Experiment to Evaluate Gear Modification on Rates of Sea Turtle Bycatch in the Swordfish Longline Fishery in the Azores Phase 3

Location
Azores
Article
Experiment to Evaluate Gear Modification on Rates of Sea Turtle Bycatch in the Swordfish Longline Fishery in the Azores Phase 3
Target catch
Swordfish and blue shark
Study Type
Field study in the wild
Effect on target catch
Straight 16/0 circle hooks caught the most blue sharks in the Azores longline swordfish and blue shark fishery, followed by offset 18/0 circle hooks. Offset 16/0 circle hooks caught the fewest blue sharks.
Effect on bycatch species
There was no significant difference in the number of loggerhead sea turtles caught in the Azores longline swordfish and blue shark fishery between straight 16/0, offset 16/0, and offset 18/0 circle hooks.
Bycatch species
Caretta caretta (Loggerhead turtle)
Fishing Gear
Hooks-and-Lines
Reduction technique
Circle hooks