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An experimental leader design was tested on pound nets in the Chesapeake Bay in 2004 and 2005 to determine their effectiveness in reducing the incidental catches of sea turtles.  The experimental design consisted of replacing the top two thirds of the traditional mesh panel leader with vertical ropes spaced 61 cm apart. During the study, 21 sea turtles interacted with the control net, while only 1 interaction with the experimental net occurred, which was a significant difference.

An experimental release panel was installed in purse seine nets to determine their ability to release both silky sharks and non-target finfish.  The release panels (5.5 m wide, extending down from the corkline for 11 m) were installed in a portion of the net that forms a "pocket" toward the end of net retrieval.  Dive surveys previously reported that silky sharks tend to segregate and collect in this section of the net.  The release panel was tested during seven purse seine sets, but only two silky sharks (out of 105) exited through this panel.