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Summary:

Although effective with captive loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and Kemp˙s ridley (Lepiochelys kempii) sea turtles, blue dyed bait is not effective in reducing olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) bycatch in longline fisheries in Costa Rica.

Summary:

Fishing experiments were designed to test various gear modifications for the pelagic longline fishery in Hawaii, United States, to reduce sea turtle interactions. The experiments tested (1) daytime "stealth gear" (2) deep daytime setting, and (3) circle hooks combined with hook timers. Stealth gear and deep setting both caught significantly fewer swordfish compared to the control, although overall catch was reduced by 39% using stealth gear and was approximately similar to the control using deep setting. Neither gear configuration resulted in the take of any sea turtles (compared to one turtle in the control). Initial testing of hook timers with circle hooks resulted in the catch of two sea turtles. Circle hooks were also 40% as effective as J hooks at catching swordfish, and 94% as effective at catching tuna (by weight and value). 

Summary: A chain mat placed on Northwest Atlantic dredge gear eliminated bycatch of sea turtles: loggerhead (Caretta caretta), leatherback (Dermocheles coriacea), and green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). The chain mat reduced catch by 6.71%.

Summary:

Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) reduce sea turtle and non-target finfish (Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulateus), spot (Leiostomus exanthurus), sea catfish (Arius felis), and weakfish (Cynoscion regalis)) bycatch in the Gulf of Mexico prawn trawl fishery. Catch of targeted shrimp varied by location and TED configuration, but there was no significant difference in shrimp catch rates in 3 of the 4 TEDs when compared with a control net. One experimental TED in Texas exhibited a decrease in shrimp catch.

Summary: Turtle Excluder Devices reduce sea turtle bycatch in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico shrimp trawl fishery.

Summary:

Circle hooks (non-offset 16/0 and 18/0) did not significantly reduce the number of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) caught in the Azores longline swordfish and blue shark fishery when compared with non-offset and offset 9/0 J hooks. Use of circle hooks decreased the rate of throat hooking in loggerhead sea turtles. Circle hooks (non-offset 16/0 and 18/0) caught significantly more blue sharks than J hooks in the Azores longline swordfish and blue shark fisheries. 

Summary:

There was no significant difference in the number of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) caught in the Azores longline swordfish and blue shark fishery between straight 16/0, offset 16/0, and offset 18/0 circle hooks. Circle hooks decreased the rate of throat hooking in loggerhead sea turtles caught in the Azores longline swordfish and blue shark fishery. Straight 16/0 circle hooks caught the most blue sharks in the Azores longline swordfish and blue shark fishery, followed by offset 18/0 circle hooks. Offset 16/0 circle hooks caught the fewest blue sharks.

Summary:

Japanese tuna hook 3.6mm S/S caught significantly more loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) than non-offset 16/0 and 18/0 circle hooks and caught more turtles in the throat than the circle hooks in the Azores longline swordfish and blue shark fishery. Non-offset 18/0 circle hooks caught fewer loggerhead sea turtles than non-offset 16/0 circle hooks in the Azores longline swordfish and blue shark fishery. There was no significant difference in the number of blue sharks caught on non-offset 16/0 and 18/0 circle hooks in the Azores longline swordfish and blue shark fishery.

Summary:

Circle hooks (non-offset 16/0 and 18/0) caught significantly more target blue sharks (Prionace glauca) than J hooks in the Azores longline swordfish fishery. There was no significant difference among the hook types tested in the number of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) caught, although J hooks had a significantly higher rate of throat capture compared with circle hooks. 

Summary: A trap modification reduced bycatch of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in a blue crab (Callinectes sepidus) pot fishery in the Patuxent River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. Three wire modifications were tested and found that terrapin bycatch can be reduced without decreasing the number or size of captured crabs.