Drop chain footgear: A new approach to environmentally friendly inshore Northern shrimp fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

This study compared the effectiveness of a low seabed impact footgear versus a traditional rockhopper footgear on identical inshore Vonin shrimp trawls. The experimental trawl used in this study was designed to be low seabed impact through the reduction of contact area of the footgear by replacing traditional heavy rockhopper footgear with only a few drop chains lightly in contact with the seabed (i.e., drop chain footgear). Results from flume tank testing demonstrated that the trawls were similar in net geometry but the experimental trawl had a 62% reduction in contact area with the seabed compared to the control trawl. Comparative atsea fishing trials revealed that the drop chain footgear trawl has the potential to catch a similar amount of shrimp with appropriate drop chain rigging and modifications. Major by catch species (i.e., turbot, American plaice, and redfish) in terms of percentage of total catch in weight, quantities (i.e., counts), and size (i.e., length distribution) were not significantly different between trawl types. The experimental trawl had significantly lower resistance (i.e., warp tension) than the control trawl, however this did not translate into a detectable reduction in fuel consumption. Although the results are preliminary, this study demonstrated the potential and possibility of using drop chain footgear trawl for the Newfoundland and Labrador (inshore)Northern shrimp fishery. We recommended further studies that would lead to improve/optimize and eventually commercialize the drop chain footgear trawl as a low impact shrimp trawl choice in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.