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.