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Coloured Floats, Ropes & Nets

Gear modification

Modifying the colour of nets and ropes may make fishing gear more visible to non-target species of wildlife, reducing the likelihood of wildlife-gear interactions, and thus bycatch incidences.

Dyed Bait

Gear modification

In theory, dyeing bait blue reduces the bait’s visibility from above, altering the colour and reducing the contrast between the bait and the surrounding water. From below the water, the bait remains visible to target fish.

High Visibility Net Panels

Gear modification

This gear modification involves increasing the visibility of nets to seabirds (and potentially marine mammals), in order to alert them of the presence of gear and reduce the likelihood of seabird-gear interactions.

Lights (LEDs)

Gear device

LED lights are designed to be attached to the ropes on fishing nets in static and driftnet fisheries, to increase visibility of the gear to a wide range of non-target species. Different patented designs are available.

Magnets & EPREM

Gear device

Some species of elasmobranch are deterred by permanent magnets and EPREM due to the highly sensitive electroreceptors in their noses, which are able to detect Earth’s magnetic field.

Night Setting

Technique change

As the majority of seabirds are diurnal foragers, setting longlines at night is a proven and effective way of reducing seabird interactions with gear, reducing the chance of bycatch. This may also work for seals and cetaceans.

Passive Acoustic Deterrents

Gear device

Passive acoustic deterrents use air-filled or metallic components incorporated into fishing gear, such as metal oxides, chains or rubber tubes – increasing the density of the net, thus increasing its ‘acoustic reflectivity’.

Reduce Deck Lighting

Technique change

Reduced deck lighting is the lowering and/or adaptation of artificial lighting on fishing vessels during hours of darkness, to reduce risk of attracting seabirds while operating at night.

Safe Leads

Gear device

Safe Leads are sliding weights that are used to increase the sink rate of baited hooks on branchlines in longline fisheries. By adding weight, baited hooks are placed out of the range of diving seabirds more quickly.

Mitigation Options

Coloured Floats, Ropes & Nets

Dyed Bait

High Visibility Net Panels

Lights (LEDs)

Magnets & EPREM

Night Setting

Passive Acoustic Deterrents

Reduce Deck Lighting

Safe Leads