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Experiments using squid dyed with Brilliant Blue dye were undertaken aboard tuna longline vessels off East Cape, New Zealand, to determine the dyed baits ability to reduce the incidental capture of seabirds.  Significant differences in catch rates between bait types were observed when all species were combined and for seabird mortality, but the authors identified problems with the statistical design, which make the results not very convincing and therefore inconclusive.  In addition, at sea observations of seabird behavior during the deployment of the longline gear, sugge

Tests were conducted aboard Canadian longline vessels targeting swordfish to determine if there were differences in the catch rates and size composition of swordfish and bycatch species caught by monofilament and multifilament nylon gangions.  No significant differences in the mean lengths of swordfish were found between the two nylon gangions but catch rates did differ significantly, with more swordfish caught on the monofilament gangions.  There was also a significant difference in catch rates between the two gangions for blue sharks and pelagic stingrays, with more animals caug