Modified trap openings were developed to reduce juvenile rockfish bycatch in British Columbia spot prawn traps. Smaller trap openings had no impact on rockfish or other non-target species bycatch. A novel bent tunnel opening resulted in no rockfish bycatch and the exclusion of other fish species. However, all trap modifications resulted in reductions in prawn […]
North Atlantic Right Whale | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
The small population of North Atlantic right whales is in danger of extinction. These whales were hunted nearly to extinction by commercial whalers by the end of the 1700s, but today are at risk from entanglement in fishing gear and boat strikes. At least 82% of the North Atlantic right whale population has been entangled […]
Low-profile gillnet testing in the deep water region of Pamlico Sound, NC. | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
Low profile gillnets with a panel height of six feet and no tie downs or additional floats had significantly fewer interactions with sea turtles and caught significantly less bycatch than standard gillnets. Catches of the target species (flounder) were also reduced in the low profile gillnets.
False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) echolocation and acoustic disruption: implications for longline bycatch and depredation | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
An acoustic device designed to deter false killer whales from approaching longlines by reducing the whales’ echolocation performance capabilities was tested on a trained false killer whale. The device, Longline Saver, produced a series of complex, broadband signals (1-250 kHz) at high intensity levels (up to 182 dB). The whale was asked to detect a […]
Effects of square-mesh panels in codends and of haulback delay on bycatch reduction in the oceanic prawn-trawl fishery of New South Wales, Australia | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
Codends modified with rectangular mesh panels (one oriented length-wise in the cod end and one oriented width-wise, each measuring 7 x 11 bars) reduced the weight of discarded bycatch by 46% and 38% respectively but did not significantly reduce the catch of targeted prawns. A haulback delay of 10-15 seconds allowed juvenile red spot to escape […]
Analysis and mitigation of cetacean bycatch in UK fisheries | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
Acoustic pingers placed in the rear of a pair trawl net in the United Kingdom bass pair trawl fishery did not reduce bycatch of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). Multi-monofilament net, placed in the North Sea and West of Scotland gillnet fisheries, had no significant impact on harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) bycatch when compared to traditional […]
Effects of fishing rope strength on the severity of large whale entanglements | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
This study investigated the impact of rope polymer type, breaking strength and diameter in relation to the injury severity of entangled baleen whales, primarily North Atlantic Right whales (Eubalaena glacialis). Fishing gear removed from live and dead entangled whales from the US East Coast and Canadian Maritimes region between 1994 and 2010 were included in […]
Fishing methods to reduce sea turtle mortality associated with pelagic longlines | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
18/0 circle hooks when compared with J hooks significantly reduce loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and leatherback (Dermocheles coriacea) sea turtle bycatch in Atlantic longline fisheries for pelagic swordfish. Circle hooks also reduced the rate of hook ingestion by loggerhead sea turtles. The combination of circle hooks and mackerel bait was the most effective in reducing sea […]
Instructions for Adding an Article Study | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
If you’re logged in, you can click here to add a study Register for an Account or Login First, if you haven’t already, you will need to register for an account. Adding a Study You must be logged in to add an article. Logged-in users can upload new studies to the website in just a few […]
Nylon barium sulphate gillnet reduces porpoise and seabird mortality | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
Metal oxide nets containing barium sulphate (that increased their acoustic reflectivity and probably also their stiffness) reduced the bycatch of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in an eastern Canada demersal gillnet fishery. No difference in catch of commercial fish species, including cod, pollock, haddock, and spiny dogfish, was observed between the nylon and barium sulphate nets. […]
Reducing incidental mortality of Franciscana dolphin Pontoporia blainvillei with acoustic warning devices attached to fishing nets. | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
Pingers are effective in reducing the bycatch of Franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) but increase interactions between fishing gear and South American sea lions (Otaria byronia) in an Argentinian bottom gillnet fishery.
Selective characteristics of a shark-excluding grid device in a Mediterranean trawl | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
This study tested the use of an excluder grid with 90mm bar spacing to reduce bycatch of blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) in demersal trawl fisheries in the Mediterannean. The 90mm excluder grid was not very efficient in reducing blackmouth catshark bycatch because only the larger individuals were excluded, and the target catches of greater forkbeard […]
Effects of hook size on the catch variation, size selectivity, and bycatch of the bottom set longline fisheries targeting nemipterid fishes in the Philippines | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
This study investigated 11 different longline hook sizes to increase catch of nemipterid fisheries while reducing bycatch in the Phillippines. The largest hook demonstrated the lowest catch in count and weight, but did catch larger individual fish. Middle-sized hooks led to higher target catch, but also higher bycatch. The authors suggest that larger hooks would […]
Exchange Profiles | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
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 […]