Use of Positively Buoyant Ground Cables and Sweep to Reduce Seabed Contact and to Enhance Species Selectivity

This project is a collaboration with Capt. Kelo Pinkham of Boothbay, and aims to modify a bottom trawl and associated gear to reduce the contact with the seabed, and to decrease the retention of flatfish in catches targeting cod and haddock. Dana Morse and the team will travel to the Flume Tank facility at Memorial University in Newfoundland for testing of a model trawl system, and then build a full-scale prototype. Field trials will commence in the spring of 2007 from Capt. Pinkham’s boat, F/V Jeanne C.