1.       Encouraging of the use of circle hooks whilst developing further research into their effectiveness using a multiple species approach; and

2.       Release of live animals after careful dehooking/disentangling/line cutting.

Among the other issues of interest at the meeting were the results of a 2012 Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) for marine turtles conducted in the IOTC management area. The ERA concluded that, from the limited data available on longlining and purse seining, longlining posed the greater apparent risk to sea turtles. The ERA estimated that ~3,500 turtles per annum are caught in longlines, followed by ~250 turtles p.a. in purse seine operations. Furthermore, the ERA validated the recommendations contained in IOTC Resolution 12/04 (including the use of dehookers on longliners and the implementation of FADs that do not enmesh marine life).

It was noted that higher species resolution and spatial data may change the estimated catch rates and would allow for seasonal and temporal analysis, including the evaluation of different gear types and target species.

You'll find an updated overview of experimentation with artificial baits in the BMIS (under Mitigation methods).

Annex 2 ACAP review of seabird bycatch mitigation measures for pelagic longline fisheries; and

Annex 3 ACAP Summary Advice for Reducing Impact of Pelagic Longlines on Seabirds.

Line weighting regimes, streamer lines and Safe or Lumo Leads are the focus of other meeting papers - search in 'References' using the acronym 'SBWG5'.

Papers submitted for the Ecosystem and Bycatch Mitigation session can be accessed at: http://www.wcpfc.int/meetings/9th-regular-session-scientific-committee

A sample of meeting documents includes:

·       EB-WP-02           Bromhead D., J. Rice and S. Harley. Analyses of the potential influence of four gear factors (leader type, hook type, “shark” lines and bait type) on shark catch rates in WCPO tuna longline fisheries. Rev 1 (22 July)

·       EB-WP-05           Beck, N., Y. Inoue and W. Papworth. Progress Report on the Development of a Seabird Identification Guide for use by tRFMOs.

·       EB-WP-10           Hamer, D. and S. J. Childerhouse. Physical and psychological deterrence strategies to mitigate odontocete by-catch and depredation in pelagic longline fisheries: progress report

·       EB-WP-11           Ochi, D. et al. At-sea experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of multiple mitigation measures on pelagic longline operations in western north Pacific. Rev 1

·       EB-IP-06              Small C. Methods/minimum elements to review the effectiveness of seabird bycatch mitigation regulations in tuna RFMOs

Papers will shortly be available via the BMIS.

The guides have been added to the BMIS under the Links tab "Identification and Handling".

The Resolution deals with new requirements for FAD identification, data collection and the design of non-entangling FADs. It also prohibits intentional setting on whale sharks. 

Requirements regarding data collection and identification come into effect on 1st January 2015, while management provisions for whale sharks take effect from 1st July 2014.

The Resolution can be found in the BMIS under Decisions http://bmis.wcpfc.int/decision_list.php

1)      the first relates to seabirds and the mandatory use of tori poles in all longline southern bluefin tuna (SBT) fisheries below 30 degrees south;

2)      the second groups several non-binding measures for seabirds; and

3)      the third (non-binding) measure is the "Recommendation to Mitigate the Impact on Ecologically Related Species (ERS) of Fishing for Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT)".

However, there is a proviso with regard to (3). For more than 5 years, all fishing for SBT has occurred within the IOTC, WCPFC and ICCAT Convention areas. Furthermore, all CCSBT Members (with one exception in the Indian Ocean) and Cooperating Non-Members (CNMs) are also Members/CNMs of the tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs).

Thus the ERS measure is effectively mandatory for SBT fishing in those areas if they are mandatory in the IOTC, WCPFC and/or ICCAT.

See the text of the Decision for full details.

Satellite tagging and underwater observational data were used to establish the scale of the problem. Estimates of silky shark entanglement mortality in the Indian Ocean were 480 000-960 000 sharks/year, which is 5-10 times the known bycatch in the region's PS fishery.

The extent of the problem in other oceans was not evaluated. Besides a lack of similar data, entanglement probability is likely to vary between oceans due to both FAD design and silky shark abundance. However, the authors make clear their belief that management intervention and monitoring are urgent considerations in all FAD fisheries.

Redesigning FADs to exclude meshed materials would eliminate the problem while sustaining the production of the fishery. See the links below for information about designing non-entangling FADs.

ISSF Guide for Non-Entangling FADs

http://iss-foundation.org/resources/downloads/?did=386
IOSEA - Designing ecological FADs to reduce entanglement of marine turtles

http://www.ioseaturtles.org/pom_detail.php?id=106

Filmalter, J.D., Capello, M., Deneubourg, J.-L., Cowley, P.D. and Dagorn, L. 2013. Looking behind the curtain: quantifying massive shark mortality in fish aggregating devices. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/130045

The devices, dubbed the ‘Tuna Guard-Streamer Pod’ and the ‘Whale Shield-Jellyfish’, aim to deter toothed whales from removing or damaging fish caught on pelagic longlines. They will  shortly undergo their first ‘proof of concept’ test in Australian waters.

The devices, developed by Australian Antarctic Division marine biologist, Mr Derek Hamer, work on the principle that depredating whales are deterred by the presence of tangles in fishing gear. Using this apparent behaviour , it is hoped whales can be deterred from longline hooks and catch, thus preventing bycatch and depredation events.

Click the link above to read the article.

With over 50 papers submitted to SBWG5, the breadth of information presented was wide ranging. Here are some of the papers you can find at the ACAP website (click on the link above):

SBWG5 Doc 14 Photo identification guide for bycatch seabirds in tuna fisheries

SBWG5 Doc 23 Review of Seabird Bycatch Data collection in tuna RFMOs

SBWG5 Doc 31 Improving ACAP's advice on best practice line weighting for coastal State pelagic longline fisheries

SBWG5 Doc 34 Influence of electric fishing lights on sink rates of baited hooks in Brazilian pelagic long line

SBWG5 Doc 45 Seabird bycatch reduction in New Zealand surface longline fisheries

SBWG5 Doc 53 Developing methods to review the effectiveness of seabird bycatch mitigation regulations in tuna RFMOs

You can read the (open access) article, three commentaries and a response from the authors in Animal Conservation.

Yeh, YM,  Huang, HW, Dietrich, KS and Melvin, E. Estimates of seabird incidental catch by pelagic longline fisheries in the South Atlantic Ocean. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-1795.2012.00588.x/abstract

Commentaries:

Lewison, R. Finding the missing pieces: working to solve the fisheries bycatch puzzle. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acv.12040/full

Sha, J. Next step for reducing seabird bycatch.  http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acv.12041/abstract

Phillips, R. Requisite improvements to the estimation of seabird by-catch in pelagic longline fisheries. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acv.12042/full

Response:

Huang, HW and Yeh, YM. Incidental catch of seabirds: strengthening observer programs and increasing cooperation. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acv.12044/abstract

The journal article is also available via the BMIS.

A recent study (link above) aims to guide research in this sphere by reviewing current knowledge of elasmobranch sensory biology and feeding ecology with respect to fishing gear interactions; examples of bycatch reduction methods used for elasmobranchs as well as other taxonomic groups are included.

The review discusses poten­tial elasmobranch bycatch reduction strategies for various fishing gear types based on the morphological, physiological, and behavioural characteristics of species within this diverse group.

The authors encourage collaboration among researchers studying bycatch reduction across taxa to provide better understanding of the broad effects of bycatch reduction methods.

Jordan, L.K., Mandelman, J.W., McComb, D.M., Fordham, S.V., Carlson, J.K., and Werner, T.B. 2013. Linking sensory biology and fisheries bycatch reduction in elasmobranch fishes: a review with new directions for research. Conservation Physiology 1(1):cot002  doi:10.1093/conphys/cot002.

This paper and several other recent 'open access' references discussing sharks and electrosensory and semiochemical deterrents are available as pdfs via the BMIS.

The review summarised information from national reports on: fleet structure and trends in fishing effort; monitoring activities; turtle mitigation measures; research initiated by governments; and quality of data provided. It also considered how IOTC members addressed IOTC Resolution 12/04 on marine turtle interactions with tuna fisheries (http://bmis.wcpfc.int/decision_list.php).

Great variability between countries was found both in the level of detail provided in reports and in actions implemented to address the IOTC Resolution.

*IOSEA - Indian Ocean-South East Asian Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding

To compare bycatch impacts of multiple gears within and among marine turtle populations (or regional management units, RMUs), the authors compiled more than 1,800 records from over 230 sources of reported marine turtle bycatch in longline, net, and trawl fisheries worldwide that were published between 1990-2011.

The authors identified the RMUs most and least threatened by bycatch globally, and found wide variation among species, regions, and gears within these classifications. The lack of regional or species-specific patterns in bycatch impacts across fishing gears suggests that gear types and RMUs in which bycatch has the highest impact depend on spatially-explicit overlaps of fisheries (e.g., gear characteristics, fishing practices, target species), marine turtle populations (e.g., conservation status, aggregation areas), and underlying habitat features (e.g., oceanographic conditions).

The paper can be read in full at http://www.esajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1890/ES12-00388.1

Wallace, B.P., Kot, C.Y., DiMatteo, A.D., Lee, T., Crowder, L.B., Lewison, R.L., 2013. Impacts of fisheries bycatch on marine turtle populations worldwide: toward conservation and research priorities. Ecosphere 4:art40.

·       CMM 2012-07 to Mitigate the Impact of Fishing for Highly Migratory Fish Stocks on Seabirds; and

·       CMM 2012-04 on The Protection of Whale Sharks From Purse Seine Operations.

The latter does not come into effect until 1st January 2014.

You can find these CMMs by clicking on the link above or via the Decisions section of the BMIS http://bmis.wcpfc.int/decision_list.php  , where you can quickly see what mitigation methods are discussed in each CMM.

Of interest is a new FAO publication 'Anchored fish aggregating devices for artisanal fisheries in South and Southeast Asia: benefits and risks'

To quote the authors, there is a tendency to treat all FADs as essentially the same. However, drifting and  anchored FADs have quite different uses, impacts and management concerns. This publication focuses on anchored FADs used by artisanal and small-scale fisheries using small-scale fishing methods.

However, while artisanal tuna fisheries probably make only a small contribution to the overall exploitation and “fishing mortality” of tunas,  tuna resources are limited. Therefore, like any other fishing method, gear or auxiliary gear, the utilization of FADs requires proper planning and effective management, monitoring and regulatory control measures.

To view the document, click on the link above.

Click on the link above to access the document.

The video also shows researchers, onboard a commercial purse seine (PS) vessel, trialling the use of an 'escape panel' in the PS net. It was hoped that the sharks would exit via the gap, but this did not occur. Further research trialling an escape panel used in conjunction with a shark repellent or attractant is anticipated.

Click the link above to watch the video.

Click the link above for IOSEA's summary of key points, as well as the full text of the paper.

Among the stated objectives of the plan are calls for vessels to (a) apply mitigation measures to prevent seabirds coming into contact with fishing gears and (b) collect data on seabird bycatch.  Other key areas of the plan cover research and development, and awareness-raising and training for fishermen.

The authors discuss their findings with respect to the where most research has been conducted, the evolving nature of research and priorities for further research.

You can find the citation and abstract for the paper in the BMIS.

Many of the techniques explained are also relevant to handling of longline bycatch.

Click on the link above to read the report.

Alternatively, you can find the report in the BMIS under the 'Links' tab, sub tab 'Identification and Handling' and shortly, also via the References section.

The proceedings capture the scientific findings, perspectives and recommendations of contributors who met to discuss the use of circle hooks in hook-and-line fisheries around the world. They represent an important resource for all those interested in improving the sustainability of these fisheries.

Click on the link above to view the list of papers and download PDFs.

The factsheets have been translated into French, Portuguese and Spanish, accessible as Zip files via the following link:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/policy/marine/international/advocacy/mitigationfactsheets.aspx

The BI factsheets are being revised and are expected to be published later this year.

Read her post at  http://iss-foundation.org/2012/08/22/the-trials-tribulations-of-shark-bycatch-mitigation/

You can access the citation and abstract for her paper via the References section of the BMIS

http://bmis.wcpfc.int/reference_list_v2.php?a=view&recid=0

The report can be downloaded via the link above, or found in the BMIS under the 'Links' tab, in the 'General' section.

The government was influenced by a technical report which noted that circle hooks reduce turtle bycatch by 70%. The report also stressed the importance of sustainable fisheries management in enabling access to export markets for high value fish products.

Four new/revised decisions for the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) have just been added. These are:

·       Resolution 12/04 On The Conservation Of Marine Turtles

·       Resolution 12/06 on Reducing the Incidental Bycatch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries

·       Resolution 12/08 on Procedures on a Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) Management Plan

·       Resolution 12/09 on the Conservation of Thresher Sharks (Family Alopiidae) Caught in Association with Fisheries in the IOTC Area of Competence

Another new feature is a link to the ISSF database of tuna RFMO decisions on stock conservation, bycatch mitigation and monitoring.

The brief includes a very good poster illustrating the differences between the FAD types, as well as a brochure providing more detail. For a direct link to the poster itself:

http://www.spc.int/DigitalLibrary/Doc/FAME/Posters/FADs_IN_THE_PACIFIC.pdf

The full text of the article is free to view at the above link.

For full details select the link above or check the Decisions section of the BMIS at  http://bmis.wcpfc.int/decision_list.php

The CMM prohibits vessels from setting a purse seine net on a school of tuna associated with a cetacean if the animal is sighted prior to commencement of the set. If a cetacean is unintentionally encircled in the purse seine net, the CMM requires that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure its safe release.

For full details select the link above or check the Decisions section of the BMIS at  http://bmis.wcpfc.int/decision_list.php

Click on the link above to read more, including provisions relating to circle hooks and limits on swordfish landings.

Read more on the Pacific News Center website.

The certification will bring about a number of improvements. Six improvements are concerned with strategies to further minimize impacts on shortfin mako, porbeagle and blue sharks and on loggerhead turtles. Three improvement actions require the fishery to work with the Canadian Government to obtain more scientific research on shark and turtle populations and to advocate for a more precautionary approach from ICCAT on directed fisheries and turtle and shark interactions.

Read more in the article from PerishableNews.com

·        formal and effective site protection, especially for ...marine Important Bird Area feeding and aggregation sites, as part of national, regional and global networks of Marine Protected Areas; and

·        the reduction of bycatch to negligible levels, as part of comprehensive implementation of ecosystem approaches to fisheries.

RFMOs and implementation of bycatch reduction technologies are specifically addressed.

·        long-standing collaborations among the fishing industry, scientists, and resource managers;

·        pre- and post-implementation monitoring; and

·        compliance via enforcement and incentives.

Follow the BMIS link to the free access journal article.

For further information contact Scott Benson at scott.benson@noaa.gov

ISSF has developed an interactive 'Status of the Stocks' map, located at:

http://iss-foundation.org/science/status-of-the-stocks/

Links to the text can be found under the Decisions section of the BMIS. http://bmis.wcpfc.int/decision_list.php

Under Research you will find organisations involved in bycatch mitigation research relevant to oceanic tuna and billfish fisheries.

Under 'Identification and Handling Guides', links to seabird, marine turtle and shark ID and handling information can be found.

NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS F/SPO-117C
U.S. National Bycatch Report, W. A. Karp, L. L. Desfosse, S. G. Brooke (editors), 508 p.