Summary
This study tested the use of an excluder grid with 90mm bar spacing to reduce bycatch of blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) in demersal trawl fisheries in the Mediterannean. The 90mm excluder grid was not very efficient in reducing blackmouth catshark bycatch because only the larger individuals were excluded, and the target catches of greater forkbeard fish (Phycis blennoides) and (to a lesser extent) Norwegian lobster (N. norvegicus) was reduced. Results of modeling suggest that reducing the grid bar spacing to 70mm would provide a better trade-off of reducing blackmouth catshark bycatch while keeping a high catch rate of greater forkbeard and Norwegian lobster.