Catches of Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) in deepwater ghost-fishing gillnets on the Norwegian continental slope

Fishing gear may continue to fish after it has been lost. Large catches have been observed during cruises to retrieve lost gillnets in Norwegian waters, especially in the fishery for Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides). The Norwegian Greenland halibut is overexploited, and there is serious concern about the effect of lost nets on this stock. Catches in deliberately lost gillnets were studied in the fishery for Greenland halibut off the coast of mid-Norway in July 2000 and June 2001. Gillnet fleets were deployed at depths of between 537 and 851 m, and the soak time ranged from 1 to 68 days. Most of the catch consisted of the target species, and the proportions of different species did not change with soak time. All individuals caught were categorized in terms of seven condition states. A gradual shift from fresh to decomposed individuals over time was evident. The catching efficiency of gillnets decreased with soak time, presumably due to the weight of the catch causing the headline height to decrease, and after 45 days was only about 20-30% of that of nets used in the commercial fishery. Catch rates were estimated after stabilization at 67-100 and 28-43 kg per day per gillnet fleet in 2000 and 2001, respectively. The results indicated that gillnets lost in this area continue to fish for long periods of time. Annual losses of nets need to be quantified in order to estimate the effects of ghost fishing on stock levels, a figure that is currently lacking. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.