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Citation: Thorpe, T. and Frierson, D, 2009. Bycatch mitigation assessment for sharks caught in coastal anchored gillnets. Fisheries Research, 98, ps 102-112.
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Link: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/fishres
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Summary:

The potential of modifying gillnets to reduce shark bycatch was investigated in the US Spanish mackerel and spot gillnet fisheries. The modified net had larger floats on the head-rope and inreased weight on the lead-line to increase the tension of the net. Results showed that the catch rate of some shark species was significantly reduced in the modified gillnets. Target catch rates of Spanish mackerel did not differ significantly between control and modified nets of the same mesh size.
Field Studies:
Location Fishing gear Reduction technique Bycatch species Effect on bycatch species Catch Effect on target catch Type
North Carolina, USA Gillnets Tensioning gillnet Sharks Significantly reduced bycatch of some shark species Spanish mackerel and spot No difference in similar mesh size in Spanish mackerel fishery or the spot fishery. The trend was for higher catch rates in modified nets in the spot fishery. In the wild