Self-spreading helix twine may improve efficiency, reduce bycatch, and give fishermen access to more fishing grounds. Beginning in 2018, David Chosid of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and Dr. Michael Pol tested a self-spreading off-bottom trawl (OBT) against the older design Ruhle trawl, which had become common in the groundfish bottom trawl industry. “At the time, the haddock resource was peaking, and the idea was to develop an off-bottom trawl that fisherman can use to target…

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Paul Molyneaux is the Boats & Gear editor for National Fisherman.

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