Experiment to Evaluate Gear Modification on Rates of Sea Turtle Bycatch in the Swordfish Longline Fishery in the Azores Phase 3
Year:
2004
Journal/Publisher Name:
Final Project Report submitted to the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service. Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research, University of Florida, Gainesville 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. Circle hooks decreased the rate of throat hooking in loggerhead sea turtles caught in the Azores longline swordfish and blue shark fishery. 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.
| Location | Fishing gear | Reduction technique | Bycatch species | Effect on bycatch species | Catch | Effect on target catch | Type |
| Azores | Hooks-and-Lines | Circle hooks | Sea Turtles | Decreased throat hooking | Swordfish and blue shark | In the wild |