The challenge of harvesting common sole (Solea solea) in highly selective trawl fisheries

Common sole (Solea solea) is an economically important species in several European trawl fisheries, yet little is known about the size selective properties of codends used in bottom trawl fisheries targeting sole. This study presents results from a sea trial conducted in the inner Danish waters where common sole is fished in a seasonal trawl fishery using a 90 mm diamond mesh codend with a mandatory large mesh escape panel. To improve understanding of the selectivity in this gear, we in addition tested a plain 90 mm diamond mesh codend without an escape panel. This combination of codend mesh size and large mesh escape panel is part of an ambitious management plan aimed at eliminating bycatch of cod (Gadus morhua) in trawl fisheries in the inner Danish waters. In the fishery for common sole, we found a severe mismatch between gear regulations and minimum conservation reference size of the target species. The outcome is a highly inefficient fishery in which only 22 % (CI: 18–27 %) by weight of the marketable sole is retained in the 90 mm diamond mesh codend. Further, we estimated that 25 % (CI: 16–35 %) of the sole entering the codend would contact the mandatory escape panel and escape, resulting in a total loss of 83 % (CI: 79–87 %) of marketable sole through the mandatory gear. The inefficiency in this fishery demonstrates the need for other means than gear specifications to regulate this type of fishery.