Publication Abstract

The survival of discarded lesser-spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) in the Western Channel beam trawl fishery

A.S. Revill, N. K. Dulvy and R. Holst

Large numbers of lesser-spotted dogfish are caught and discarded in the Western channel English beam trawl fishery. The survival rate of such fish discards was estimated to be very high (98%) using onboard survival aquaria. These fish were subjected to harsh conditions during the capture, towing and deck sorting processes, and suggests that this species is robust and resilient to such rigours. This study would support the idea that lesser-spotted dogfish might proliferate in heavily fished waters where more susceptible species were removed or killed by mobile fishing gears.

Reference:

A.S. Revill, N. K. Dulvy and R. Holst (2005) The survival of discarded lesser-spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) in the Western Channel beam trawl fishery. Fisheries Research 71: 121-124.