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The catches from five experimental trawls (TED + fisheye BRD, upward facing TED, downward facing TED, bigeye BRD and square-mesh panel BRD) were compared to those of the standard twin Florida Flyer prawn trawl. Nets with a combination of a TED and BRD reduced sea turtle catches by 100%, large sponges by 85.3%, sharks by 36.3% and rays by 17.7% and reduced the proportion of soft and damaged prawns by 41.6% and catches of tiger prawns by 6.5%. Upward and downward facing TEDs reduced sea turtle bycatch by 99% and 100% respectively and large sponges by 81.6% and 95.9% respectively. Catches of tiger prawns (P. semisulcatus and P. esculentus) were reduced by 6.3% with the use of TEDs. The BRDs had little impact on the catch of either target or bycatch species.

The catches from five experimental trawls (TED + fisheye BRD, upward facing TED, downward facing TED, bigeye BRD and square-mesh panel BRD) were compared to those of the standard twin Florida Flyer prawn trawl. Nets with a combination of a TED and BRD reduced sea turtle catches by 100%, large sponges by 85.3%, sharks by 36.3% and rays by 17.7% and reduced the proportion of soft and damaged prawns by 41.6% and catches of tiger prawns by 6.5%. Upward and downward facing TEDs reduced sea turtle bycatch by 99% and 100% respectively and large sponges by 81.6% and 95.9% respectively. Catches of tiger prawns (P. semisulcatus and P. esculentus) were reduced by 6.3% with the use of TEDs. The BRDs had little impact on the catch of either target or bycatch species.

The catches from five experimental trawls (TED + fisheye BRD, upward facing TED, downward facing TED, bigeye BRD and square-mesh panel BRD) were compared to those of the standard twin Florida Flyer prawn trawl. Nets with a combination of a TED and BRD reduced sea turtle catches by 100%, large sponges by 85.3%, sharks by 36.3% and rays by 17.7% and reduced the proportion of soft and damaged prawns by 41.6% and catches of tiger prawns by 6.5%. Upward and downward facing TEDs reduced sea turtle bycatch by 99% and 100% respectively and large sponges by 81.6% and 95.9% respectively. Catches of tiger prawns (P. semisulcatus and P. esculentus) were reduced by 6.3% with the use of TEDs. The BRDs had little impact on the catch of either target or bycatch species.

The catches from five experimental trawls (TED + fisheye BRD, upward facing TED, downward facing TED, bigeye BRD and square-mesh panel BRD) were compared to those of the standard twin Florida Flyer prawn trawl. Nets with a combination of a TED and BRD reduced sea turtle catches by 100%, large sponges by 85.3%, sharks by 36.3% and rays by 17.7% and reduced the proportion of soft and damaged prawns by 41.6% and catches of tiger prawns by 6.5%. Upward and downward facing TEDs reduced sea turtle bycatch by 99% and 100% respectively and large sponges by 81.6% and 95.9% respectively. Catches of tiger prawns (P. semisulcatus and P. esculentus) were reduced by 6.3% with the use of TEDs. The BRDs had little impact on the catch of either target or bycatch species.

This study determined that 73.2% of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) captured during the study could have been prevented from entering blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) pots if bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) had been used. There was no significant difference in the sex, size or number of crabs captured in pots fitted with BRDs.

Potential risk of fisheries to cetaceans was assessed using a screening procedure based on a Productivity Susceptibility Analysis (PSA) using gears found in Ireland. Gillnets targeting demersal species was assessed as the fishery posing the greatest risk to cetaceans. Pelagic trawls targeting small pelagic species was found to pose a moderate risk to cetaceans. Specific gear-species interactions were also identified, such as humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and pots/traps.  

This study evaluated the impacts of hook size on catch of discards of reef in the bottom longline fishery in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Larger 15/0 hooks successfully reduced primary target species (red grouper, Epinephelus morio) discards by 38% in comparison to 13/0 hooks, but decreased catch of other important species, including red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus). 15/0 hooks also significantly reduced catch rates of Atlantic sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae) and spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias). 

Two trials were conducted with commercial vessels in the western Baltic sole (Solea solea) fishery under a regulatory flexibility program allowing deviations from the legally mandated 90 mm codend. In both trials, fishers aimed to increase retention of marketable sole by testing a 80 mm codend. The 80 mm codend resulted in a significant 15.8% increase (in numbers) of marketable sole in one trial and a similar tendency (non-significant) in the second trial. Trade-offs included a small, but significant increase in catch of small plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), as well as an increase in undersized dab (Limanda limanda) in one trial. Analysis of overall species composition found that both gear sizes retained high proportions of juvenile fish, largely undersized plaice and dab. While regulatory flexibility may improve catch efficiency, outcomes may vary, and a targeted and iterative approach, rather than a one-step solution may be necessary.

This study evaluated the impact of 40mm square mesh codends on juvenile fish escapement in dol-nets in Karanja, India. In comparison to 50mm mesh, the smaller square mesh reduced juvenile fish retention and improved species selectivity.

Paired trials were conducted to compare standard gillnet, trammel nets, and set longlines in Türkiye with several different types of modifications: LED (LP Electralume, 520–530 nm; 18,000–20,000 mcd) and UV-LED devices (LP Electralume, 395–400 nm; 12,000 mcd) and C-type fishing hooks. 

Compared to control nets, LED and UV-illuminated gillnets and trammel nets reduced the biomass of commercial species catch  by 54-75%, and there was no significant reduction in the catch of vulnerable species, including elasmobranchs and sea turtles.  Circle hooks reduced commercial catch by 77% compared to standard J-hooks and similarly had a higher proportion of vulnerable species (noting no sea turtles were captured in the control or treatment longline sets). 

These somewhat unexpected findings may have been influenced by study design limitations (small sample size) or other variables, including high turbidity and larger gear mesh sizes. Additional research is planned.