An assessment of discarded catches from the bottom pair trawling fishery in southern Brazil

Onboard discards of a fraction the catch can be considered one main issues related to bottom trawling fisheries. The magnitude and composition still need better understood. We assessed industrial pair fishery’s from southern Brazil by monitoring 159 fishing hauls during four trips. From 318.9 mt captured, 77.7 t were discarded (24%). per haul highly variable, on average 488.9 kg (95% CI: 433.6-544.2 kg) 31% CI 28-34%) total. rejected comprised 64 species, 37 teleosts (78.4% in weight) 13 elasmobranchs (21.3% weight), besides crustaceans, mollusks, cnidarians, echinoderms. three most commercially important species region (Umbrina canosai, Cynoscion guatucupa, Micropogonias furnieri) accounted for 13% biomass, them individuals under 20-25 cm. discard rates did not change over last 40 years; however, biomass both teleost fishes decreased sharply, reflecting abundance decrease these groups region. This work highlights management measures reduce fishery Brazil.