Hydrodredge: Reducing the negative impacts of scallop dredging

A hydrodredge was tested using water pressure created from the hydrodynamics of the gear to lift scallops out of the seabed. The hydrodredge when compared to a more traditional dredge increased catch of surface-dwelling scallops but decreased catch of deeper-dwelling scallops. Bycatch of starfish, crabs and urchin were less likely to suffer fatal injuries in the hydrodredge.
Field Studies:

Location	Fishing gear	Reduction technique	Bycatch species	Effect on bycatch species	Catch	Effect on target catch	Type
United Kingdom	Dredge	Hydrodynamics	Invertebrates	Reduced likelihood of mortality	Scallops	Decreased for deep-dwelling scallops, increased for surface-dwelling species	In the wild