A study on trash catch of the bottom trawl along Port-Said coast, Egypt

The trash catch of an Egyptian Mediterranean trawling net was analyzed. The catch amounted to approximately 15-20 kg per haul, composed of three categories: Juveniles of commercially important species (86.5%), Low-value small size fish species (5.5%) and non-edible species (7.9% of the total trash catch). In the catch, 35 species were identified representing 22 families. Among these, 11 species are known to be of Red Sea origin. The amount of trash catch constituted about 15-20% of the total landing of trawling net. Three species, Diplodus annularis (recruit in July and August), Dicentrarchus punctatus (recruit in June and July) and Sardinella aurita (recruit in September and October) were the most abundant fish species representing 20.5%, 18.9% and 17.9% of the total trash respectively.