Evaluation of exclusion grids to reduce the bycatch of dolphins, turtles, sharks and rays in the Pilbara trawl fishery | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction

Stephenson, P.C., Wells, S., King, J.A. Fisheries Research Report, Department of Fisheries of Western Australia Fisheries Research Division, Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, PO Box 20, North Beach, Western Australia 6920 +61 8 9203 0111 [email protected] A semi-flexible exclusion grid with a bar spacing of 15.5 cm reduced dolphin bycatch in the Pilbara trawl fishery by close to 50% and reduced the bycatch of sea turtles, large sharks and rays. However, the fate of the dolphins that encountered the grid and escaped is unknown.