Retention and discards by sole gillnet fishery in the Adriatic Sea.

Observations onboard of vessels using gillnets for common sole (Solea vulgaris) in three mooring places of northern Adriatic were carriedout for two years for analysing the quali-quantitative composition of retention and discarding. Catch data showed that the retained part wasgreater than the discarded one. Discard of high valuable species was practically nil independently from size; a size-dependent discard wasobserved only for Trigla lucerna. Discards of non-commercial species were made up of few dominant species, such as the crabsLiocarcinus vernalis, Goneplax rhomboidesand Corystes cassivelaunus.