In 1972, CECAF’s Sub-committee on Implementation of Management Measures recommended the use of larger meshes (70 mm) stretched, for hakes and seabream in the Eastern Central Atlantic, except in shallow waters within 50 m contour south of Cape Verde. To avoid impairment of fisheries conducted primarily for other species (particularly shrimp, pelagic fish and cephalopods, some of which take small quantities of hake and seabream) the regulations allow the use of meshes less than 70 mm provided the catches of the latter species by vessel concerned in any one voyage does not exceed 20 percent by weight of the total.
The mesh sizes believed to be in use in the various fisheries are shown below:
|
Morocco |
30-40 |
mm |
|
|
Spain |
40 |
mm |
M. merluccius |
|
|
60 |
mm |
Merluccius spp. |
|
Portugal |
65 |
mm |
(since 1976 - previously smaller) |
|
USSR |
60 |
mm |
|
