Collaboratively assessing the impact of a restrictor rope on the catch derived from a bottom trawl survey

Fishery-independent surveys are vital for marine resource management, offering unbiased assessments of species abundance. Consistent trawl gear performance, however, is challenging across diverse geographic ranges or with multiple vessels. A trawl modification that has repeatedly been shown to improve consistency across a large depth range is the use of a restrictor rope to limit the width of trawl gear. While its stabilizing impact on gear performance is established, its effect on catch rates is less understood. We assessed the utility of this gear component in a collaborative experiment conducted in southern New England, USA, focusing on the impact of a restrictor rope on catches of the region’s commercially important species in a common trawl survey net. Drawing input from regional stakeholders, this experiment partnered with a commercial fishing vessel to conduct alternate tows, with and without a restrictor rope attached to the trawl doors. Results suggest few or subtle impacts of the restrictor rope treatment on total catches or catch-at-length for the examined species. This research offers valuable insights for standardizing gear performance using restrictor ropes.