Using tickler chains to promote more environmentally benign trawls in an Australian penaeid fishery

There has been an increasing emphasis on reducing the environmental impacts of penaeid trawls by modifying their anterior sections. In one Australian estuary, this approach has culminated in a new generic trawl comprising a slightly smaller mesh size, and steeper and shorter side panels than traditional trawls, combined with a top panel extending forwards of the bottom panel (termed ‘lead-ahead’) and no headline floats. This study sought to investigate if an additional simple, cumulative modification (tickler chain) might help promote adoption of the new trawl, via improved penaeid catches. Six volunteer fishers towing pairs of either the traditional or new trawls in double rigs were asked if an observer could accompany fishing trips, and alternately attach a light tickler chain (∼3 kg) anterior to the ground gear of one trawl. Regardless of the trawl design, the tickler chains significantly increased the catch weights of penaeids, but relatively more so in the new trawls (by 1.11 × vs 1.08 × ). The tickler chains also significantly increased the number and weight of total bycatch in the traditional trawls (by up to 1.22 × ), but not in the new trawls—although there were variable species-specific effects. In terms of total effects, the data support using tickler chains to increase the efficiency of the new trawls and their cumulative benefits, and could be promoted to facilitate broader inter- and intra-fleet adoption.