Prediction of Selection Factors in a Tropical Trawl Fishery

Abstract

THE discovery of a potential trawl fishery in an under-developed region may lead to the rapid expansion of the mechanized fleet and the exhaustion of the resource in a very few years; this has recently occurred in Liberia¹ and appears to be happening in Ghana². If it were possible, in the early stages of development, to introduce appropriate mesh-size regulations (together with a vessel-licensing system) the exploitation of the resources might be placed on a more rational basis; but it is characteristic of such a situation both that the research facilities are limited and that the exploited stocks comprise a variety of species, each of which will be selected differently by a particular mesh-size. Devold³ comments on such a situation, which has now arisen through the introduction of modern trawlers on the Brazilian coast.