English to French Other Fisheries

Recommandations
• The Scientific programme should investigate inter alia:
o Maximum soak time (the WG discussed a period of 24 hours).
o Technical measures: minimum mesh size (the WG discussed the Hake Recovery Plan in Areas VI and VII which calls for 120mm mesh); maximum length of nets.
o Maximum number of nets per vessel (the WG discussed carrying only that which could be recovered in one trip – it was agreed that nets were not to be left fishing between trips).
o Marking of gear. The WG discussed the importance of this, and recommended that visual means alone were inadequate and that the use of transmitters should be considered.
o By-catch in this fishery.

These recommendations have some caveats, both from the fisheries and environmental sectors. Questions were raised by Bird Life International over by-catch and sustainability issues in the Hake fishery and by the Irish delegation on the ***make-up of the whole package***. One member (WWF) is opposed to any reopening of the deep water gillnet fishery until sustainability, by-catch and discarding issues are addressed.