Search

The article discusses a research study on Patagonian scallop fishery Zygochlamys patagonica and the invertebrate bycatch composition in the area. A case study of On-Board Observers Program (OBOP) determined the general trends of biomass and bycatch composition through the analysis of 52762 fishing hauls and 219 commercial trips where by catch species were wet-weighed, sorted and counted and grouped in major taxa for the principal component analyses (PCA) from five beds including the SWSAO, Tango B and SWTB. Results showed that lower mean bycatch density corresponds to higher total catch percentage at 39%, the significant differences in Echinodermata and Gastropoda densities in SWSAO bed and the abundance of sessile organisms in the SWTB bed.