Exchange Profiles

CPPS is an intergovernmental organization with four member countries: Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. CPPS's main objective is to coordinate maritime policies among member states. CPPS is also the technical secretary of the Regional Action Plan for the Conservation of Marine Mammals in the South Pacific (PAMM). Main activities include training, workshops, and pilot projects, to increase national capacities regarding research, conservation, and management. Marine mammal bycatch is a major threat in the region but also the most challenging conservation issue due to the extensive small scale fisheries that characterize this huge region.  

Working towards the long-term sustainability of Atlantic humpback dolphin (Sousa teuszii) populations and their habitats through research, awareness, capacity-building and action.

The CCAHD Foundation acts as an umbrella organization that brings together international conservation management bodies, cetacean scientists from around the world, and organizations and individuals in the countries where the Critically Endangered Atlantic humpback dolphin is found. The CCAHD Foundation’s aim is to promote and support research and conservation actions throughout the species’ range, and provide robust conservation advice on the Atlantic humpback dolphin. Partners include over 100 individuals and organisations from all 19 Sousa teuszii range countries as well as others with interest and experience in protecting Endangered cetaceans. A critical part of the CCAHD’s work is to support local scientists and conservation NGOs in Atlantic humpback dolphin range countries, liaise with range country governments to improve national species status, and increase within-country general awareness of the species. Achieving those goals relies on a network of local partners and national contact points in all of the confirmed and potential range countries.

Fishing gear researcher focusing on reducing trawl bycatch and effects on seafloor habitats

EdgeTech is a leading manufacturer of underwater technology solutions.  The company is known worldwide for its high quality products that include: deep sea acoustic releases, pop-up release systems, shallow water and long life acoustic releases, side scan sonars, sub-bottom profilers, bathymetry systems, AUV and ROV-based sonar systems, combined and customized solutions.  In addition to the full line of acoustic releases and underwater survey products, EdgeTech provides reliable USBL systems, transponder beacons, MRUs and customized underwater acoustic command and control systems.

EdgeTech has been producing systems that hold down submerged lines in containers and release them to the surface by acoustic command for over 30 years. Our existing systems are used all over the world by oceanographers, and other scientists. The largest institutions in the US and internationally use our systems in the harshest marine environments.

We have developed a ropeless fishing system that eliminates vertical buoy lines in the water column until the trap is ready to be recovered. This system has been designed for use by fishermen. It can be modified in many different configurations to meet the specific requirements of fishermen. 

Fiomarine Industries Pty Ltd, based in Australia, are designers and manufacturers of ropeless subsea equipment and gear retrieval systems. Fiomarine realized a need for ropeless systems over 20 years ago because of a near-fatal boating accident caused by traditional fixed gear fishing operations. From this event the original Fiobuoy concept was created, it has been deployed in diverse applications and configurations since that time. The Fiobuoy is an all in one ropeless solution that is comprised of an acoustic modem, mechanical release, and popup buoy with an integrated line spool. The system has a unique acoustic identifier code allowing for easy data management while providing system security.

Marine wildlife entanglement occurrences are a global problem that has no territorial boundaries. Traditionally fixed gear fishing equipment comprised of traps, lines, and float assemblies, as used in crab and lobster fisheries, have been found to be a major source of these entanglements. Lost gear occurrences in traditional fixed gear fisheries are caused by entanglement, poaching, vessel strike, vandalism, territorial disputes, and heavy weather.

The impact to marine wildlife from entanglement and lost gear is now recognized as a serious concern and prompted environmentally conscious stakeholders to desire advanced mitigation strategies. State-sponsored Agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations, academia, and other interest groups have begun identifying areas that are particularly prone to marine biota ensnarement and lost gear occurrences. In addition to ensnarement location data, the frequency of entanglement numbers is starting to be available to further quantify the scale of the problem. Bycatch from lost ghost traps is an ever-increasing problem regardless of designed weak links in traps, gear can continue to fish for years.

Recognizing the pressure imparted on critically endangered species Fiomarine entered into a development program to provide a purpose-built Fiobuoy for the commercial fishing market. The result of two decades of experience created the new Fiobuoy F-Series commercial ropeless fishing system.

Fiobuoy is a registered trademark of Fiomarine.

Fishtek Marine is an engineering company that specialises in the design and manufacture of technologies which mitigate the environmental impacts of commercial fishing. Our smart fishing gear is successfully used in fisheries around the world to reduce bycatch of cetaceans, turtles, seabirds and sharks. In addition to our existing product range, we regularly consult with a wide variety of stakeholders on marine conservation issues and our award-winning engineers are able to develop ideas into viable commercial products using their expertise in mechanical, electronic and injection mould tool design. Our team have many years' experience working in the fishing industry and take to care to ensure solutions work for both fishermen and the environment. 

The mission of the FSUCML is to conduct innovative, pioneering, interdisciplinary research on coastal and marine ecosystems, to mentor the next generation of problem solvers, and to leverage scientific outcomes and expertise through engagement with stakeholders to optimize marine management and conservation.  Within the FSUCML Ichthyology and Fisheries Science Lab, our focus is on the biology and ecology of exploited and poorly studied estuarine and marine fishes. Much of our research addresses specific biological gaps necessary for management and conservation of coastal and deep-water sharks and rays. We employ a variety of tagging and telemetry techniques to examine movements, migration, habitat use patterns and post-release survival of vulnerable and imperiled species. We also use fishery-independent surveys to study population dynamics and the drivers of distribution patterns of fishes and to facilitate studies of life histories, reproductive biology, trophic ecology, stress physiology, systematics and bycatch reduction.

Founded in 1999, Future Oceans is an Australian based organization dedicated to the protection of all marine wildlife. We design and manufacture products that help enable commercial fisheries to operate sustainably.  Our acoustic whale and dolphin pingers are used all around the world in efforts to mitigate cetacean bycatch.

Hookpod is a UK-based company which specialises in the research, development and production of the Hookpod, a standalone device which mitigates against seabird bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries. Hookpods have been developed over 13 years of extensive trials in conjunction with fishermen and conservationists and have been proven to virtually eliminate seabird bycatch with no impact on target catch rate, or the fishing operation. Approved by the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, as best practice standalone measures, Hookpods are currently in commercial use in New Zealand. Our team are currently working to increase the adoption of hook-shielding in a number of other fisheries around the world.