The study tested the use of a modified turtle exluder device (TED) - using substantially reduced grill spacing - in order to reduce elasmobranch bycatch in the Guyanese seabob shrimp fishery. The use of the modified TED resulted in a significant reduction (by 40%) of the bycatch rate of elasmobranchs. The TED also was highly effective in reducing the capture of three "Near Threatened" ray species. However, the TED preferentially released larger-sized individuals, meaning that smaller-sized individuals and species, including the "Critically Endangered" Bancroft's numbfish, were still captured by the trawl. Since the modified TED was generally successful in reducing important elements of elasmobranch bycatch, future study will extend the study to determine the impact of the TED on the capture rate of the target seabob shrimp. 

In the Mediterranean Sea, trawl nets have high levels of bycatch of protected species, including the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), with high rates of mortality. A new flexible Turtle Excluder Device (TED) was tested for the first time on a commercial scale in the Mediterranean Sea to assess its effectiveness in reducing bycatch. The results did not show any significant (α = 0.05) loss in terms of commercial catch weight, but resulted in a significant reduction of debris in the codend of the nets in comparison to traditional nets. During the study, no turtles were captured in either the traditional or TED net. While modification of fishing gears require significant investment, the flexible TED is technically feasible in the Mediterranean and may assist in the conservation of loggerhead sea turtles. 

Fishing-related seabird mortalities are considered the most pervasive threat to seabird conservation status. Specifically, warp wire interactions (warp strike) and net captures of trawl vessels in Australia’s Commonwealth-managed Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark fisheries has been identified as a growing concern. This paper describes an industry-led study that developed and tested the effectiveness of 2 experimental mitigation devices for trawl vessels: a "baffler" and a "water sprayer". These were tested against a control which was previously the only prescribed device, called a "pinkie". Seabird interactions were observed during 69 tests comparing the "sprayer" against the control, and 55 tests comparing the "baffler" against the control. Both experimental mitigation devices showed significant reductions in heavy interaction rates (interactions per test) compared with the "pinkie" (83.7 and 58.9%). Based on the findings from this study, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority now allows vessels to meet seabird bycatch mitigation requirements through use of either new device.

Standardized external injury assessments were used to investigate the relative importance of direct anthropogenic and natural threats to northwest Atlantic leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea). The information was used to assess whether the susceptibility to these threats varies between low latitude nesting and high latitude foraging region, by size and sex. Leatherback turtles foraging off the coast of Nova Scotia and at nesting sites in Trinidad were sampled. Combined, 62% showed characteristic marking associated with one injury. No significant differences in injury rate or type between regions, sexes or sizes were found. The proportion of turtles showing injuries suspected to be of anthropogenic origin (34%) was significantly higher than those thought to be associated with predatory behavior (16%). Entanglement with rope was thought to occur in 19% of the injuries and 17% from hooks. This population of leatherback turtles faces potentially common widespread threats from predation and fishing gear across its range.