Comparison of physical properties and fishing performance between biodegradable PLA and conventional PA trammel nets in grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) and red-lip mullet (Liza haematocheila) fishery

Mengjie Yu; Yanli Tang; Minghua Min; Bent Herrmann; Kristine Cerbule; Changdong Liu; Yilin Dou; Liyou Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115545

Comparison of physical properties and fishing performance between biodegradable PLA and conventional PA trammel nets in grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) and red-lip mullet (Liza haematocheila) fishery

Mar Pollut Bull. 2023 Oct:195:115545. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115545. Epub 2023 Sep 16.

Authors

Mengjie Yu¹, Yanli Tang², Minghua Min³, Bent Herrmann⁴, Kristine Cerbule⁵, Changdong Liu¹, Yilin Dou¹, Liyou Zhang¹

Affiliations

¹ Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, 266003 Qingdao, Shandong, China.
² Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, 266003 Qingdao, Shandong, China. Electronic address: tangyanli_lab@163.com.
³ East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, 200090 Shanghai, China. Electronic address: minmh@ecsf.ac.cn.
⁴ SINTEF Ocean, Fishing Gear Technology, Trondheim, Norway; UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; DTU Aqua, Technical University of Denmark, Hirtshals, Denmark.
⁵ SINTEF Ocean, Fishing Gear Technology, Trondheim, Norway; UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.

PMID: 37722264
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115545

Abstract

Marine plastic pollution and continuous capture of marine animals, so-called "ghost fishing", by abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) are global concerns. This study investigated whether biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) monofilaments can be used to replace conventionally used non-biodegradable polyamide (PA) in trammel net fishery for limiting ALDFG associated effects. It evaluated the physical properties of PLA and PA monofilaments and compared fishing performance of PLA and PA trammel nets in a commercial mullet fishery in the Yellow Sea, China. Although PA monofilament exhibited superior physical properties, no significant differences in catch efficiency between PA and PLA trammel nets were observed. Fish of both species were mainly captured by pocketing which can further explain observed similar catch efficiency. These initial results suggest a potential for applying biodegradable materials in trammel net fisheries. Therefore, further long-term testing is encouraged to investigate whether this promising performance is persistent over long-term.

Keywords: ALDFG; Biodegradable materials; Catch efficiency; Ghost fishing; Marine plastic pollution; Trammel nets.