Prototype Bycatch Reduction Device (BRD) Proof of Concept Data

The data set contains data from the initial “Proof of Concept” research and development phase of shrimp trawl Bycatch Reduction Device (BRD) conducted off of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama by the Harvesting Systems Unit of NOAA Fisheries Service, Mississippi Laboratories. Prototype BRD designs are tested during paired comparisons where the catch of the BRD test net is compared to a net with no BRD (control). The dataset contains the tow information, catch, and length frequency data obtained during the trials. Proof of concept testing generally has a low number of trials and often the BRDs are altered slightly between tows. BRD designs that show promise are provided to the NOAA Fisheries Service Shrimp Trawl Observer Program for full certification tests. Data collected during the certification tests are housed in the observer program database.

To provide initial comparative catch information of prototype Bycatch Reduction Devices.

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Datasheets were checked in the field after sampling and data were checked after entry into the database. The principal investigators review the data for content to ensure the relevance/accuracy of data collected.

Data resides on Networked Attached Storage (NAS) environment. Security patches/updates are immediately applied to the host environment. Data is striped/mirrored using RAID 50 technology to protect data from disk failure. Nightly backups are preformed and files are written to magnetic tape and stored in an onsite / offsite location.

Trawl catch is sorted to shrimp, finfish, non-shrimp crustaceans, other invertebrates, and debris. Shrimp and selected finfish are identified to species. Catch and length frequency data are recorded onto datasheets. Datasheets were checked in the field after sampling and data were checked after data entry. The principal investigators review the data for content to ensure the relevance/accuracy of data collected.