Active Forum Topics

Incidental catch of billfishes and other species by Venezuelan long line vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Western Atlantic ocean: Period 1986-2000

Submitted by Jose Alio on

An analysis is made of the catch, effort and catch per unit effort (CPUE) of the incidental capture of billfish and other species by longline vessels in eastern Venezuela. The information was based on fishing logbooks from 1986 to 2000. The fishing grounds were divided into two sectors according to the different hydrological regimes: the Caribbean Sea (11º17ºN, 61º75W) and the western Atlantic Ocean (5º17ºN, 50º60ºW). The number of vessels in the fleet increased from 9 to 41 units between 1986 and 1996.

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Consortium's Work Featured in Popular Science

The technical modifications to fishing gear that the Bycatch Consortium supports were highlighted as important potential solutions to bycatch reduction in this month's Popular Science, "Higher Tech Nets, Hooks Could Stem the Shipload of Fishers' Bycatch."

Technical Modifications Help Reduce Bycatch

How do we tackle the more than 7.5 million tons of bycatch that occurs each year? How do we prevent the Vaquita from joining the extinct Yangtze River dolphin? How can we ensure the survival of the small population of remaining North Atlantic right whale?

Dusky Shark

Species
Carcharhinus obscurus

The dusky shark is currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, but populations continue to decline. The dusky shark is one of the slowest-growing, latest-maturing sharks, bearing small litters after a glong gestation period. These characteristics make the shark especially vulnerable to depletion by fisheries. In the Northwest Atlantic, dusky sharks began to decline in the 1970s, when they were targeted by recreational fishers. They continued to decrease due to directed catch in US shark fisheries in the 1980s.

Distribution
Patchy, coastal in tropical and warm temperate seas
Population
Decreasing
IUCN Status
Vulnerable
Type
Fish
Bycatch Threat
Longlines, gillnets, hook and line, trawls

Sea otter mortality in fish and shellfish traps: estimating potential impacts and exploring possible solutions

Submitted by Kate McClellan on

Sea otters are caught and drowned in fishing pots and traps.  Live California sea otters were exposed to finfish traps, lobster traps, and mock Dungeness crab traps in captive trials.  Researchers found that the otters attempted to enter the circular and rectangular fyke openings and some became entrapped.  They determined that a 3x9 inch opening, rather than the standard 4x9 inch, would prevent bycatch of free-living otters, while retaining crab catch.  

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The First International Circle Hook Symposium

Do circle hooks reduce bycatch?...It depends.

Last week, NOAA hosted over 160 marine scientists, fisheries managers, gear experts, and commercial and recreational fishermen, from 20 countries, in Coral Gables, FL, for the first international symposium on circle hooks in research, management and conservation.  While we all came away more informed about circle hooks, we left with more questions about their effectiveness for catching target species and reducing bycatch.

Do circle hooks reduce bycatch?...It depends.

Last week, NOAA hosted over 160 marine scientists, fisheries managers, gear experts, and commercial and recreational fishermen, from 20 countries, in Coral Gables, FL, for the first international symposium on circle hooks in research, management and conservation.  While we all came away more informed about circle hooks, we left with more questions about their effectiveness for catching target species and reducing bycatch.

Fishing gear modifications to reduce elasmobranch mortality in pelagic and bottom longline fisheries off Northeast Brazil

Submitted by morgaac on

The type (circle 18/0 0 degree offset and J-style 9/0 10 degree offset) and position of hooks in the water column were tested to determine the effects on catch rates and mortality of elasmobranchs.  Tests were conducted aboard pelagic and bottom longline vessels. CPUEs for blue, silky and oceanic whitetip sharks were significantly higher with circle hooks than with J-style hooks.

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Fishing gear modifications to reduce elasmobranch mortality in pelagic and bottom longline fisheries off Northeast Brazil

Study Type
Field study in the wild
Location
Brazil
Target catch
tuna (pelagic) and sharks (bottom)
Effect on bycatch species
CPUE was significantly higher for night, blue, silky, and oceanic whitetip sharks on circle hooks.
Effect on target catch
None reported for pelagic longlines. On bottom longlines, CPUE was higher for blacknose and nurse sharks and southern stingrays; no CPUE difference between hook type; more tiger and blacknose sharks were alive at haulback with circle hooks
Bycatch species
Reduction technique
Fishing Gear

Fishing gear modifications to reduce elasmobranch mortality in pelagic and bottom longline fisheries off Northeast Brazil

Study Type
Field study in the wild
Location
Brazil
Target catch
tuna (pelagic) and sharks (bottom)
Effect on bycatch species
CPUE was significantly higher for night, blue, silky, and oceanic whitetip sharks on circle hooks.
Effect on target catch
None reported for pelagic longlines. On bottom longlines, CPUE was higher for blacknose and nurse sharks and southern stingrays; no CPUE difference between hook type; more tiger and blacknose sharks were alive at haulback with circle hooks
Bycatch species
Reduction technique
Fishing Gear

Fishing gear modifications to reduce elasmobranch mortality in pelagic and bottom longline fisheries off Northeast Brazil

Study Type
Field study in the wild
Location
Brazil
Target catch
tuna (pelagic) and sharks (bottom)
Effect on bycatch species
CPUE was significantly higher for night, blue, silky, and oceanic whitetip sharks on circle hooks.
Effect on target catch
None reported for pelagic longlines. On bottom longlines, CPUE was higher for blacknose and nurse sharks and southern stingrays; no CPUE difference between hook type; more tiger and blacknose sharks were alive at haulback with circle hooks
Bycatch species
Reduction technique
Fishing Gear

Fishing gear modifications to reduce elasmobranch mortality in pelagic and bottom longline fisheries off Northeast Brazil

Study Type
Field study in the wild
Location
Brazil
Target catch
tuna (pelagic) and sharks (bottom)
Effect on bycatch species
CPUE was significantly higher for night, blue, silky, and oceanic whitetip sharks on circle hooks.
Effect on target catch
None reported for pelagic longlines. On bottom longlines, CPUE was higher for blacknose and nurse sharks and southern stingrays; no CPUE difference between hook type; more tiger and blacknose sharks were alive at haulback with circle hooks
Bycatch species
Reduction technique
Fishing Gear