Open AccessApplication of Luminescent Netting in Traps to Improve the Catchability of the Snow Crab Chionoecetes opilio
Author(s) -
Nguyen Khanh Q.,
Winger Paul D.,
Wood Jessica,
Donovan Meghan,
Humborstad OddBørre,
Løkkeborg Svein,
Bayse Shan M.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
marine and coastal fisheries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 28
ISSN - 1942-5120
DOI - 10.1002/mcf2.10084
Subject(s) - netting , luminescence , fishery , environmental science , snow , fishing , oceanography , materials science , biology , geography , meteorology , geology , optoelectronics , political science , law
In this study, we investigated luminescent netting as a means to improve the catch rates of snow crabs Chionoecetes opilio . A laboratory experiment was conducted to investigate the intensity and duration of luminescence using time‐lapse photography. We exposed experimental traps to five different treatments of UV light to excite the luminescent fibers in the netting. Our results showed that luminescent netting can be effectively activated to emit light, and that the resulting intensity and duration of luminescence emitted over time depends on the initial duration of UV exposure and the source of light. A fishing experiment was subsequently conducted in eastern Canada to compare the catch rate of traditional and luminescent traps, and to determine how soak time affected catch rate. Results indicate that the effect of luminescent traps on the CPUE (measured as number of crab per trap) depended on the soak time. The CPUE was significantly higher (a 55% increase) in luminescent traps that underwent relatively short soak times (~1 d), but when soak times were longer (~8 d), the CPUE was not significantly different.