Identification of Danish North Sea trawl fisheries

Abstract

Many North Sea fisheries are mixed-species fisheries, which requires that management take account of technical interaction problems. Therefore, the fisheries should be identified and described with respect to species composition, spatial distribution, vessel characteristics, etc., and yield projections should be made accordingly.

Cluster analysis was used to classify the Danish trawl fisheries in the North Sea in 1988. Classification of individual trips based on the species compositions in value of landings for human consumption resulted in the identification of nine directed fisheries. Some of these were mixed demersal fisheries, whereas others were relatively "clean", being comprised of only a few commercial species.

Classification of annual landings by vessels resulted in candidates for manageable units. The economically most important sub-fleet fished for industrial purposes, while the second most important fleet mainly targeted cod and haddock.

The potential applications of the concept of directed fisheries is discussed.