We are seeking proposals to develop a 3/8” diameter endline with 1700lb virgin breaking strength that is comparable to those currently used in northwest Atlantic lobster pot fisheries. The concept is to use a rope that is practical for many pot fisheries while facilitating escape should whales come into contact with them. Innovative “whale-release” ropes […]
April 2025
Expert Meeting to Develop Technical Guidelines to Reduce Bycatch of Marine Mammals in Fisheries | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
The United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization convened experts, including Consortium scientists, to produce technical guidelines on how to best prevent and mitigate marine mammal bycatch in fisheries. The draft report was reviewed and adopted by participants at the FAO “Expert meeting on the development of technical guidelines to reduce bycatch of marine mammals in […]
Experimental testing of acoustic alarms (pingers) to reduce bycatch of harbor porpoise, Phocoena phocoena, in the state of Washington | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
Pingers do not reduce bycatch of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) in the salmon and sturgeon gillnet fisheries in northern Washington state but do reduce bycatch of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Pingers did not affect catch of target species, chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and sturgeon (Acipenser sp.).
Fishing Technique Modifications | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
Modifications to fishing gear can significantly mitigate bycatch without reducing a fishermen’s target catch. To read about more examples of gear modifications search the Bycatch Reduction Technique Database. The Consortium works with scientists and fishermen to test gear modifications that have the potential to reduce bycatch, while maintaining target catch, minimizing cost, and preserving fishermen’s […]
The effect of acoustic alarms on the by-catch of harbour porpoises in the Danish North Sea gill net fishery | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
Bottom set gillnets with pingers (LU-1, 8 signals, 145 dB, 300 ms, random signal intervals) attached were tested against standard nets and nets with dummy pingers (double blind) to determine if they could reduce the incidental capture of harbour porpoises. The proportion (number of nets with porpoises/number without) of harbour porpoise bycatch was reduced from […]
Evaluation of a pound net leader designed to reduce sea turtle bycatch | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
An experimental leader design was tested on pound nets in the Chesapeake Bay in 2004 and 2005 to determine their effectiveness in reducing the incidental catches of sea turtles. The experimental design consisted of replacing the top two thirds of the traditional mesh panel leader with vertical ropes spaced 61 cm apart. During the study, […]