This paper describes current research on selectivity of bottom trawls conducted by the Netherlands Institute for Fisheries Research (RIVO-DLO) with emphasis on fish behaviour. The research is aimed at reducing unwanted by-catch in bottom trawling and beam trawling by changing the design of the net or the rigging. Some release of cod can result from raising the fishing line of a bottom trawl whilst leaving the groundrope on the seabed. Separation of whiting from cod was not complete. Large-meshed top panels in beam trawls are shown to release juvenile cod, but also a substantial amount of marketable whiting. Flatfish catches were hardly affected, but more research is necessary for definite conclusions. It is clear that relatively simple modifications in the design of fishing gears can improve species selectivity.
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