FLUME TANK TESTING OF AN INNOVATIVE FOOTGEAR TECHNOLOGY USING SIMULATED SEABEDS

Abstract

There have been many advancements in bottom trawls to reduce physical and biological impacts on benthic habitats. In this study, an innovative aligned-rolling footgear was designed and evaluated for use in the Northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) fishery in Eastern Canada. We document a novel technique for comparing traditional and experimental footgears using engineering models and simulated seabed conditions in a flume tank. Footgears were compared using direct observation and by measuring warp load during simulated smooth, semi-rough, and rough seabed conditions in contact with bosom or wing footgear sections. Results revealed that the traditional footgear bottom trawl experienced significantly higher warp loads for smooth (0.26 t higher), semi-rough (0.68 t higher), and rough seabed conditions (0.74 t higher) in the bosom section. In the wing section, traditional bottom trawl produced significantly higher warp loads for smooth (0.38 t higher) and rough seabed conditions (0.30 t higher). Bottom trawl with aligned-rolling footgear reduces seabed contact up to 71.5% depending upon depth of penetration modelled. To our knowledge, this study represents the first attempt at using simulated seabed conditions in a flume tank testing footgear technology.