Discard self-sampling of Dutch bottom-trawl and seine fisheries in 2013

In the European Union, the collection of discard data is enforced through the Data Collection Regulation Framework (DCF) of the European Commission (EC). To comply with these requirements, IMARES coordinates a discards monitoring programme in collaboration with the Dutch fishing industry. Within this project, a ‘reference fleet’ of vessel owners, willing to participate in a self-sampling programme, has been recruited. Fishermen are requested to collect discard samples for a definite number of trips per year. After the discard samples are brought to shore, IMARES collects and analyses these samples. This report summarizes data from this monitoring programme of Dutch demersal fisheries operating in the North Sea in 2013.