The fishing power of trawlers in the western English Channel between 1965 and 1968

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Abstract
Sixty trawlers of over 12·2 m in length landed demersal fish at Brixham, Devon, between 1965 and 1968. Their gross tonnage ranged from 6 to 123 tons, length from 12·2 to 28 m, brake horsepower from 30 to 360 BHP and date of building from 1901 to 1968. During the four year period the average tonnage, length and age of the fleet decreased slightly whereas the average engine power increased from 101 to 147·8 BHP. The fishing power of each vessel was calculated from its catchrate of total demersal species and of plaice by comparison with a standard group using a modification of Gulland's (1956) method. Significant positive correlations between fishing power and engine power were found. The only other significant correlation was that of total demersal fishing power on tonnage; this was negative and accounted for only 6% of the variance. It was shown that the fishing power of individual vessels varied with time (the average trend was upwards) as a result of a factor (or factors) which had not been included in the analyses. This meant that if the regression equations were used to predict fishing power the result would be biassed. One of the factors responsible was thought to be skipper ability. The published regression coefficients relating fishing power and brake horsepower of motor trawlers in European waters were compared and were found to have a coefficient of variation of 27%.

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