The effect of different numbers of tickler chains on beam-trawl catches

Creutzberg, F.; Duineveld, G.C.A.; Noort, G.J. van

doi:10.1093/icesjms/43.2.159

Cited by 43 publications

(34 citation statements)

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“…Early studies demonstrated that tickler chains penetrate down to a total depth of 3 cm in firm sand (Bridger 1970(Bridger , 1972) and up to 8 cm in softer ground (BEON 1991). An unavoidable side-effect of this digging action is that the gear removes and/or damages fragde infauna, for example burrowing heart urchins, Echinocardium cordatum and the quahog Arctica islandica (Bergman & Hup 1992), and also increases the epifaunal by-catch (Creutzberg et al 1987, Kaiser et al 1994. The consequences of these short-term effects on changes in faunal abundance and mortality have been the main subject of recent studies (BEON 1991, Bergman & Hup 1992.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish scavenging behaviour in recently trawled areas

Kaiser¹,

Spencer²

1994

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

183

125

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The diets of gurnards Aspitrigla cuculus and Eutrigla gurnardus, lesser-spotted dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula and whiting Merlangius merlangus were examined to determine whether they migrated into recently trawled areas to feed on animals that may be damaged or dislodged by the action of a 4 m beam trawl. Gurnards and whiting increased their intake of prey after an area had been fished. In particular, they increased the proportion of the amphipod Ampelisca spinipes in their diets. Beam trawling damaged the purple burrowing heart urchin Spatanguspurpureus, scallop Aequipecten operculans, Ensisspp. and Laevocardium sp., exposing internal tissues which were then eaten by whiting. Some mobile invertebrate scavengers, such as Pandalusspp., only occurred in diets after the area had been fished, suggesting that these animals were also scavenging over the trawl tracks. Observations of the seabed using a side-scan sonar revealed a greater concentration of fish marks around the trawl tracks than in adjacent unfished areas. Our results indicate that fish rapidly migrate into beam trawled areas to feed on benthic animals whlch have been either damaged or disturbed by fishing or on scavenging invertebrates. In areas where certain benthic communities occur, beam trawling intensity may be such that it creates a significant food resource for opportunistic fish species. This is a possible mechanism whereby long-term community structure could be altered by fishing activity.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish scavenging behaviour in recently trawled areas

Kaiser¹,

Spencer²

1994

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

183

125

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“…By contrast, observations made using submersibles, reported in Stevens (1990), found that trawling caused no observable injuries to crabs whereas Butcher et al (1981) found little or no damage to the Jervis Bay (Australia) environment by scallop dredging. These differences in results may well be caused by the different sites used since Creutzberg et al (1987), for example, found that the number of tickler chains on an experimental beam trawl had no effect on the catches of epibenthic animals over a mud substrate but at sandy stations the number of chains used did correlate to the catch. The effects of trawling can be quite subtle.…”

Section: Destruction Of Non-target Benthosmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental impact of trawling on the seabed: a review

1993

Biological Conservation

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Fishers have been complaining about the effects of bottom trawl gear on the marine environment since at least the 14th century. Trawl gear affects the environment in both direct and indirect ways. Direct effects include scraping and ploughing of the substrate, sediment resuspension, destruction of benthos, and dumping of processing waste. Indirect effects include post-fishing mortality and long-term trawl-induced changes to the benthos. There are few conclusive studies linking trawling to observed environmental changes since it is difficult to isolate the cause. However, permanent faunal changes brought about by trawling have been recorded. Research has established that the degree of environmental perturbation from bottom trawling activities is related to the weight of the gear on the seabed, the towing speed, the nature of the bottom sediments, and the strength of the tides and currents. The greater the frequency of gear impact on an area, the greater the likelihood of permanent change. In deeper water where the fauna is less adapted to changes in sediment regimes and disturbance from storm events, the effects of gear take longer to disappear. Studies indicate that in deep water (>1000 m), the recovery time is probably measured in decades.

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“…The term 'efficiency', as used here, is defined as the number of individuals of the target species caught, expressed as a proportion of the total population in the sampled area. When the efficiency of the gear is increased, the catch rate of some species can eventually reach an asymptote (Creutzberg et al 1987). This suggests that, for some species, the gear may be close to obtaining the best possible sample of that particular species (Creutzberg et al 1987, Rogers & Lockwood 1989.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When the efficiency of the gear is increased, the catch rate of some species can eventually reach an asymptote (Creutzberg et al 1987). This suggests that, for some species, the gear may be close to obtaining the best possible sample of that particular species (Creutzberg et al 1987, Rogers & Lockwood 1989. Although this is a reasonable assumption for relatively immobile animals such as starfish and sea urchins, it may not be relevant to faster animals, such as fish and crabs, which are able to avoid trawls (Main & Sangster 1981).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Improving quantitative surveys of epibenthic communities using a modified 2 m beam trawl

Kaiser¹,

Rogers²,

McCandless³

1994

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The addition of heavy, spiked, linked tickler chains (chain mat) to a 2 m beam trawl without chain mat increased the catch rates of some epibenthic species, but not others. Catch rates of the invertebrates Asten'as rubens, Ophiura ophiura, Liocarcinus holsatus and all combined flatfish species increased. In contrast, the catch rates of the epibenthic teleosts Callionymus spp. decreased, but those of Echiichthys vipera were not affected. Comparisons with data in other studies suggested that this modification increased the catch rates of epifauna to give an improved estimate of population density. Although total biomass of the catch increased with tow durations between 2.5 and 7.5 min, there was no significant effect on estimates of either standardised species abundance or biomass ha-' Although short tows reduce catch sorting time, the variation between samples was greater than for longer tows (7.5 min). Hence, it is suggested that the latter are preferable for estimating population density and community structure, although this may depend on the spatial dimensions and objectives of the study. The results are discussed in the context of the use of the gear as a sampling tool in ecological surveys of epibenthic communities In sublittoral and coastal shelf areas.

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The effect of different numbers of tickler chains on beam-trawl catches

Cited by 43 publications

References 0 publications

Fish scavenging behaviour in recently trawled areas

Fish scavenging behaviour in recently trawled areas

Environmental impact of trawling on the seabed: a review

Improving quantitative surveys of epibenthic communities using a modified 2 m beam trawl

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