In 2015, NPF Industry Pty Ltd launched the Northern Prawn Fishery’s Bycatch Strategy 2015-2018 with the vision to reduce small bycatch by 30% in three years. A key component of the strategy was industry innovation and through this process the Kon’s Covered Fisheyes Bycatch Reduction Device (BRD) was developed.In 2016, at-sea testing of the Kon’s Covered Fisheyes Bycatch Reduction Device (BRD) was conducted in the Gulf of Carpentaria to determine its effectiveness in reducing small bycatch in the tiger prawn fishery compared to a currently legislated device. The device was found to significantly reduce small bycatch by approximately 36.7%, with commercial prawn catch increasing by an average of 0.5%. The device proved to be easy and safe for crew to use and due to the significant reduction in bycatch, the time taken for crew to process the catch was reduced.
Year
Journal/Publisher Name
NPF Industry Pty Ltd
Page #s
37
Contact information
adrianne@npfindustry.com.au
Summary
File attachments
Field Studies
Kon's Covered Fisheye BRD Trial Report
Study Type
Field study in the wild
Location
North Coast, Australia
Target catch
Prawns: White Banana (Fenneropenaeus merguiensis), Red-legged Banana (F. indicus), Brown Tiger (Penaeus esculentus), Grooved Tiger (P. semisulcatus), Blue Endeavour (Metapenaeus endeavouri), and Red Endeavour (M. ensis)
Effect on bycatch species
Reduced bycatch if small individuals by 37.6%
Effect on target catch
Increased by .05%
Bycatch species
Reduction technique
Fishing Gear