Bycatch Reduction
Western Australia’s commercial fisheries are continuously improving their bycatch mitigation strategies to reduce the capture of non-target species and minimise impacts to the marine environment.
Bycatch Reduction Devices
Developments in gear technology combined with effective management have ensured commercial fishing operations across WA are environmentally sustainable.
In fisheries where there is a possibility to interact with threatened, endangered or protected species (ETPs or TEPs), fishers are required to adhere to strict conditions imposed under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. Fishers failing to abide by the required conditions face hefty fines and potentially the loss of their fishing licences.
Some examples of reduction devices
Turtle Exclusion Devices (TED’s):
Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) are specialized tools designed to prevent sea turtles from getting trapped in fishing nets when accidentally caught. They are rigid structures that are fitted inside a trawl to deflect any unwanted catch over a certain size up and out of the net.
Sea Lion Exclusion Devices (SLED’s)
Similar to a TED the Seal Excluder Devices (SEDs) are rigid frames with slots, fitted inside the trawl, that help guide seals to swim out of the trawl nets.
Line weighting
Line weighting is a widely used and effective way to get baited hooks beyond the diving range of seabirds more rapidly.
WAFIC has supported industry to reduce their bycatch in areas such as research and development funding, gear and technology improvements, industry led bycatch mitigation trials and developing codes of practice.
For more information about bycatch reduction devices click here: