Can operational tactics compensate for weaker tensile properties of biodegradable gillnets?

This study aimed at discriminating between the effects of physical strain due to the interactive effect of gear operation and degradation, and degradation only, on the differences in breaking strength, strain, and stiffness at break of polybutylene succinate-co-adipate-co-terephthalate (PBSAT) (biodegradable) and PA6 (nylon) gillnet materials, and to compare the effect of fish species and resulting capture mode on catch efficiency for a roundfish species, Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), and a flatfish species, European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) in the Danish coastal gillnet fishery. The PBSAT meshes were much weaker than PA6 already at the start of the experiment. There were 58% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 38%–79%) less cod and 32% (CI: 17%–49%) less plaice after 4 months in the PBSAT gillnets. We did not observe significant differences between the interactive effect of gear operation and degradation, and degradation only, and in capture modes. We conclude that reduction in catch efficiency results from a combination of weaker mechanical properties worsened by degradation during, e.g., transport and storage, and a species given shape and swimming ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]