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Average annual seabird bycatch has declined by 73% in the last 5 years (2002-2006) compared to bycatch from the late 1990s. Despite the recent reductions resulting from mandatory mitigation requirements, seabirds continue to be caught at higher rates than would be expected given results of controlled studies that demonstrated bycatch reductions of nearly 100% with paired streamer lines. The results of this study demonstrate that a few individual vessels continue to be responsible for the majority of seabird bycatch.

Visual cues are important in sea turtle foraging behavior and likely influence their interaction with fishing gear. This studey examined the potential effectiveness of three visual cues: 1) shark shapes, 2) illumination of nets by LED lights, and 3) nets illuminated with chemical lightsticks - for reducing green sea turtle bycatch in gillnets. The presence of shark shapes significantly reduced mean sea turtle catch rates by 54%, but also reduced target catch by 45%. Nets illuminated with LED lights significantly reduced sea turlte bycatch by 40% and had negligable impact on target catch.

Circle hooks and J-style hooks were tested on pelagic longline vessels (US Atlantic) to determine if the use of circle hooks reduced bycatch mortality while maintaining target species catch rates.  0⁰ offset circle hooks were determined to increase the survival of bycatch species at haulback while having little impact on target species catches.  Specifically, J-style hooks had a significantly higher total overall catch rate.  Catch rates of yellowfin tuna in the fall were higher (significantly) for circle hooks and pelagic stingrays (spring caught) were the only sp

Groundfish trawl nets were fitted with a rigid grate in an effort to exclude Pacific halibut while retaining the target species.  The grate was placed in front of the trawl codend, which allowed the target species to pass through while Pacific halibut escape.  Escape rates of Pacific halibut were 94% when the grate was used while 72%, 67% and 79% of Dover sole, rex sole and flathead sole were retained respectively.  These values were significantly different except for flathead sole.  The only size class of halibut that passed through the gate in large proportions were le

Two experiments (1. stow net set from small dory (4 m) and 2.