Year:
2018
Journal/Publisher Name:
Fisheries Research
Volume (Issue #):
208
Page #s:
16-21
Contact information:
School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Summary:
The potential benefits of permanent magnets on ocean fish traps targeting snapper (Pagrus auratus) and their abiliy to reduce elasmobranch bycatch. The study deployed over 1000 traps in a fishery-dependent survey in New South Whales, Australia. The incorporation of magnets into fish traps significantly reduced incidences of elasmobranch bycatch by more than a thrid. At the same time, the target species catch rate was significantly increased. Magnets can therefore be used as an effective bycatch reduction device to reduce interactions with elasmobranchs.