A collaborative extension program by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, SeaNet and Ecofish for the development and adoption of square mesh codends in select prawn and scallop trawl fisheries in Queensland.

Bycatch can be reduced in Queensland’s scallop (Ylistrum balloti) and deepwater king prawn (Melicertus plebejus) fisheries by 77% and 29% respectively by using square mesh codends in conjunction with efficient turtle excluder devices (TEDs), with no loss of the target species catch. Further consultation with approximately 40% of the Queensland East Coast Trawl Fishery, as well as netmakers, importers, and manufacturers resulted in improvements to both the methods and materials of the square mesh codend construction. Additional at-sea trials demonstrated that marketable prawn catch rates could be maintained while reducing bycatch by 31.2%. Catch of undersized and non-marketable prawns was also reduced.