Semi-circle plate spreading gear

A new bottom trawl gear consisting of semicircular HDPE sections, "Semi-circle spreading gear" - SCSG provides approx. 9% more spreading than a rockhopper gear. Tank experiments and video filming has shown that SCSG is very stable while towing, and that it is not sensitive to variations in the rigging or changes in trawl geometry, i.e. it does not "dig" or "fly" as earlier prototypes of the self-spreading ground gear have tended to. In addition, the semicircle-shaped profiles of the SCSG slide easily over the bottom and goes easily over rocks, etc. Preliminary results from the cruises performed in 2013 and 2014 suggest that the SCSG fish as well as, or better than the rockhopper gear. This is because of less space between the semi-circle sections that not allow fish passing through them. Feedback from the fishermen who have been involved in the fishing trails that the new gear is much easier to work with on deck. The new gear has thus great practical and commercial potential, and further development will focus on material choice to reduce wear. Contact person: Eduardo Grimaldo (Eduardo.Grimaldo@sintef.no).