§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the difference is in(a) species and (b) size of fish caught between paired trawling and single vessel towing. [150296]
§ Mr. BradshawIn 2003 fishing vessels using single trawl gears caught a much wider range of species than those using pair trawl gears. While both single and pair trawlers caught predominantly more pelagic species, a greater proportion of landings by pair trawlers comprised pelagic species than by single trawlers.
Information on fish sizes is collected for marketing purposes. However since this is recorded as size bands which differ between species, and because the grading of fish is often not recorded, it is not possible given the data available to determine how the size of fish caught differs between the two fishing methods.
Relative percentages of the main species caught by UK fishing vessels using single and pair trawl gears (excluding nephrops gear) in 2003 Percentage of landings by volume Species Pair trawls Single trawls Mackerel 53 28 Herring 15 17 Haddock 7 6 Blue Whiting 5 11 Sprats 4 1 Pilchards 3 1 Horse Mackerel 3 1 Saithe 3 2 Cod 2 5 Whiting 1 1 Plaice 1 4 Nephrops 1 4 Others 2 19