EC REG. 1967/2006: is square-mesh better selective than larger mesh-size? Comparative experiment in Sicilian trawl fisheries.

We investigated the effect of mesh configuration and mesh size on the codend selectivity of the species aristaeomorpha foliacea and Mullus barbatus, commonly captured in the sicilian trawl fisheries. For each mesh configuration, square- and diamond-mesh, two nominal mesh sizes of 44 mm and 54 mm were tested. For both the species, the mesh configuration plays a role which is as important as mesh size.