and discard catch were defined by regression and correlation analysis. Data of study was obtained by 66 valid bottom trawl hauls in Igneada and Rumeli Feneri regions between the years 2012-2014. Accordingly, days at sea of bottom trawlers varied between 99 and 167 days for between years of 2010 and 2014. The total amount of catch increases as haul duration increases. In the meantime, however, discard amount increases as well. To be able to provide the sustainable exploitation of Black Sea demersal resources, controls of fishery inputs (days at sea and haul duration etc.) should be planned by fishery authorities instead of regulations based on only landings.