The laws of many countries oblige fishermen to throw back undersized fish, but the fish are often so badly injured by the mesh of fishing nets that they die anyway. To prevent this, Nordurnet of Iceland proposes making a trawler net shaped like two ice-cream cones joined at their narrow ends (WO 98/25452). Big fish are caught in the mesh as the leading cone narrows, but the fast-flowing water in the neck forces smaller fish through into the second cone and then out to safety.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Technology
Google shouldn鈥檛 be pressuring schools to use its AI
91色情片
Technology
Australia鈥檚 social media ban faces high court challenge
News
Technology
The nuclear waste repository in Finland designed to outlast modern civilisation
Features
Technology
How did the biggest crypto heist in history just happen?
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles