Abstract
We surveyed the bycatch and discard of the shrimp-pot fishery in Hokkaido, Japan, three times during the major fishing period in September 2005. The surveyed catches were analyzed to separate bycatch, discard, and landings. To analyze bycatch and discard, we randomly selected 2 shrimp pots from each of 7 sets, for a total of 14 pots per survey. The total bycatch and discards from the rest of the shrimp pots were also analyzed in each survey. The total catch averaged 12 species. Coonstripe and pink shrimp catches averaged 74.7 kg/haul and 12.7 kg/haul, respectively. The weight of the bycatch averaged 33.4 kg/haul. The bycatch consisted mainly of snail fishes(5.1%), brittle stars(5.0%), and short-spined sea urchins(4.1%). Our analysis showed that the ratio of discard was 0.38, the rate of the discard was 27.4%, and the discard per unit effort was 33.4 kg/haul. The Hokkaido shrimp-pot fishermen discarded all of the bycatch except shrimps. Hence, the weight of the bycatch was equal to the weight of the discard. Our results comprise preliminary data that can be used to find ways to reduce bycatch and discard in the shrimp-pot fishery.