What is the Global Bycatch Exchange?
The Global Bycatch Exchange (GBE) is a "community of practice" made up of scientists, fishers, fishing gear engineers, governments, NGOs, the seafood industry, and gear manufacturers focused on advancing appropriate solutions to fisheries and aquaculture bycatch: a major threat to ocean biodiversity.
Resources provided by the GBE, regardless of geographic location:
- Robust database of bycatch reduction devices and strategies
- Facilitated access to expertise and technology
- Connection to funds to test bycatch reduction devices and techniques.
Our long-term vision:
- Increased awareness of bycatch as a critical conservation issue.
- Improved accessibility of resources that allow for the identification, selection, and implementation of effective bycatch reduction solutions.
- Increased policy and market support for bycatch reduction.
The Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
The Global Bycatch Exchange was created by the Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction, which was founded in 2004 by the New England Aquarium, Duke University, Maine Lobstermen's Association, and University of New Hampshire. Blue Water Fishermen's Association joined the Consortium shortly thereafter. Administered by the BalanceBlue Lab at the New England Aquarium, the Consortium supports collaborative research between scientists and the fishing industry to identify practical bycatch reduction solutions for endangered species.
The Consortium's focus is in three primary areas:
- Understanding interactions between threatened non-target species and fishing operations
- Research and development of bycatch reduction approaches
- Facilitating global exchange of information on bycatch reduction techniques
The Consortium's underlying philosophy is that a science-industry partnership is the best way to identify effective and sustainable bycatch solutions. Further, its members recognize that change in fishing practices should be commercially viable, operationally practical, and use the best available science to evaluate the degree to which they will result in bycatch reduction benefits for non-target species. Equally important, even if a fishing technique is shown conclusively to reduce bycatch in a particular non-target species or population, it should not pose an increased threat to other endangered species or for that matter be unsustainable for marine biodiversity in general. In this respect the Consortium's work program adheres to an ecosystem-based approach.
Currently, the Consortium promotes the Global Bycatch Exchange for promoting collaboration in reducing fisheries bycatch. We encourage you or your group to complete a profile and help advance the Exchange as a platform for creating partnerships.
About the New England Aquarium
The Global Bycatch Exchange is managed by the BalanceBlue Lab at the New England Aquarium.
In Memoriam, Dr. Timothy B. Werner (1962-2025)
The Global Bycatch Exchange was conceived by Dr. Timothy B. Werner, and administered by him until his untimely passing in 2025. Tim's applied interests in marine conservation included many collaborations between fishers, scientists, and engineers to reduce marine mammal and other vulnerable species bycatch in commercial fishing gears, particularly cetaceans. This site is dedicated to honoring him and his vision.