Summary
This study examined the effectiveness of three electronic bycatch reduction devices with different signal frequencies and duty cycles (100% duty cycle fixed signal, 50% duty cycle fixed signal, 100% duty cycle quasi-random signal) in a laboratory experiment on Atlantic dogfish (Squalus acanthias). The results suggest that time-varying electrical signals can deter spiny dogfish from baited hooks. The researchers observed a reduction in bait consumption, mean bite rate, and probability of bait consumption from all three prototypes . The lowest bait consumption occurred with the 100% duty cycle, fixed-signal BRD, while the largest treatment differences resulted from the BRD with 100% duty cycle emitting a quasi-random frequency.