Nylon nets infused with barium sulfate or other metal compounds that have acoustical detection features for reducing small cetacean bycatch. These may reduce small cetacean and sea turtle bycatch by increasing the likelihood that these animals would “bounce” off the netting. Experimental results show that they can be effective in reducing the bycatch of harbor […]

The Endangered black-browed albatross is threatened throughout its range by commercial fisheries bycatch, primarily from longline vessels. Its vulnerability is due to the fact that, like other albatross species, the black-browed albatross is attracted to the easy food source provided by baited longline hooks, and consequently become hooked and drowned (Reid & Sullivan 2004). Black-browed […]

Molina, J.M. and Cooke, S.J. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas [email protected] A structured literature review of 103 papers was conducted to characterize trends in shark bycatch research.  Gear modifications, such as hook size/type and net size, were the most commonly evaluated technique to reduce shark bycatch.  Early […]

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:166:]]    Researchers at the New England Aquarium (NEAq) work with       the Consortium to assess the survivability of bycatch animals.     It is extremely stressful for a marine creature to be caught,     hauled onto a boat, sorted and then released back into the     ocean. Yet, despite a vulnerability to rapid overexploitation, only in recent years has greater research […]

The Database Includes:Citations for studies that pertain to bycatch reduction approaches.Summaries of the findings for each study.Descriptions of bycatch reduction techniques.Descriptions of fishing methods. Links to studies and study authors, where available. How to Search: Users can search the database by fishing gear, bycatch reduction technique, or non-target wildlife group singly or in combination. This […]

Historically, the Chilean dolphin has been hunted both for food and for crab bait (Reeves et al 2008). Although cetaceans are now protected by law in Chile (Torres et al 1979), regulation enforcement is virtually nonexistent and temptation is high for impoverished fishermen to supplement their income by killing dolphins for bait (Dawson 2009; Reeves […]

  [[wysiwyg_imageupload:165:]]    The New England Aquarium collaborates with the Consortium      for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction to research and develop new     and innovative fishing devices and methods that reduce the     threat of bycatch to sea turtles, large whales, sharks and other     marine animals. Gillnet Modifications Gillnets are thought to account for the highest volume of total fisheries catch worldwide after trawl and […]

The Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction conducts research to understand the nature of interactions between endangered non-target species and fishing operations. Short-finned Pilot Whales and False Killer Whales Duke University scientists have been working with longline fishermen within the Cape Hatteras Special Research Area (CHSRA) to study pilot whale (Globicephala spp.) interactions with the longline […]

O’Connell, C.P., Abel, D.C., Stroud, E.M. and Rice, P.H. The presence of permanent magnets on hook and line and inshore longline gear was tested for its ability to reduce the bycatch of sharks and rays.  Neodymium-iron-boron magnets were affixed to hook and line gear and barium-ferrite magnets were attached to longline gear.  Both types of […]

Fisheries bycatch is the principal threat to many marine mammals. In some cases, bycatch reduction devices have been shown to mitigate the bycatch of non-target species, but the scale of the problem outpaces progress in finding solutions. In particular, bycatch in coastal gillnet fisheries is one of the most immediate threats facing many marine mammal […]

Illumination of gillnets with a light source such as LED lights or chemical lightsticks. Submitted by morgaac on July 24, 2013 – 15:46 Submitted by Kate McClellan on February 12, 2012 – 21:22 Baja California Sur, Mexico Flatfish and elasmobranchs Chemical light sticks reduced green turtle bycatch by 60% Submitted by Kate McClellan on February […]

Lien, J., Barney, W., Todd, S., Seton, R. & Guzzwell, J. In Marine Mammal Sensory Systems, pp. 701-8. Thomas, J.A. & Kastelein, R.A. & Supin, A.Y. (eds). Plenum: New York. Cod traps equipped with pingers resulted in a reduction in collisions with humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Newfoundland, Canada. Traps with alarms caught more fish […]

Large Whale Entanglement Dynamics Workshop Local lobster fishermen and large whale and fisheries scientists met in Woods Hole to discuss large whale entanglements in fishing gear. Presentations from the workshop can be viewed here. International Marine Mammal – Gillnet Bycatch Mitigation Workshop Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA The workshop will focus on assessing the state of […]

NOAA Fisheries Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (US) 1 Humpback Entanglement Rescue (NZ) 3 2011 International Smart Gear Competition (US) 5 Namibia’s Demersal Longline Hake Fishery and the Albatross Task Force 6 Preliminary Report of the Dynamics of Large Whale Entanglements in Fishing Gear Workshop (US) 7 International Symposium on Circle Hooks (US) 12 Attachment Size BCNN […]