Discarding is a major problem facing commercial fisheries worldwide. Discarding is wasteful and may
pose a threat to marine systems. It increases fishing costs through time spent sorting, damage to gear,
increased drag causing increased fuel costs, and, ultimately, may affect the ecosystem on which target
stocks rely. From ecological and economic perspectives, there is therefore a need to reduce, and where
possible eliminate discards.

ISMP data show that a large portion of the total catch by Danish seiners is discarded, particularly when
targeting eastern school whiting, for which the minimum mesh size is 42 mm (compared with 90 mm for
otter trawlers).

While work has been done to investigate modification of board trawlers, little work has been focused on Danish seine gear.

This project aims to determine the selectivity of Danish seine gear and trial appropriate gear
modifications that would maintain current commercial yields but reduce discarded bycatch.