November 2025

Circle hooks (non-offset 16/0 and 18/0) did not significantly reduce the number of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) caught in the Azores longline swordfish and blue shark fishery when compared with non-offset and offset 9/0 J hooks. Use of circle hooks decreased the rate of throat hooking in loggerhead sea turtles. Circle hooks (non-offset 16/0 […]

Acoustic Harassment Devices were not found to be effective in deterring New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri) from mid-water trawls in the New Zealand hoki fishery. Sea Lion Escape Devices are undergoing testing in New Zealand˙s hoki trawl fishery (for fur seals) and the squid trawl fishery (for Hookers˙s sea lion). Preliminary results indicate squid […]

Historically, the whale shark has been hunted for its meat and liver oil. Whale shark fins are considered inferior in quality and the species is generally not targeted for its fins, although a market for them does exist in Asia due to their massive size (Norman 2005). Despite the fact that there is a paucity […]

This paper focuses on mitigation measures specified by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) related to threatened seabirds foraging in the south Atlantic Ocean. The authors developed an ecological risk assessment for various combinations of mitigation measures to protect five threatened albatross and petrel populations, comparing those specified by ICCAT to […]

Pearl Nets, a passive acoustic deterrent, were tested in commercial gillnet fisheries in the Western Baltic Sea. Compared to a control, the Peal Nets reduced harbor porpoise bycatch and maintained target catch rate for Atlantic cod.

The Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction was founded in 2004 by Duke University, Maine Lobstermen’s Association, New England Aquarium, and University of New Hampshire. Blue Water Fishermen’s Association joined the Consortium shortly thereafter. Administered by Dr. Timothy Werner of OAI Consulting and UMASS-Boston, the Consortium supports collaborative research between scientists and the fishing industry to identify practical […]

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 […]

This study evaluated the cetacean interactions with a bottom-set net fishery along the mainland Portuguese Southern coast (Algarve) from 2018-2022. Depredation by bottlenose dolphins occurred in 17.7% of hauls, while bycatch occurred in

The Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction, in collaboration with Ocean Associates, Inc., and with funding from Broadreach, is pleased to announce the availability of grants for reducing marine bycatch. Ocean Associates, Inc., in collaboration with the Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reductionand with funding from the National Marine Fisheries Service Office of International Affairs andSeafood Inspection, […]

There was no significant difference in the number of loggerhead sea turtles caught in the Azores longline swordfish and blue shark fishery between straight 16/0, offset 16/0, and offset 18/0 circle hooks. Circle hooks decreased the rate of throat hooking in loggerhead sea turtles caught in the Azores longline swordfish and blue shark fishery. Straight […]

 This study assesses bycatch and depredation  by sharksand odontocetes in the French Polynesian longline fishery between 2000 and 2018, and finds that less than 2% of the catch had been depredated, but shark bycatch was high (20,000 sharks annually, 0.5 shark every 1000 hooks). Conversely, odontocete bycatch was comparatively low  (13 occurrences in 18 years), […]

California seeks to implement more restrictions on gillnet fishing in its State and adjacent Federal waters. See: https://www.seafoodsource.com/california-bill-would-further-limit-gilln…. If you follow what is happening globally with gillnets, which some people call “curtains of death,” this new but not original call for a ban using them off California is noteworthy. Why would CA consider such a […]

Circle hooks significantly reduce loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and leatherback (Dermocheles coriacea) sea turtle bycatch in Atlantic longline fisheries. Swordfish catch decreased when circle hooks were baited with squid but increased when baited with mackerel. Tuna catch increased when circle hooks were baited with squid but decreased when baited with mackerel.

EdgeTech is a leading manufacturer of underwater technology solutions.  The company is known worldwide for its high quality products that include: deep sea acoustic releases, pop-up release systems, shallow water and long life acoustic releases, side scan sonars, sub-bottom profilers, bathymetry systems, AUV and ROV-based sonar systems, combined and customized solutions.  In addition to the […]