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Factors associated with bycatch of marine mammals in United Kingdom static net fisheries

Submitted by lweiss on

An analysis of records of static net bycatch sampling in the United Kingdom from 1996-2023 found that use of acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs) reduced harbor porpoises bycatch per haul (BpH) to 0.23 of the background rate. BpH increased for harbor seals and grey seals (Phoca vitulina and Halichoerus gryphus) when ADDs were used. Current efforts to reduce harbor porpoise bycatch may be increasing seal mortality in the same fisheries. 

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2022 and 2023 Independent Proof of Concept Testing for the Deepwater Horizon Restoration Project: Reducing Juvenile Sea Turtle Bycatch through Development of Reduced Bar Spacing Turtle Excluder Devices

Submitted by lweiss on

Turtle excluder device (TEDs) with reduced bar spacing may help to reduce bycatch of small sea turtles that can pass through the deflector bars of standard TEDs. A bent bar top opening TED installed at 55°, a bent bar, bottom opening TED installed at 45°, and straight bar, top opening TED installed at 55° were evaluated. None of the TEDs significantly reduced total catch or bycatch. However, the bent bar, bottom opening TED and straight bar, top opening TED both significantly reduced invertebrate (largely jellyfish) catch. 

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Harnessing solar energy to reduce sea turtle bycatch

Submitted by lweiss on

Solar powered LED lights flashing at a 10% duty cycle (5Hz, 20 min on, 180 mins off) attached to gillnets resulted in a 63% reduction in predicted mean sea turtle bycatch rates. This falls within the range found in previous studies that looked at static lights (40-90% reduction in bycatch), suggesting sea turtle bycatch can be reduced with less power consumption.  

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Harnessing solar energy to reduce sea turtle bycatch

Submitted by lweiss on

Solar powered LED lights flashing at a 10% duty cycle (5Hz, 20 min on, 180 mins off) attached to gillnets resulted in a 63% reduction in predicted mean sea turtle bycatch rates. This falls within the range found in previous studies that looked at static lights (40-90% reduction in bycatch), suggesting sea turtle bycatch can be reduced with less power consumption.  

Read More