The Survival of Small Nephrops Returned to the Sea During Commercial Fishing

The survival of Nephrops rejected from the commercial catches in the Irish Sea fishery has been investigated. Most mortality (40%) occurred either in the trawl, on hauling or within 30 minutes of the cod-end being brought aboard, and thereafter the mortality rate was around 10% per hour. There was no difference in survival between the sexes, and size had little effect. However, a direct correlation was found between survival and the extent of claw damage which, it is suggested, occurred mainly during trawling and hauling operations. The fate of rejected Nephrops returned to the sea is briefly discussed.