The examination of different selectivity studies presented to the workshop showed the technical and practical difficulties in defining a single method to apply in the various situations encountered in the Mediterranean, but the need for using common rules to facilitate the exchange and the comparison of the results was underlined. Fish behaviour, survival after escapement and experimental reliability of statistical methods were discussed. The workshop acknowledged that square meshes are more selective than diamond meshes. It further stressed the need to investigate the selectivity impacts of square meshes on various species of different shapes (e.g. flatfishes) and to evaluate selectivity in economical terms. The workshop recommended the realization of a practical guide for selectivity studies in the Mediterranean and the establishment of a common selectivity database including both technical elements of the experimentations and parameters of selectivity obtained. The need of establishing a network of fishing technologists including the fishing sector representatives was also expressed.

L'examen de differentes etudes presentees durant cet atelier a montre les difficultes techniques et pratiques pour la definition d'une methode unique applicable dans les diverses situations rencontrees en Mediterranee, mais l'accent a ete mis sur la necessite d'utiliser des regles communes pour faciliter l'echange et la comparaison des resultats. Le debat a porte sur le comportement des poissons, leur survie apres echappement et la fiabilite experimentale des methodes statistiques. Il a reconnu que les maillages carres etaient plus selectifs que les maillages en losange et a juge necessaire de continuer a etudier la selectivite des maillages carres pour les especes de formes differentes (par exemple, les poissons plats) et d'evaluer la selectivite sur le plan economique. L'atelier a recommande la realisation d'un guide pratique pour des etudes de selectivite en Mediterranee et l'etablissement d'une base de donnees de selectivite commune comprenant a la fois des elements techniques des experimentations et les parametres de selectivite obtenus, ainsi que la mise en place d'un reseau de technologistes de la peche incluant des representants du secteur de la peche.