Summary
A study was conducted to determine the impact of removing the 'tickler' from in front of ground gear of trawls. The 'tickler' is a length of chain placed in front of the ground gear of trawl gear, which is supposed to increase catches of sharks and rays. Tests were conducted where the 'tickler' was removed and secondary nets (ground gear bags) were placed behind the ground gear to determine the amount and species of fish that escaped capture. The results indicated that removing the 'tickler' from in front of the ground gear reduced the capture of skates and sharks. Therefore, prohibiting the use of 'tickler' chains in critical habitats for skates and sharks could be a beneficial management tool.