North East Coast Net Grid Trials 2013/14 - Fisheries Science Partnership

The twin rig trawler Aquarius II was chartered for ten days in September and October 2013 to undertake fishing trials in the Nephrops (*Nephrops norvegicus*) fishery off the North east coast of England. The aim of the work was to significantly reduce cod catches in this fishery through collective action with local fishing skippers. The practical approach taken was to insert a design concept under development known as the Net Grid into a trawl and to evidence changes in selectivity towards cod and other commercial species under normal fishing conditions. The objective of the work was to further develop this design with the aim of developing a trawl that reduces catches of cod in the English NE Nephrops trawl fishery without losing the target species of *Nephrops*.