Unanswered Forum Topics

Experimental studies were conducted over a three year period (August 2008-December 2011) to determine the effects of changing traditional J-hooks baited with squid bait to circle hooks (offset and non offset) with mackerel bait on sea turtle interactions. Studies were carried out aboard pelagic longline vessels targeting swordfish in the tropical northeast Atlantic Ocean. Overall, sea turtle interactions were reduced when circle, compared to J-hooks were used. However species specific differences did occur.

A population viability analysis and evaluations of bycatch mitigation techniques were used to investigate the impact of bycatch mortality on the populations of four freshwater turtles (common snapper, Chelydra serpentina, eastern musk, Sternotherus odoratus, northern map, Graptemys geographica, and painted, Chrysemys picta) incidentally captured in small-scale commercial fisheries operating in Lake Opinicon, Ontario, Canada.  Two approaches to bycatch reduction were investigated.

The authors conducted an extensive literature review to determine if Sea Lion Excluder Devices (SLEDs) allow sea lions to escape from trawl nets and if they subsequently survived. In addtion, the literature was reviewed to determine if head trauma was likely when sea lions come into contact with stainless steel SLED grids. According to the literature, SLEDs are effective in reducing sea lion bycatch in trawl nets and resulted in a reduction of observed sea lion mortalities.