Three research cruises on the FRV Southern Surveyor were undertaken between 1993 and 1996 to study the bycatch from prawn and fish trawls. Bycatch species composition (species, length, weight) was measured.

Fish Bycatch samples were collected for CSIRO from trawls between March and December 1983.These trawls were part of a 12 month survey of the tiger prawn fishery of southeastern Gulf of Carpentaria carried out by Queensland Department of Primary Industry. The vessels involved were the 'Gwendolyn May' and Shirley Ross' which fished each month for four nights on either side of the new moon, using 6-fathom nets (Florida Flyers, with a Texas drop chain rig) with a cod-end mesh of 45 mm. This data was then used to compare demersal fish community with that found from Munro's 1962-65 data (Poiner and Harris 1986).

Shark measurements were obtained from sharks caught as bycatch in trawls undertaken in the Albatross Bay region. This is commercial data obtained from the fishing industry, and the fishing vessel used was the FV Dampier Pearl, an NPF trawler. Data includes species, weight, length, sex, whether the animals were alive or dead, and whether turtle excluding devices (TEDs) were present on the nets. This data should be used in conjuction with additional information that may be found in the original cruise reports. (Also see comments regarding Dataset Completeness/Quality).

These data sets provide information pertaining to shrimp and bycatch estimates associated with beam-trawling and trapping (2001-2002) in Clio Channel. Data sets were compiled and formatted by Meagan Mak. Abstract from report: As part of a project investigating possible modification of marine ecosystems by shrimp trawling and trapping, we enumerated beam trawl and prawn trap catches at two locations in Clio Channel, south -central coast of British Columbia. Beam trawl surveys were conducted in Bones Bay and Turnour Bay during October 2001 and January 2002, respectively, and a prawn trap survey was conducted in Turnour Bay during March 2002. Catch data from the two gear types are presented.

Utilising both fishery independent and industry dependent surveys, spatial and temporal data was collected on scallop, and other bethnic community, abundance.

These data sets provide information pertaining to shrimp and bycatch estimates associated with otter-trawling and trapping (November, 2000) and beam-trawling (February, 2001) in Simoom Sound. Data sets were compiled and formatted by Meagan Mak. Abstract from report: As part of a project investigating possible modification of marine ecosystems by shrimp trawling and trapping, we obtained information on catches offish, shrimp, prawns , and bycatch organisms as well as weight, sex ratios , egg location and colIateral damage to several species of pandalids and eualids. Focusing on the humpback shrimp (Pandalus hypsinotus), we assessed damage to the rostrum, carapace, abdomen, and tail fan on specimens caught by beam trawling, otter trawling, and trapping. Data are given from a preliminary study conducted in Northumberland Channel in June 2000 and more comprehensive sampling from Simoom Sound in November 2000 and February 2001.

Bycatch in net fisheries is recognized as a major source of mortality for many marine species, including seabirds. Few mitigation solutions, however, have been identified. We assessed the effectiveness of illuminating fishing nets with green light emitting diodes (LEDs) to reduce the incidental capture of seabirds. Experiments were conducted in the demersal, setnet fishery of Constante, Peru and compared 114 pairs of control and illuminated nets. We observed captures of a total of 49 seabirds (Phalacrocorax bougainvillii and Sula variegata), with 39 caught in control nets and 10 caught in illuminated nets. Illuminated nets had a statistically significant 73.5% decline in seabird interactions when compared with non-illuminated nets. This study showed that net illumination reduces seabird bycatch. In addition, we deployed light emitting diodes (LEDs) - a visual cue - on the floatlines of paired gillnets (control vs illuminated net) during 864 fishing sets on small-scale vessels departing from three Peruvian ports between 2015 and 2018. Standardized bycatch probability for sea turtles and cetaceans as well as standardized catch per unit effort (CPUE) of target species were analysed for illuminated and control nets using a generalised linear mixed-effects model (GLMM). For illuminated nets, bycatch probability was reduced by up to 80% for sea turtles and small cetaceans in comparison to non-illuminated, control nets. Target species CPUE was not negatively affected by the presence of LEDs. These studies highlight the efficacy of net illumination as a multi-taxa BRT for small-scale gillnet fisheries in Peru. These results are promising given the global ubiquity of small-scale net fisheries, the relatively low cost of LEDs and the current lack of alternate solutions to bycatch.

Utilising both fishery independent and industry dependent surveys, spatial and temporal data was collected on scallop, and other bethnic community, abundance. The dataset also includes dredge video surveys and, in some instances, bycatch abundance.

The Relative Bycatch:Target Catch Probability Product is produced using a data-driven, multi-species predictive habitat modelling framework. First, boosted regression tree models were fit to determine the habitat preferences of the target species, broadbill swordfish (Xiphias gladius), and three bycatch-sensitive species that interact with the California drift gillnet fishery (leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coricea), blue shark (Prionace glauca), California sea lion (Zalophus californianus)). Then, individual species weightings were set to reflect the level of bycatch and management concern for each species. Prediction layers for each species were then combined into a single surface by multiplying the layer by the species weighting, summing the layers, and then re-calculating the range of values in the final predictive surface from -1 (low catch & high bycatch probabilities) to 1 (high catch & low bycatch probabilities).

Through reviewing available fisheries data sets, reports, logbooks and CAES (Catch And Effort Statistics) 3836 bycatch records were identified and are available as a comma-separated value (CSV) file. Bycatch is defined as discards only, and does not include by-product which is kept by fishers and sold. Within WAMSI Node 4.4.1 the following work was undertaken: i) Determine the cumulative effect of fisheries on bycatch species, including Threatened, Endangered and Protected species (TEPs), discarded undersize target species, and all other discarded species in the Gascoyne and the West Coast Bioregions; ii) Establish a risk analysis of interaction rates between the collective fisheries and bycatch to identify which species, species groups or fisheries require more detailed assessment; and iii) Identify better ways to quantify fishery - bycatch interactions and therefore increase our ability to understand the risks to particular species or groups within a range of fisheries.