2. Material and methods
Twelve experimental trammel nets were deployed in rocky and
sandy bottoms off the Portuguese central coast, on a traditional
fishing ground inserted in a marine protected area near Sesimbra,
one of the most important fishing harbours of this coastal sector
(Fig. 1). The target species of this type of net in the selected fishing
ground are soles (Solea soleaandS. senegalensis). The usual procedure of commercial fisheries was followed in nets deployment and
the two sets (6 trammel nets in each bottom type) were located as
close as possible in order to maximize the resemblance in environmental conditions. Water depths at both locations ranged between
15 and 25 m for the two sets and the twelve experimental nets were
monitored by scuba divers for 285 days (9.5 months), from 22 June
2007 to 5 April 2008.