Active Forum Topics

Fishery-specific solutions to seabird bycatch in the U.S. West Coast sablefish fishery

Study Type
Field study in the wild
Location
U.S. West Coast
Target catch
Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria)
Effect on bycatch species
Albatross attacked baited hooks on floated longlines at significantly higher rates than non-floated longlines, especially beyond the aerial extent of bird scaring lines. Additionally, night setting resulted in significant decreases in albatross bycatch.
Effect on target catch
Scaring lines had no effect on target catch. Night setting increased average retained catch by more than 40%.
Bycatch species
Phoebastria nigripes (Black-footed albatross)
Reduction technique
Bird-scaring devices
Night sets
Fishing Gear
Hooks-and-Lines

Fishery-specific solutions to seabird bycatch in the U.S. West Coast sablefish fishery

Study Type
Field study in the wild
Location
U.S. West Coast
Target catch
Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria)
Effect on bycatch species
Albatross attacked baited hooks on floated longlines at significantly higher rates than non-floated longlines, especially beyond the aerial extent of bird scaring lines. Additionally, night setting resulted in significant decreases in albatross bycatch.
Effect on target catch
Scaring lines had no effect on target catch. Night setting increased average retained catch by more than 40%.
Bycatch species
Phoebastria nigripes (Black-footed albatross)
Reduction technique
Bird-scaring devices
Night sets
Fishing Gear
Hooks-and-Lines

Fishery-specific solutions to seabird bycatch in the U.S. West Coast sablefish fishery

Study Type
Field study in the wild
Location
U.S. West Coast
Target catch
Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria)
Effect on bycatch species
Albatross attacked baited hooks on floated longlines at significantly higher rates than non-floated longlines, especially beyond the aerial extent of bird scaring lines. Additionally, night setting resulted in significant decreases in albatross bycatch.
Effect on target catch
Scaring lines had no effect on target catch. Night setting increased average retained catch by more than 40%.
Bycatch species
Phoebastria nigripes (Black-footed albatross)
Reduction technique
Bird-scaring devices
Night sets
Fishing Gear
Hooks-and-Lines

Seabird longline bycatch reduction devices increase target catch while reducing bycatch: A meta-analysis

Submitted by lweiss on

A meta-analysis of 15 papers examined the general impact of seabird BRD technology upon commercial longline fishing operations. Since there were relatively few papers with data suitable for meta-analysis, the researchers pooled studies with BRD-and fishery-related metrics included as covariates. The analysis found a small (9%) increase in target catch with BRD use in longline fisheries, while seabird bycatch was reduced by 89%.

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Assessing the importance of net color as a seabird bycatch mitigation measure in gillnet fishing

Submitted by lweiss on

 The ability of little penguins (Eudyptula minor) to distinguish  differently colored netting materials was tested under controlled conditions to test gillnet color as a potential bycatch mitigation technique. Clear, green, and orange colored monofilament were tested in the form of a gillnet mimic in an enclosed tank containing 25 penguins. Orange colored monofilament line resulted in lower collision rates with the gillnet mimic (5.5%) in comparison with clear (35.9%) and green (30.8%) monofilament lines.

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Assessing the importance of net colour as a seabird bycatch mitigation measure in gillnet fishing

Study Type
Study in the lab
Location
Melbourne Zoo, Australia
Target catch
N/A
Effect on bycatch species
Orange colored monofilament resulted in lower collision rates with a gillnet mimic versus green and clear monofilament
Effect on target catch
Not tested
Bycatch species
Eudyptula minor (Little penguin)
Reduction technique
Visual deterrents
Fishing Gear
Gillnets

Assessing the importance of net colour as a seabird bycatch mitigation measure in gillnet fishing

Study Type
Study in the lab
Location
Melbourne Zoo, Australia
Target catch
N/A
Effect on bycatch species
Orange colored monofilament resulted in lower collision rates with a gillnet mimic versus green and clear monofilament
Effect on target catch
Not tested
Bycatch species
Eudyptula minor (Little penguin)
Reduction technique
Visual deterrents
Fishing Gear
Gillnets

Assessing the importance of net colour as a seabird bycatch mitigation measure in gillnet fishing

Study Type
Study in the lab
Location
Melbourne Zoo, Australia
Target catch
N/A
Effect on bycatch species
Orange colored monofilament resulted in lower collision rates with a gillnet mimic versus green and clear monofilament
Effect on target catch
Not tested
Bycatch species
Eudyptula minor (Little penguin)
Reduction technique
Visual deterrents
Fishing Gear
Gillnets

Marine Mammal Bycatch Solutions funding!

A second round of funding is now available to support competitive proposals focused on documenting or reducing marine mammal bycatch in non-US fisheries. 

With support from NOAA-Fisheries, we are pleased to announce that new applications for funding are being accepted. Project support is based on availability of funds, which will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis for the most competitive proposals. To apply, please see: https://www.bycatch.org/content/funding-opportunities

Simulation of the entanglement of a North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) with fixed fishing gear.

Submitted by twerner on

A computer model was produced to provide insight into how the Critically Endangered North Atlantic right whale (NARW) becomes entangled. It allows an anatomically accurate model of a NARW Population estimates of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale to "swim" into fishing pot ropes, that incorporate realistic physical properties and can generate measures of physical forces (such as rope tension). Modeled entanglement events showed that those  involving the pectoral flippers with body wraps were more easily generated than entanglements involving the tailstock only.

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Kon's Covered Fisheye BRD Trial Report

Study Type
Field study in the wild
Location
North Coast, Australia
Target catch
Prawns: White Banana (Fenneropenaeus merguiensis), Red-legged Banana (F. indicus), Brown Tiger (Penaeus esculentus), Grooved Tiger (P. semisulcatus), Blue Endeavour (Metapenaeus endeavouri), and Red Endeavour (M. ensis)
Effect on bycatch species
Reduced bycatch if small individuals by 37.6%
Effect on target catch
Increased by .05%
Bycatch species
Invertebrates
Reduction technique
Excluder devices
Fishing Gear
Trawls

Kon's Covered Fisheye BRD Trial Report

Study Type
Field study in the wild
Location
North Coast, Australia
Target catch
Prawns: White Banana (Fenneropenaeus merguiensis), Red-legged Banana (F. indicus), Brown Tiger (Penaeus esculentus), Grooved Tiger (P. semisulcatus), Blue Endeavour (Metapenaeus endeavouri), and Red Endeavour (M. ensis)
Effect on bycatch species
Reduced bycatch if small individuals by 37.6%
Effect on target catch
Increased by .05%
Bycatch species
Invertebrates
Reduction technique
Excluder devices
Fishing Gear
Trawls

Kon's Covered Fisheye BRD Trial Report

Study Type
Field study in the wild
Location
North Coast, Australia
Target catch
Prawns: White Banana (Fenneropenaeus merguiensis), Red-legged Banana (F. indicus), Brown Tiger (Penaeus esculentus), Grooved Tiger (P. semisulcatus), Blue Endeavour (Metapenaeus endeavouri), and Red Endeavour (M. ensis)
Effect on bycatch species
Reduced bycatch if small individuals by 37.6%
Effect on target catch
Increased by .05%
Bycatch species
Invertebrates
Reduction technique
Excluder devices
Fishing Gear
Trawls

Is it all about the haul? Pelagic false killer whale interactions with longline fisheries in the central North Pacific

Submitted by twerner on

This study examined spatial interactions between false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) and the Hawaii-based deep-set longline fishery. False killer whales occur as bycatch in this fishery that exceed allowable levels. Five satellite tagged whales (occurring within three groups) in combination with logbook entries showed that only two groups of whales approximated gear at a distance closer than 50km. On two occasions whales from one group came close enough to interact with gear, and one of six sets involved had no catch which may be explained by depredation.

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