Design and assessment of two gear modifications to reduce the benthic impact and fuel intensity of prawn trawling in Australia

Modified ground gear, known as batwing otter boards, created less disturbance to the seafloor than traditional otter boards in the Australian prawn trawl fishery, decreasing bycatch of benthic squirts and starfish by approximately 85-90%. The target catch of both prawns and scallops decreased by about 10%. Modified ground gear, called soft-brush ground gear, reduced bycatch of starfish by 35% but increased bycatch of nektobenthic species including small crabs and non-target prawns in the Australian prawn trawl fishery. The target catch of prawns decreased 10% while scallop catch increased 10%.
Field Studies:

Location	Fishing gear	Reduction technique	Bycatch species	Effect on bycatch species	Catch	Effect on target catch	Type
Australia	Trawls	Modified ground gear	Invertebrates	Reduced bycatch	Shrimp and scallop	Reduced catch by about 10%	In the wild
Australia	Trawls	Modified ground gear	Invertebrates	Reduced bycatch of starfish but increased bycatch of nektobenthic species	Shrimp and scallop	Decreased shrimp catch, increased scallop catch	In the wild