Trawl mesh selection of some important commercial fish species in New Zealand

Abstract

The cod‐end mesh selection relationship was investigated for five New Zealand commercial fish species: tarakihi (Cheilodactylus macropterus), sand flounder (Rhombosolea ple‐beia), red gurnard (Chelidonichthys kumu), red cod (Pseudophycis bacchus), and leatherjacket (Parika scaber). Low variance selection factor estimates of 2.54, 1.93, 2.37, 3.58, and 1.98, respectively, were obtained using the covered cod‐end method. Each mean selection factor was then compared to existing estimates available for the same species.