Trap guards (T-bars, otter guards)

Welded bars, netting or bungee cords placed in pot traps to prevent pinnipeds, small cetaceans, or otters from entering them and preying on the target catch (Noke and Odell 2002). This technique can also be used to reduce the mortality of bycatch species that may become trapped and drown.

Displaying 1 - 7 of 7

Field Study 327

Study Type: 

Field study in the wild

Location: 

New Jersey

Target catch: 

Crabs

Effect on bycatch species: 

Modified traps with a 4.5X10 cm frame caught no terrapins compared to the 22 caught in the unmodified traps

Effect on target catch: 

Crab catch rates were 9% higher when the 4.5X10 excluder design was used and crabs were of similar sizes in the two traps (modified and unmodified)

Article: 

The impact of commercial crab traps on northern diamondback terrapins, Malaclemys terrapin terrapin

Bycatch species: 

Reduction technique: 

Fishing Gear: 

Field Study 313

Study Type: 

Field study in the wild

Location: 

New Jersey

Target catch: 

Crabs

Effect on bycatch species: 

Modified traps with a 5X10 cm rectangular frame caught 2 out 15 terrapins during 1992 and 5 out of 51 terrapins during 1995 (remainder caught by unmodified traps)

Effect on target catch: 

Crab catch rates were 11% higher when the 5x10 cm excluder design was used in 1994 (multiple sites) and 49% higher in 1995 (single site)

Article: 

The impact of commercial crab traps on northern diamondback terrapins, Malaclemys terrapin terrapin

Bycatch species: 

Reduction technique: 

Fishing Gear: 

ant

Study Type: 

Field study in the wild

Location: 

Florida

Target catch: 

Blue crabs

Effect on bycatch species: 

The use of bycatch reduction devices would reduce incidental capture of diamondback terrapins

Effect on target catch: 

No effect on the size, sex or number of crabs caught

Article: 

The effectiveness of bycatch reduction devices on crab pots at reducing capture and mortality of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in Florida

Bycatch species: 

Reduction technique: 

Fishing Gear: