Field Study

Article:

Mitigating bycatch of freshwater turtles in passively fished fyke nets through the use of exclusion and escape modifications

Lake Opinicon, Canada

Target catch:

Bluegill and other bony fish

Study Type:

Field study in the wild

Effect on target catch:

Fish catch rates were not impacted by either excluder device. The majority (88%) of fish were retained when the escape chimney was used.

Effect on bycatch species:

The exclusion device with bars across the net significantly reduced turtle catch rates. All turtles were able to escape through the escape chimney.

Reduction technique:

Excluder devices

Bycatch species:

Terrapins

Fishing Gear:

Surrounding nets