Management strategies of the impacts of trawling and bycatch on fishery sustainability

Trawling has remained a controversial method of fishing from inception due to the perceived lack of selectivity of the fishing gear (trawl net) and the resultant capture of large quantities and diverse non-target species, including endangered species such as sea turtles, as well as its effects on the marine ecosystem. Fishing with bottom trawls has extensive effects on marine life and threatens seafloor integrity. The impacts of trawling on the physical, chemical, and biological environment of the marine ecosystem, as well as on the diversity and quantity of by-catch and discards, remain poorly documented in tropical waters. This review article, besides analyzing the impact of trawling, highlights the need to adopt policies and practices that reduce by-catch, to ensure ecosystem-based management to ensure the long-term sustainability of oceanic resources, and to adopt a precautionary approach, with emphasis on reducing and, if possible, avoiding discards completely.