Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Vol 8 No 5

The primary aim of this project was to investigate the commercial viability of fishing with demersal fish traps and automated handlines in the Scottish demersal fishery. Establishing a demersal fishery with traps and automated handlines would provide the inshore sector with additional options for undertaking an environmentally friendly fishing method. A similar project was successfully undertaken by NAFC Marine Centre in 2005, investigating the commercial viability of automated handline fishing for demersal species such as pollack (Pollachius pollachius), saithe, cod and ling (Molva molva). In this study, two separate projects ran concurrently in the North Sea and the west coast of Scotland.