Fishing Method System

The North Sea, English Channel, Skagerrak, and Kattegat are all part of the Greater North Sea ecoregion. Pelagic species (mainly herring and mackerel) make up a large share of the region's overall commercial fish landings. Benthic and demersal finfish landings (mainly haddock, sandeel, flatfish, and cod) are also noteworthy.

Otter trawls operate largely in the northern North Sea and the Skagerrak, targeting haddock, cod, whiting, anglerfish, megrim, and plaice, with economically important bycatches of Nephrops and several flatfish species.

In the southern North Sea and the eastern English Channel, the otter trawl fleet operates with mesh sizes less than 100 mm, catching a varied mix of fish and shellfish species (including cephalopods) and, in muddy areas, Nephrops.