V-cut and bell codend bycatch reduction devices
The V-cut and bell codend bycatch reduction device (BRD) has a:
- bell-shaped codend near the drawstring
- v-cut opening at a set distance from the drawstring.
Refer to the Fisheries (Commercial Fisheries) Regulation 2019 for full specifications.
All nets
- The opening must be in the top of the net.
- Nothing is allowed to cover any part of the opening during trawling.
Otter trawl nets
Bell codend (A in diagram):
- At least the last 33 meshes of the codend must have a circumference of 150% of the rest of the codend.
V-cut opening (B in diagram):
- Have 2 diagonal forward measurements of 10 bars of the net.
- Have a lateral measurement along its forward edge of 11 meshes of the net.
Distance between the drawstring and the v-cut (C in diagram):
- No more than 45 meshes.
Beam trawl nets
Nets under 31mm
Bell codend (A in diagram): at least the last 50 meshes of the codend must have a circumference of 150% of the rest of the codend.
V-cut opening (B in diagram):
- Must have 2 diagonal forward measurements of 15 bars of the net.
- Must have a lateral measurement along its forward edge of 16 meshes of the net.
Distance between the drawstring and the v-cut (C in diagram): no more than 65 meshes.
Nets 31mm or more
Bell codend (A in diagram):
- At least the last 40 meshes of the codend must have a circumference of 150% of the rest of the codend.
V-cut opening (B in diagram):
- Must have 2 diagonal forward measurements of 12 bars of the net.
- Must have a lateral measurement along its forward edge of 13 meshes of the net.
Distance between the drawstring and the v-cut (C in diagram):
- No more than 55 meshes.
Diagram
A diagram of a V-cut and bell codend bycatch reduction device showing the device from both the top and side views.