Otter guards in river fyke‐net fisheries: effects on catches of eels and salmonids

• Published in: Fisheries Management and Ecology
• Main Authors: Koed, A., Dieperink, C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1999
• Subjects: Anguilla anguilla
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2400.1999.00125.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1046%2Fj.1365-2400.1999.00125.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1046/j.1365-2400.1999.00125.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1046/j.1365-2400.1999.00125.x

The effects of otter guards on the fishing efficiency of eel fyke‐nets were investigated in two Danish rivers. The otter guards were made of 75‐mm mesh netting and were placed across the fyke entrance. The fishing efficiency was measured as catch‐per‐unit effort and hauling time. Guard nets were mounted in half the fyke‐nets, while the other half served as controls. After every haul, the fyke‐nets with guard nets were returned to controls and vice versa . For legal‐sized eels and salmonids, the guard‐net significantly ( P < 0.05) reduced the catches, causing a 30% reduction of the eel catch and a 53–55% reduction of the salmonid catch. The use of otter guards significantly increased the hauling time. The average time used for hauling a guarded fyke‐net was increased by 15–25% for both upstream‐ and downstream‐oriented fyke‐nets, respectively. Blockages caused by water‐borne debris appear to be the main cause of problems. Anguilla anguilla , by‐catch, eel, fyke‐net, otter guards, salmonid.