Independent observations of catches and subsurface mitigation efficiencies of modified trawl nets for endangered, threatened and protected megafauna bycatch in the Pilbara Fish Trawl Fishery

Authors

Corey B. Wakefield
Stuart Blight
Adrian W. Thomson
Clinton Syers
Shane O'Donoghue

Publication Date

2-2014

Series Number

Fisheries Research Report No. 244

Publisher

Government of Western Australia Department of Fisheries

ISBN

978-1-921845-60-4

ISSN

1035 - 4549

Abstract

Mitigation of endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species is a challenge in many commercial fisheries globally and independent observer programs are often implemented to determine accurate estimates of interaction rates. However, interactions with ETP species may be extremely rare requiring very high and therefore costly levels of observer coverage to provide adequate statistical rigor for such programs.

Number of Pages

40

Keywords

Pilbara Fish Trawl Fishery - Western Australia; Bycatch; Trawl nets; Trawling; Rare species; Dolphins; Turtles; Snakes; Sawfishes; Pilbara region - Western Australia

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries

Recommended Citation

Wakefield, C. B., Blight, S., Dorman, S. R., Denham, A., Newman, S. J., Wakeford, J., Molony, B. W., Thomson, A. W., Syers, C. and O’Donoghue, S. 2014. Independent observations of catches and subsurface mitigation efficiencies of modified trawl nets for endangered, threatened and protected megafauna bycatch in the Pilbara Fish Trawl Fishery. Fisheries Research Report No. 244. Department of Fisheries, Western Australia. 40 pp.