Mullet mesh madness - when is 60mm not 60mm?

On 60mm mesh, the Orion gauge indicates 67mm - under the required 1Kg pressure.

Fishermen who have invested in lightweight monofilament gill net to target species like red mullet may look to use the gear with some trepidation. Using a net gauge that applies the required 1Kg of pressure under EU regulations (introduced to give an accurate reading of much heavier twine used by trawlers and beam trawlers) the soft twine soon stretches to give average readings well over the 60mm! Of course, this also works to advantage at the other end of the scale with some nets that are under 80mm then averaging out well over 80mm!


This will be one of the first jobs from April 1st for the newly formed IFCA (Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority) with its much wider remit to include environmental issues that were not part of the old CSFs responsibility in the same way - and IFCA is no April Fool or Poisson d'Avril as the day is known in France.


A timely publication of research CEFAS carried out aboard Chris Bean's Lady Hamilton last year gives an insight in to just how complicated any form of net legislation is with regard to targeting specific species, especially inshore where those fishermen who work the smallest vessels in the fleet have no option to shift 'further off'!

Project 20: Cornwall red mullet gill net fishery discard reduction

Purpose: To look at the capture of red mullet, and associated species, with different mesh sizes of gill nets. A range of nets will be used, within the range 50-80mm, made up into identical fleets to help determine the desirable net size to reduce the number of discards.
Timing: June to October 2010  

Selectivity of gill nets used in the Cornish RedMullet fishery.