Pot-gear modifications or sea lion exclusion devices (SLEDs) were tested in the Australian West Coast rock lobster pot fishery to reduce bycatch of Australian sea lion pups and juveniles. Although low levels of interactions in this preliminary study make testing the efficacy of the gear modification difficult, early tests indicate the SLEDs do not reduce rock lobster catch in shallow water. In deep water, redneck-batten and redneck-bolt pots reduced lobster catches but in fingerneck-bolt pots, there was no significant difference in catch from normal pots. Pot-gear modifications are mandatory in this fishery.
Field Studies:

Location	Fishing gear	Reduction technique	Bycatch species	Effect on bycatch species	Catch	Effect on target catch	Type
Australia	Traps	Trap guards (T-bars, otter guards)	Pinnipeds		Lobster	Do not reduce target catch in shallow water; varied effects in deep water	In the wild