Reduction and mitigation of the catch of elasmobranchs, sea turtles, and any other vulnerable marine species (e.g. marine mammals) incidentally captured by trawlers along the Turkish coast

40 trial tows investigated the potential of excluder grids in mitigating bycatch in trawl fisheries in the Northern Levant Sea. Tested gear configurations included a flexible grid with 50mm bar spacing and a rigid grid with 95mm spacing within the trawl extension. The excluder grids significantly reduced bycatch of several elasmobranch species including the velvet-belly lanternshark (Etmopterus spinax) and the blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus), as well as some species of bony fish. Sea turtle bycatch also appeared to be reduced although in general, sea turtle bycatch during the trials was low (two individuals in the control gear). However, catch performance of target shrimp species (Aristaeomorpha foliacea and Aristeus antennatus) were also reduced in the gear equipped with BRDs, indicating a trade-off.