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.

Evidence suggests that Indonesian and Filipino coastal waters provide important foraging grounds for several sea turtle species important to U.S. Western Pacific managed areas and ESA recovery mandates. Continued bycatch and persistent direct harvest of sea turtles in these waters are most likely important factors in the declines of many marine turtle populations in the Pacific such as the Pacific leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), green (Chelonia mydas) (i.e. Central Western Pacific and Central South Pacific distinct population segments (DPSs), Western Pacific hawksbill, and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtle populations. Characterizing the extent, understanding the dynamics driving these practices, and developing mitigation strategies are of great interest as recent genetic and telemetry studies indicate connectivity between sea turtles in Indonesia and the Philippine waters and sea turtles found in US EEZs. NOAA-PIFSC currently works in partnership with Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), WWF-Indonesia (Fisheries Program), and Bogor University to characterize sea turtle bycatch in the small scale coastal gillnet fisheries of the Indonesian Archipelago. This partnership looks to establish a region-wide understanding of fisheries bycatch in these coastal Indonesian fisheries as well as bycatch mitigation strategies useful in these fisheries. NOAA-PIFSC also has partnered with Philippine’s BFAR, DENR-BMB, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), the NGO (LAMAVE), and regional fishery experts to initiate a characterization of sea turtle and other marine megafauna bycatch in the Filipino archipelago.

Compilation of the data that go into the annual marine mammal stock assessment reports, including abundance and bycatch estimates, PBR calculations, bibliographic references, update history, and serious injury determinations.

Compilation of the data that go into the annual marine mammal stock assessment reports, including abundance and bycatch estimates, PBR calculations, bibliographic references, update history, and serious injury determinations.

Through key regional collaborations with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, and the fishing industry, the Marine Habitat Ecology Team at the NWFSC has been able to pursue a wide-ranging array of conservation engineering projects relevant to reducing bycatch in the west coast groundfish and ocean shrimp trawl fisheries. Examples of types of research projects pursued during any given year include: 1) Reducing Chinook salmon, eulachon, rockfish, and Pacific halibut bycatch in midwater and bottom trawl fisheries using Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs), 2) Examining selectivity characteristics of codends that differ in mesh size and configuration in bottom trawl fisheries, and 3) Testing other novel bycatch engineering modifications to mobile and fixed gears. Much of our current work has been in response to the fishing industries concerns over catches of overfished and rebuilding rockfishes and Pacific halibut allocated in the Pacific coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Catch Share Program. The trawl rationalization program, starting in January 2011, established formal Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) and individual catch share quotas. In addition to ACLs, fishing opportunities may also be limited by hard caps or IBQs for non-groundfish species (e.g., Chinook salmon, and Pacific halibut). Bycatch of overfished and prohibited species in the west coast groundfish trawl fishery has the potential to constrain the fishery such that a substantial portion of available harvest may be left in the ocean. Temperature and light radiance.

Through key regional collaborations with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, and the fishing industry, the Marine Habitat Ecology Team at the NWFSC has been able to pursue a wide-ranging array of conservation engineering projects relevant to reducing bycatch in the west coast groundfish and ocean shrimp trawl fisheries. Examples of types of research projects pursued during any given year include: 1) Reducing Chinook salmon, eulachon, rockfish, and Pacific halibut bycatch in midwater and bottom trawl fisheries using Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs), 2) Examining selectivity characteristics of codends that differ in mesh size and configuration in bottom trawl fisheries, and 3) Testing other novel bycatch engineering modifications to mobile and fixed gears. Much of our current work has been in response to the fishing industries concerns over catches of overfished and rebuilding rockfishes and Pacific halibut allocated in the Pacific coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Catch Share Program. The trawl rationalization program, starting in January 2011, established formal Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) and individual catch share quotas. In addition to ACLs, fishing opportunities may also be limited by hard caps or IBQs for non-groundfish species (e.g., Chinook salmon, and Pacific halibut). Bycatch of overfished and prohibited species in the west coast groundfish trawl fishery has the potential to constrain the fishery such that a substantial portion of available harvest may be left in the ocean. Direct species counting and behavioral observations from video data.

These data arise from a field test of electronic monitoring (EM) of vessels participating in the Pacific halibut fishery off Alaska. A side-by-side comparison was made of the hook-specific catch data reocrded by fishery observers and EM video reviewers. There are two main components of this data: the data collected by observers and the data recorded by video reviewers (electronic monitoring). The observer data are stored in an oracle database. The hook-specific EM data have been matched to the obsever data (individual hook to individual hook) and are stored in an MS Access Database.

This system collects bycatch data and fishery landings data from all five NOAA Fisheries Regions and automates the generation of the tables required to publish the National Bycatch Report (NBR). The NBR documents bycatch estimates, using observer data and self-reported logbook data, for all fisheries for which this information is available. NBR bycatch estimates are fishery- and species-specific. The NBR includes bycatch estimates for fish, marine mammals, sea turtles, seabirds, and corals. Future NBR reports will include additional bycatch estimates as new fisheries are monitored and new data are analyzed. Over time, the NBR, along with other information sources, should help improve NOAA Fisheries' ability to monitor bycatch trends, improve stock assessments, and set fishery monitoring priorities, as well as serve as a useful data tool for NOAA Fisheries' management partners.

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.

Through key regional collaborations with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, and the fishing industry, the Marine Habitat Ecology Team at the NWFSC has been able to pursue a wide-ranging array of conservation engineering projects relevant to reducing bycatch in the west coast groundfish and ocean shrimp trawl fisheries. Examples of types of research projects pursued during any given year include: 1) Reducing Chinook salmon, eulachon, rockfish, and Pacific halibut bycatch in midwater and bottom trawl fisheries using Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs), 2) Examining selectivity characteristics of codends that differ in mesh size and configuration in bottom trawl fisheries, and 3) Testing other novel bycatch engineering modifications to mobile and fixed gears. Much of our current work has been in response to the fishing industries concerns over catches of overfished and rebuilding rockfishes and Pacific halibut allocated in the Pacific coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Catch Share Program. The trawl rationalization program, starting in January 2011, established formal Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) and individual catch share quotas. In addition to ACLs, fishing opportunities may also be limited by hard caps or IBQs for non-groundfish species (e.g., Chinook salmon, and Pacific halibut). Bycatch of overfished and prohibited species in the west coast groundfish trawl fishery has the potential to constrain the fishery such that a substantial portion of available harvest may be left in the ocean. Species composition (lengths, weights, counts) for regular and bycatch reduction device-impacted trawls.