A Note on Bycatch Associated with Deepwater Trapping of Chaceon in the Northcentral Gulf of Mexico

Bycatch associated with deepwater trapping of Chaceon is reported for outer shelf and slope waters of thenorthcentralGulfofMexico. Bycatch wasdominated by theisopod,Bathynomusgiganteus. Other crustacean megafauna consisted of the majid crab, Rochinia crassa, and the portunid crabs, Benthochascon schmitti and Bathynectes longispina. Finfish bycatch included hagfish, Eptatretus springeri, deepwater shark, Centrophorus uyatoand hake, Urophyciscirrata. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cruises to establish geographic and bathymetric distribution of Chaceon were made in May and August, 1989. Sampling design and protocol are detailed in Waller et al. (this volume). Five areas were sampled; one was located east of the Mississippi River and four were west of the River extending to the Louisiana/Texas border (Table 1). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Four crustacean and five finfish species were collected in association with Chaceon trap sets. Occurrence of bycatch by area and depth is listed in Table 2. Distribution of bycatch species is discussed in relation to published accounts of occurrence in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of Mexico) and from cruise records of the R/V Oregon and R/V Silver Bay (Springer and Bullis 1956; Bullis and Thompson 1965).