Guidance for the assessment of the megabenthos bycatch in the bottom trawl in the course of research surveys

Abstract

This study presents a sampling manual of megabenthos bycatch, based on long-term monitoring programms of bottom communities in North Atlantic and Arctic. The present guidance will provide high-quality, reliable, and complete data about benthic communities for conservation and protection of their habitats. This manual will help to optimize sampling and processing of megabenthos by-catches on board a research or fishing vessel and standardize information about megabenthos bycatches for the analysis. The results of the application of this guidance in domestic and foreign studies are discussed.