a guide to bycatch reduction in tropical shrimp trawl fisheries potx

They have also developed a specalzed TED to better sut local fishing condtons called 2 Tal Trle Free Device TTFO, Several counties in Southeast Asia, incuding Tralond, Indonesia, Malaysi

- A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Tropical

- 8hrimp-Trawl Fisheries

Revised edition

TT VI

D2112 ~

Revised edition 2007

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do rot imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture COzganizavion of the United Nations concerning the legal or development status of any country, tertory,cily or area or af ts authorities, or concerning the delimitation of is

frontiers or boundaries,

The mention or omission of specific companies, thelr products or brand names does nat imply any endorsement or judgement by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the Unites Nations

ISON 978-92-5-105674-5

All ights reserved Reproduction and dissemination of material inthis information product for educational or other non-commercial purposes are authorized without any prior written permission trom the copyright holders proved the source is fully acknowledged,

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‘by e-mail to copynght@tao.0rg

© FAO 2005, 2007

Foreword

Bycalch s the unwanted or nonsarget par of he catch ten by fishermen Its ether discarded at sea

used for human or animal consumption The capture of bycatch may pose a threat to species versity and

‘ecosystem heath because this part of the catch is usually unregulated In opal shimp-rawl ehefes,

bycach olen consists of juvenile food species and is therefor a treat to food security and sustinable

fehofes production, Bycatch isa global problem that must be addressed

The Food and Agiciture Orgaizaton ofthe Unied Nations (FAO) i addressing tis problem trough the

technical project ‘Reducton of discards and envzoamental impact rom fsheries Under this projet FAO is

executing a five-year global projet funded by the Global Environmental Facity (GEF) ite, Reduction of

environmental impacts fom topical ship teming, though the inrodueton of bycatch reducton

technologies and change of management Twelve counties fom Latin Ameria, the Carbbean, West ica,

Southeast Asa andthe Gulf region, and one ile-govemmenal organization? are also participating in is

Project

A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Topcl Shnimg-Trawl Fishers i 9 resut ofthis projet is design for

fshermen, net makers, fishing echrolagts and others intrested in a practical guide tothe design, use and

operation of fective bycatch reduction devies Fishery managers, policy-makers and legals wil nd his

ude sell o help develo specications governing the design and appicaton ofthese devices ina shrimp

tra fishery,

‘The issue urged to use appropriate bycatch reduction measures to help maintain the product ofthe fishery andthe of bycatch is ot gong away and scan of shin activity is increasing, Al shermen ae stongly

long tem prosperity ofthe sting industry By responding appropriately, fshermen can hep to re the

racine ervizcament and ast lobal fod secuty bath now andi the ure

Eayrs,S

‘A Guido to Bycalch Reduction n Tropical Shrinp-Tram Fisher

Revised esiton Rome, FAO 2007 108p

* Bawan, Cameroon, Colombia, Cot is, Cua, Kn, dees, Maen, Nop Pipes, Tad nd Tobago, ad

2 §ouheazlAsaFtefe Dedopnel Cene (SEAFDEC) This one

‘A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Topical Shrimp-Trawl Fisheries I

ul A Guide to 8ycalch Reduction in Topical Shrimp-Trasl Fishers

otal atom cn AO reponse orice ean 102161 a At

(Optimizing TED Performance 3

"`" WulandgadÐ S5 2 far (Sid 0 i eight nd ty at a

Waisat tg ‘TED Performance and Operation : (Cen squenesh coven ep ate Frequently Asked Questions a

Whatanee nachos teach can es ac a What ar spc haul be us? at

‘Choosing and Testing a TED or BRD 2 ni) _ o a

——— ona nate BAO? 2 ow an esape cover nl? a “

Sử ba dì th ñlgrdyrg/12a17 at do big TEDad mean? rn

Tesing TED an BROS 28 fom Tnnnnnnnnnnili ) ae hy common cases ol si ss,

(cadet iba TED aca ae? 5í

[A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Tropical Shrimp-Traw! Fisheries Ju

GồghanLáo 1U2nng ghế82 an Can ue a cae tưng grovel ira

{ing gourd? s How oon dnd mesh osu mesh

mm faa wed 5 Hautagimp bien dioplaa7 —— E9

‘aes to bua of aa change vớ, sản 5 Sw man] How can pr batch fom rte fre TEDa a ay azn ew? 3 ent scane sie? 2 Can TEDsimorove ch guy nd a? 5 - Sai amore? SS 08D di "

‘Do TEDs weaken my coderd? a a ee eee s luan efor owl sg GRD fet eorait of my fting pater? Ts "

How sn kash panel taal rer Sea Ki

atin es? imp em óc 83 i ediLuegaBD elùosilsuơn mVbmnssf 1 CanTeDsexkde andar ba? 88

KP tow wil sing a TED af sina ear SPSEE ‘Overcoming ‘equations and other deta the US embargo - TED H

aie ont ng 3 TED ator eoxronie taille Hobe arn rar 2

Hon nit sing 9 TED afer way mara, Wa He US TED oplaens? J3

ptimicing BRD Performance For tng BRD Eig Hị 7 HS em s—-T

ba mash sessment aaa

Moving eed 68 How nigh eet fom he ew retin? 75

Cote one nd cating nas a Te regusios?

rut fs an a ‘ee tere atanaies io using TED? 5 Behav fering a yeah nto vant 6 Does este rt ned be ed ih Tove) Pớ}= DỐI =| THẾ (Cen neil eras sok expion for áuixc CC cu 4

$e sipmens of string a a US cache? 76 Tos for epiing BAD peo a ‘Mea chan ae lenaton tou te

Frauen sted Guestons 65

Can seve ROS bo sad ase rs

‘Whats th snot BRD se?

(ose BRD seremance if baleen 3

vi ‘A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Topical Shrimp-Trawl Fisheries

The futuro of bycatch reduction in

sheimp-trawl fisheries m

Technical data sheats 9

‘he Trt Escluer Doves TED) 80

The Qala pang Coe" Ofer Tee Eee 8

‘oe 18 on Pty ONG Tue

Escape Ogenng

The N§N Ngớret Gre a

The Seusre en Wedow mỹ

The Cargosle 5g2feNfeh neo at

The Sgume-Mei Cong “

TheRa#d Eespe Sesen s

The semicuvas vente ad Tesh Exe

‘Appendix 2: TED regulations In Australia's Nonhera Prawn Fishery tú

‘Appendix 3: Turtle recovery procedures 108

‘A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Tropical Shrimp-Traw Fisheries Iv

wl A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Topical Shrimp-Trasl Fisheries

Acknowledgments

Fst and foremost | woul ke to acknowledge the eet of Gary Day aka TED’ Gary spent many years working at sea in Avsvala and overseas testing and developing TEDs and 8RDs, oten in bad weather, sometimes with uctantfsbemen His contribution fo the development ofthese devices hasbeen enormous, and much of TED and BRO performance and eficieny infomation used in his guidebook is based on his offs at sea He has no doubt accelerated the uptake of TEDS and BROs by fishermen and saved them financial hardship by identifying sources of shrimp los ae sohing ther gear problems Gay also spent many hours producing lustratons fortis guidebook hat are acutate and geometicalycorect

‘Tank you tothe following people for providing valuable feadbackon ear versions ofthis guidebook and for providing technica advice ordeals, They ae: Daniel Agular-Ramitez (previously Natonal Fisheries Instut, Mexico): Eye Ambrose (Nigerian Instiute for Oceanography and Maine Research, Arc); Natt Broadhurst (NSW Department of Primary Industis, Conservation Technology Un, Australia; Bundt Chokesanguan (SEAFDEC Training Deparment Thailand) Daniel Foster and John Michell (NOAA Fisheries, Mssisipp Laboratories, USA); Robert Popeye’ Bennett (Popeye Netnaking, Austaia), Reg Eayfs (Ausvala) and Wied Tile (FRO, tay)

Final, but by no mean leas, | want o acknowledge the efrts of al shermen that have tested a TED or

‘BRO Without your efforts much ofthe operational knowledge ofthese devices would not Nave been obained

in such a tk nor cost-effective manner y rskng catch reduction and loss of inca to cntbutet this knowedge, sometimes while other fshermen do litle or nating, i a generous cantbuton and greatly appreciated

‘A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Topical Shrimp-Trawl Fisheries Jw

vụ

Bycatch Reduction in Tropical Shrimp-Trawl Fisheries

Introduction

A global problem

ost commercial shes have to deal wih bycatch

\wtich can be broadly defined as anything that a sherman does not mean to catch, including fish

lures, peces of coral, sponges, ther animals and

ronving material The Food and Agriculture

Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has

recent estimated that nearly bycatch is discarded gobaly by commercal 7 mon tonnes of sh

fehermen every year Thisis equivalent to abou

of the global catch Tom maine capture fshares

Industial ship trawing in tropical waters is @

leading ofender in the capture of bycatch and

accounts for about 27% of all global discards

Shrimp rawing is generally regarded as one ofthe

least selective Fishing metods because the bycatch

‘may consist of over several hundred teleost species

and outwegh the strip catch by 20 o t or more

No her Fehing method comes close to matching

such discarding ad wastage of marine resources

Threatened and endangered

species

‘Shrimp vaaling i also having a sesaus impact on

508 urls In sme shrimp-raw fisheries several

thousand tures are caught and rouned each year

This impact, combined wit other human acy

such a ong line fisting, hunting and coastal devel

‘opment, has resulted in si ofthe word's seven

species of sea ture beng Ista in the 2003 IUCN

World Conservation Union Red Uist of Threatened

‘Species Five of hese speces ae lised as cically

endangered high isk of extinction inthe wid in the

immediate future) and one species is sted as

endangered very high risk of entncton inthe wld in

‘he immediate future) The threat ofthese animals

becoming extn as ao ld tothe listing of al sea

tute species in Appendix 1 ofthe Convention on Intemational Trade n Endangered Species (CITES)

This means tha he ifemainal cormercal ade

cf sea turtles is prohibited, including trade in tre

jurisdiction, Tis has led to a range of protective measures including restricted local trade and consumption of tute produts,protecton of nesting sies and the mandatoy use of tule excuder

<evies (TED in shimp-rawl shor Cer bycatch species that are under treat from shrimp tawling Include sharks, dugongs, sea snakes, seahorses, coral and some fish species In some instances these animals are protected by aw 2nd ther capture is ilepal notes, thei capture is

‘a waste of resource

Global response to reduce bycatch

In response to concerns over the capture of turtles and other bycatch in shinp tras, fishermen in many counts have takon sept modify te ai

st and use bycatch reduction devices? The most common masfcatons are TEDS to prevent te

Synth gute t-te ton rc yd ain de ae na ee yh, ay cnt

rv sep pts hat See ED a ce na ea ea am ha ld 3 S80 le sơơn Erh

(eso evans ‘Fees aelonne mate wemdynth oso ca nse on TED 9d BRD andy ar oaentan se aw een We eva cae ah an aro enh anh nn ude eS EDs XD ba

‘A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Tropical Shrimp-Traw! Fisheries I

2

capture of tures and oer age armas and BRD

to prevent the capture of sh bycatch

‘The United States (US) has payed a leading olen these efforts by developing and tesing 2 lage range of TEDs and BRDs These forts have been

‘ngoing since the mid-1980' and the use of hese devices is now a mandatory requirement in most shimping grounds in the Gul of Mexico and Sout- westem Alanic shrimp fsheres Based on ther proven aii o excude at eat 97% of tutes that fenter a shrimp vaw, several TED designs have

‘ben approved fr use in hese waters, Two ypes of BRO, the Jones Davis BRO and the fisheye, ae curenyapproied for these wates based on thee ably to reduce fsh bycatch, and in pail ở snapper The US has a's been responsible for accoerating the global davelpment of TEDS in tropical shimpirawl fisheries This has been achieved tough th intoducten ofan embargo on wikecauoht stamp fom counties that donot have

In place an effecive sea turle conservation program This has frced many counties to respond appropriaely by requng the mandatory use of

‘approved TEDs by local simp fshermen,

In esico, TED development and research also has

2 long histoy and these devices are now a

‘mandatory requirement inte industial simp

‘oesin he Pcie Ocean and Gulf Mexico, BROS

sich a the fisheye are also being used, and there

is engoing development ofa protaiye raw system that not only reduces bycatch and seabed impact but has the potential to reduce fo! consumpten,

In Ausra, TED and BRD development has been angoing fr well over a decade In all ropical Ausialan shrimp fisheries TEDs are required to protect turtles and most equte the use of BRDS reduce the capture of unvanted fsh and other bycatch In neay all Australian temperate water ship fsheries, BRDs such as incined rds, composite square-mesh windows and fsheyes are required to reduce fish bycatch Ausalia is ao one of ony wo counties (Brazil being the oer) where the US embargo has been iffed fom individual shetes folowing the intoducton ofan fective tule protecton program

In Southeast Asia, atmpts ae being made to reduce the capture of turtles and oer bycatch, paula he catch of wen sh of commercial importance The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre (SEAFDEC) is an inter- governmental organization that has been leading the way inthis region and has developed and tested several TED and BRO designs SEAFDEC has developed 2 Juvenie and Tash Excluder Device (UTED) and has tested it widely throughout the region with good success They have also developed a specalzed TED to better sut local fishing condtons called 2 Tal Trle Free Device (TTFO), Several counties in Southeast Asia, incuding Tralond, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, have been working toward the

‘mandatory intoducton of TEDS ito thết shimg- tran fishers lo reduce turtle caplure and seek removal of he US embargo

In the Aabian Gut several counties are aso curently testing and developing bycatch reduction vices, arly due to cancers over the capture of

‘The catch on the right includes large animals because a TED was not fited to the raw The catch on the left is the resutof using @ TED

L A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Tropical Shrimp-Trawl Fisheries

tures andthe discard of large numbers of smal

{ish and ther bycatch, and patty in response tothe

US embargo In Iran the testing of bycatch

reduction devices has been ongoing for several

years, andthe Norherm Ausralan Fisheries TED (NAFTED) and fisheye has proven to be an

‘fective combination io reduce bycatch, Recently

the performance of several bycatch reduction

devices was assessed in Kuwait on bath industil

‘and arisanal aes (chow), nduống TEDs, the

‘ishoye, @ radial escape section (RES), and ø square-mesh codend The performance of these

devices was encouraging and their development is continuing, In Bata tere have also been efofs

to reduce smal sh bycatch

Many ther counties in Latin America, the

Carbbean, sia and Africa are aso working toward

the development of effective bycatch reduction

devices n Nigra the fisheye Ras been effective in

reducing calches of juvenile fish and TED deve

‘opments ongoing, while Mozambique has recenty

made TEDs 3 mandatory requirement in ther

shrimp-traw! fishery Research into bycatch

reducion is ongoing in Colombia, Costa Rica,

Ecuador, Guatemala, India, Pakistan, Tndad and

Tobago, and Venezuela

FAO response to reduce

bycatch

The FAO is at the forefont of TED and BRD

research in developing counties Sinoe 2002 FAO

has executed a fveyear global project called

In many countries TEDs are boing used to

‘excludes turtles and other large animals from

the tra Reduction of dscards and environmental impact {fom fisheries’ This pect concentrates on four tropical regions ofthe world, namely Latin America lndudng the Carbbean, West Alfica, the Gul Region and Southeast Asia, I is funded by the

‘Gobel Enviroament Facity (GEF) an is imge- mented by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), Key objectives ofthe project include minimising the capture of bycatch such as

‘ures, fah and cher animals, andthe impact of ABRO is @ trawl modification designed brian to reduce fish bycatch

[A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Tropical Shrimp-Traw! Fisheries Is

simp trawing onthe seabed, The project aims to

achive these objectives through the inroducion of

"more appropiate ishing gear, and improved fishery

legislation and management frameworks

The FAO Guide to Bycalch Reduction in Tropical ‘Strinp-Taw Fisheries a result of is project

's wien primanly for fsbemen and others inter

ested in the practical aspects of bycatch reduction

devices, including ther desgn instalation and

‘operation The Guide ncudes technical information

‘and construction dea fr many devices that have ‘proven to reduce bycatch in tropical smp-rawl

fisheries, and provides technical detas about their

selection, placement and maintenance, Flow charts

‘enable fshermen to assess a TED or BRD and

‘provide a famework to assist with tasing and

implementing these devices to suit ter specie reeds Fishery managers, policy-makers and

‘ters wil nd this guide useR o help understand the design, use and appicaton of bycatch eduction levies in a ship rawl fishery This infomation wilaid the smooth inreduction fishery and ther rapid adoption by fishermen, It of these davies into wil ep the development of reglatons and spect fications that are not only efetive in reducing bycatch, but that also encourage fishermen to further develop these devices and optimize thei performance Importantly this information wil also

‘encourage high Ives of compliance by fshermen,

‘glossary of arms may be found on page 100 and

‘an abbreviations lit on page 110

‘Shrimp fishermen ail over the word are acting responsibly to reduce the capture of turtles and

‘other bycatch by using TEDs and BRDs Note the TED on the middle trawler

[A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Topical Shrimp-Trawl Fisheries

What is Bycatch?

In ts tzeadesl sense, byeaich Øcludes al non:

'ergelanengls anỏ non in material (debris) which

‘are caught while fshing in shrimp fehedes

bycatch may be defned as anything the fisheman

oes nat inland to catch and may include tutes,

‘ish, cas, sharks, singays, pieces of coral, weed

‘and seabed debris Sometimes this is called

incidental or accidental catch

Bycatch also includes animals and nonlưing

material thatinteract wi the fshng gear bu do not

reach the deck o the fishing boat This incudes

caral and weed that are contacted by the passing

ound gear and small fish hat are selected out of

the net These nteractons ae often bret astng no

tmơe than a split-second, and could be a major

source of unaccounted mortaly This part of the

bycatch has not been well researched, bu falưe 2

‘accaunt or this moral is counter othe notion of

sustainable heres and may eaten te health of

the ecosystem,

Shimp trawing is @relatvely unseecve fsting

mmehod because large volumes of bycatch are

‘ypcally retained inthe codend comprising several

hundred speces In lage industal fisheries this

bycatch s usualy discarded oveboad,butin sme

stale fisheries it has commercial value andis used

eiher for human or animal consumption In

‘Southeast Asla and West ica this part of the

bycatch is called wash fh In Australia any part of

‘the calc hats retained for sal is called byproduct

What are discards?

Discards are that part of the bycatch that are

‘eased o rtumed tothe sea ether dead oc alive

It als includes all animals and nonivng material

that interact withthe flstng gear but donot reach

the deck of the boat The discarded catch may

‘consist of species of ow commercial value, under-

sized commercially important species, juveniles and

seabed debris Fishermen usually discard this pat

af the cach because itis not economical to rebi

onboard o regulations ford it fam being land,

Bycateh from shrimp trawing includes sh

‘and other animals of al sizes

‘Sometimes catches of commercial species excsed the processing or preservation capaciy of the fishing boat and the excess catch has to be scared This might occur fhe crew are unable to sort though the catch befce the onset of spalage

ie supplies ae insufficient to coo the cach ori storage space is inadequate, Discartng might aso

be the resut ofa practce known as high-rading This pace is wher flshermen dump cath prev

‘ously landed to make room fo @ more valuable or fresher cach For example, in some small-scale ship fisheries, catches landed inthe eay part of

‘fishing bp may be discarded to make space for @

‘imlar-sied catch taken al he end ofthe tp, [A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Topical Shrimp-Trawi Fisheries Is

fale, Trash fish i a treat fo Sustainable feheries and food seeunty because includes Änenle fish

What is trash fish?

This term usually apis to smal, undersized fsh and ote anals thal wee vadtonaly discarded overboard because they had no economic vue However, in recent years this pat ofthe catch has become @ substantial source of income for many small-scale fshermen because canbe sodas Fsh mea fod fr cutured fish or shrimp For some fshermen, rash fsh may generate over one-third of thor income from the calc nfsheris where trash fsh ae landed, codend mesh size may be as small

as 15mm and few animals escape This prectce poses a threat to sustainable Fshing inthe region because jen fsh ae also included as rash sh The lem trash fish is misleading because it suggess tis par ofthe catch has no ecological or commercial valve Clety ths snot the case

s1 A Guie to Bycateh Reduction in Tropical Shrimp-Traw! Fisheries

Why Reduce Bycatch?

‘The FAO has rent estimated that oer 7 millon

tonnes of sh bycatch are discarded every yearby

commercial fshermen around the world Shemp

trawing isa major contributor to this loại, and no

‘surprisingly, href aca to reduce this bycatch or

totind ways of using mare oft Thore ae aso cals

to olminate cates of ther bycatch fom shrimp

‘rawing Uống sharks stingrays, and sponges,

12s wal a5 catches of endangered or protected

specs, suchas turtles, sea snakes and some fish

The FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible

Fisheries requires fshermen wordde to reduce

yeah andthe envenmentalimpocs of fisting

The code establishes prinoples and standards

applicable for esponsibl sing activites It spec

ically requires that counties take stop lo ensure

that sing operations reduce bycatch and wast,

and thatthe environmental impacts of fishing are

ririized The code is voluntary in nature, but it

oes reflect global concems regaring the need 10

reduce bycalch Smiar codes of conduct have

been produced by oer counties or inter govern

‘mental erganzatons such a: SEAFDEC These

cates requ similar outoomes and are usually

localized to su regional or local needs In adion

to codes of conduc, many counties have inro-

duced emvironmental poles equiing fshefslo

bbe menaged under the pincple of ecologically

sistnable development (ESD) and that bycatch

be reduced as muchas practicable,

In many counties, fishermen have been acting

responsibly to these cals by testing or adopting

TEDs and BRDs to reduce bycatch The use of

TEDS is now mandatory in many counties andthe

capture of turtles (and other large animals) is

increasingly an sue ofthe pas Thereis now cle

‘evidnce that TEDs have contbuted positively ©

the recovery of tute population inthe United

‘States, foc example, thee is documented evidence

thal numbers of lve Ridley tures has increased

‘ramatcaly since the introduction of these devices

to the region, This san excelent outcome

Bycatch rom shrimp tawing usualy consists

of mang sh species and occasionally ago ‘animal

{Bycatch also includes sponges and rocks and

‘may reduce the quay of the shrimp catch

‘A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Tropical Sheimp-Traw Fish IV

‘Shrimp fishermen ae also increasingly using 88DS

to reduce the capture of fsh and other bycach In

‘many counties fshemen have been using these

vices for some time and there has been a

substantial reduction in fish bycatch However,

there is sll much work to be done Bycatch levels

ae sil to high and fishermen are stil struggling to

optimise the performance of these devces to

feicude the many species that are caught in a

shrimp ta

‘Acemmmon perception by oer stakeholders is hat

shrimp travis sweep large expanses of the ocean,

Catching al animals inthe pat ofthe raw Sue

shrimp trawing is a tẻaludy unsdecive fishing

‘method compared to many oter methods, however

ro a animals inte path ofthe raw are caught

Some animals pass under te ground gear whe

others escape around the side or ver he heading

of he tran fac, shimp fshermen have been using Fshing methods designed to reduce the capture of many ofthese animal, inluding rau wih fou headline height ominiise oh catches,

* ground chain arangemens that reduce he amount of seabed animals, rocks and debris taken,

* avoidance of fishing rounds where bycatch known tobe high, including grounds where cal, sponges and rocks ae preset,

“using mesh sizes bg enough to aw some small animals o escape, and + using TEDS and BRD

While misconceptons exist and some fishermen sill catch larg volumes of bycatch, there wil be continued pressure lo further reduce bycatch Moreover s other animals relisted fr protection from human impacts, fshermen wl be required to reduce thereat o these animals the byatch issue isnot tackled apyopiel Ít codl lead to fvenual Cosure of sactons of productive fing grounds, or worse, closure of whale fisheries, Ths has aleady occured in the United States ard Austaia,

To suocessuly reduce bycatch fshermen must be patofthe research process This wl su in rapid evelopment of efecive TEDs and BRDs and higher compiance win the res and regulations addon, understanding the concams of fsherne tích a5 the costs of these devices and fears of shrimp loss, are mates that must be accommo ated as they infuence their uptake rate and adoption of these devices

Akey to he sucess iowverent of fshermen is

to explore how they may benefit from reducing

Jn some fisheries large TEDs are now being used 10 rapialy exclude tutes and other large

‘animals om the trawl with ite shrimp loss

bycatch, These benefis may include:

+ improved trang and processing efioeney,

* better product quality and marketing

opportunites, and

* protecting he marin environment and extending thee ofthe fishery

Trawl and processing

efficiency

Reducing bycatch may improve trawl and

processing ficiency because:

+ tra duration canbe longer, thus decreasing

the time fost to repeated haul and depoy the

trau,

*wingend spread may be maintained fr longer

rods bacause the dag ofthe catch sess,

+ damage tothe codend caused by large animals

and rocks can be reduced,

+ processing (song) ime shouldbe quicker, and

nj to crew rom dangerous animals tài be

reduced

Product quality and marketing

opportunities

Keeping heavy animals such as shatks and

singrays out ofthe raw! means fewer damaged

stiimp in the codend and a mare valuable ship

catch Reducng the numbers of unwanted fish can

make sorting and processing a lot quicker,

contbuing to better shrimp qualty, parielaty

Chutng he heat ofthe day These shrimp may attract

2 higher pice and lead to higher income forthe

fishermen

In some instances fishermen may gain new

‘marketing opportunites though te sale of shinp

Large catches take a long time to sot and

are demanding on the crow

caught using trawl fited TEDs and BRD AS consumers became more envircnmentally aware they are increasingly redirecting their seafood purchases toward products tat have been caught using environmental endlyfshing methods, This

is increasingly obvious in developed counties and

‘ere are signs of tis occuring in developing counties

Food security

Shrimp trawling can pose a threat o food secur, patculary in developing countries Tiss because many shrimp fishermen use very small meshes in the tan and codend so that the escape of small,

|juenie ish and other animals (rash fs) sel

The adation of smell mesh cover surounding the cadend ensures that almost no animals escape from the tra

The capture and discarding of these animals is @ waste of source of food These animals are usualy dead or dying when landed, and therefore oot have the cpporunity lo reproduce ox grow to

a size mare suitable for human consumption Given

‘an opportunity to gow and become acts these fish would better contibule to overcoming the

‘A Guide to Bycaich Reduction in Tropical Shrimp-Trawl Fisheries Ie

problem of fod secuiy in developing counties In 9ddfon, the capur of hese animals is early a threat o reproductive capacity ofeach species and the heath of the ecosystem Retaining ths part of the catch or sale may increase this threat because fshermen will deliberately target these animal, patiulaty if shrimp catches are poor They are

80 less Me lo be wiling to use a bycatch reduction device and forgo valuable income

Protecting the marine environment

‘There is growing global concern that shrimp trawing is affecting the marie envccament by

‘atehing bycatch and damaging the seabed

‘Studies suggest thal shrimp trawing can have a

Coan catches of shrimp wit ite bycatch

‘means rapid soving and a good quality product

‘etimenta fect on some marine ecosystems and may even damage the shimp fshery sel This is because the envionment hat supper the shrimp fishery consists of many Inked pats, and damage tone par may lead to changesin ote pars ofthe system Thiscanbe a pariculr problem in fisheries here Ishornen ray heavly ơn the bycatch including joven fh to supplement her income,

By reducing bycatch, shrimp fishermen wl help to: + ensure thehoalh,đhenly and itegrl erironnen, ef the

‘enhance shrimp stocks in some fisheries by Catching fewer juvenile skimp, and

* proc fish stocks by keeping vente and

2 fishes otf te cate,

By using bycatch eduction devices and adopting a postive, pro-active tude Fishermen can reduce or efect crtcisms by other stakeholders This crtiésm largely undermined when fishermen ae behaving responsibly t reduce bycatch and the impacts of sting,

By excluding bycatch fishermen can reduce the impact of shrimp trawing onthe marine envrenment

op [A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Topical Strimp-Trawl Fisheries

The ABC of TED and BRD Design

This section answers some of the questions

‘ishernen frequently ask about the design of TED RDS it doserbes the major types of devcas

‘euenty avaiable fo reduce bycatch The advan tagos and aisadvanages of cach dove is also

provided based onthe assumption tha excluding a Địcach = bot ving and ron-ning fom te tant

is 2 desrate outcome In the subsequent section

‘elas ae provided about choosing and testeg a

TED or BRO,

What is a TED?

Inthe context of is Gui, a TED or urls excuder

device is any modiicaton to a sheng (aul

designed ta reduce the captue of tutes These

ences are somelines ealed a aw! eflency

vce’ because they can aso prevent the capture

of ete large animals nduống charts, stingrays,

jelysh and some tage fh,

The Nordmore Gris an example of a had TED

‘The mest conenon TED designs use an inclined

td to prevent large arimas tom enterng ie cadend, A panel or ure! of nting immediatly fontofthe grid may be used to det animals sway

‘rom the escape opening and to maximise the length of grid avaiable to seperete large aimale

‘ro the stamp and sai bycatch Lage animals

‘ae then guided by the ard toward an escape opening located eter in the top or bottom of the codend, Smal animals (eluding string) pass

‘trough the bars of the grid and enter the codend

“The escape opening is # ole uti he coders and is vsvaly covered wh 3 fap of noting r oer aerial to prevent the escape cf shrimp

‘less common TED desig uses an incied neting pana instead of a grid The neting gues large animals toward an escape opening in the op panel

‘of te tau while sll animals ass trough the estes and enters ihe coded

{note the square-mesh window asa fied tothe ‘den

lo Bycateh Reduction in Tropical Shrimp-Traw Fisheries "

What is the difference between

a ‘hard’ and a ‘soft’ TED?

Depening on the material used to constut the

inclined gor nating panel, TEDs are ther ha

cv sợi Ahard TED typical uses of aluminum, sts! or plastic, for example the a gd grid made

Nordmace gid and Super Shooter These are the

most common types of TED curenty used

vworldvde Hard TEDS have been ciised 25 3

possible salty hazard to crews, parculary ia

rough weather, but these fears aro largely

usfoundes,

Hard TEDs

‘Advantages:

Very age escape opening may aw arg leahersack rls and oer ltge animals

tobe rai excuded

+ Exclude some seabed animals (sponges, cavalo) and rocks (downvardexcuding

TEDs en)

Nay nerease stinp cate 6 o eager towing fie ess drag anc fewer hauls)

*May reduce sorting me

“Hay improve shri quall by reducing cenlac wih age anima

+ Reduce nazars to crews rom lage angoreus animals

Disedvantages:

* Damage ong or loging ' te gưdng

ano or uel by age anima and tris

‘cou leat shững oss

+ Fouling of escape opening by le animals ‘nd dbs cul ead to hông oss aka

TEDe,

+ Alta meee scat o handle than 2 ‘andar cacend

+ Ri i may be a satly hazard lo ray {Gepends on incaton in coded}

Sof TEDS use a non-ig indinad pal of ting

to guide ojcateh towards the escape opening a ne top of the tant Examples of his TED incude tho Wonson TED, the Pariar TED and the Bubb’ chute Sot TEDs have been found to be less efedio in excluding heavy sponges and other seabed anmals because these fol ho noting, The Patkar TED is cow the only soft TED approved for use in the Gut of Mexico and Southvestom

‘ant sri fishes

Soft TEDs

‘Advantages:

= Var lage escape opering may al age leatherback ures an eer are animals to

* May increase string catch duet ogee towing ie ess dag and fewer hauls}

“May educe song tre + May incove strinp quan by ducing contact with ge ans + Roduce hazar crews For age ‘angers anals Disadvantages

+ Poor insalaton may alec raw perioenance + Damage fouling or cogaing of ne guiding ‘nel by ltge anal an devs cold ead

to stvrp loss + Bfechdetebs dapends on aw soread + Mowat to epic than a standard rau

* Less efecine than hard TEDs a excucng heavy ters sich a5 rocks ara sponges

el A Guide to Bycatoh Reduction in Topical Shvimp-Trawl Fisheries

What are BRDs?

Inthe contx ofthis booklet, @ BRO is any madif-

‘ation designed prncpally to exclude fish bycatch

from a shrimp trawl, These devices may aso

exclude other animals and norving material

(debris, but because fsh usually dominate the

bycatch most BRO research has aempted to

exclude these armas fromthe trawl, Most BROs

are located inthe codend ofthe traw as tis is

here the catch s accuruatd and he opportunity

keceElg: Including trash fish om the catch but not the ‘The JTED isa BRD that fitors smal fish

larger shim

How do BRDs work?

‘There are two categories of BRD depending onthe

principle method used to excude bycatch rom the

trav The fest category are BRDs that separate the

catch by se These devices use inclined grids or

panels of netng to physically block the passage of

bycatch ito the codend and guide it toward an

‘escape opening Depending on their asin, these

eves exclude bjatch eter larger or smal

‘han shrimp fom he trav, The gi-style JTEO and

‘square-mesh oodend are examples of BRDs that

‘excude small animals from the Yaw, TEDs can

‘also be induded in ths category because they

‘excise large bycatch animals rom the trav

“he second category of BRDs are those thal exit behavioural aferences between shrimp and

bycatch Mast fh can sim ina moving net,

‘ofgnate to the drecton of tow, and sưim out

trough an escape opening, This behaviour is

piopaly the esuit of fh esponding to the visual

stimulus of the aw andthe generation of water

btlence as the tran is toned trough the wate

Shrimp, on the other hand, generally exhibit ile

điecional swimming and passively enter the

caửend They respond pinpally to tactile stimu

(touch) and have ited capably to swim in a

‘moving rau and through an escape opening

The desion ofthe RES allows fish fo swim Examples ofthis type of BRD are the fisheye, fonvard in the codend and escape through

square-mesh window, Jones- Davis BRD and RES, tho large escape openings

A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Tropical Shrimp-Traw! Fisheries Js

'What is a JTED?

ATED stands for juvenile and trash excludes device:

‘This device is designed to exclude small fish - usualy

jen ores fish - rom the raw and maintain the catch of ship and large fish The TED consists of

thre sections hngod together, he fst wo sections

‘are metal ois andthe third section is @ metal frame

sippoting a panel of fne-meshneting, Smal sh

‘wim between the bars ofthe gis and escape The

noting panel inthe thd secon hops maintain the

avinlabon of the device, prevents shimp suring

foeward in the codend and escaping, and prevents

small fsh fom re-enteing the codend The JTED

as designed by SEAFDEC and has ben tested in

shrimp fisheries in several counties incuding

Vietnam, Thaiand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Phippres,

Brunei Durusslam and Indonesia,

The SEAFDEC has also developed two rope

LITEDs, One design is a rectangua stainless steel

frame fited with ighy stung parallel copes The

frame's inserted nto the top ofthe codend withthe

ropes ointe lngthways along the codend Small

fish escape from the raw by rising upward between

JTED

Advantages:

+ Exclude smal sh and rash sh

‘May increas towing tne es ag and

fewer hauls)

‘May reduce sorting time

+ Bar spacing canbe reduced if id is attached to an oer ame

+ Rope spacing canbe easily adjusted rope ITED ony)

+ Relative simple design and easy use (ope JTED ony)

* May incease shrimp catch due to longer

tow time

the ropes ofthe TED An altematve version ofthis Aevioe is a oyinder of codend neting wih a slaniess steel hop fited to both ends Te entire

‘linda section i then inserted in the tra ahead ofthe codend.Sinlat tothe fst ope JTED, arom

of paral ropes used to provide escape openings forthe fh,

‘The rope JTED is designed to alow fish

‘escape between the paral! ropes

*May alow large, valuable sho psh ropes aside and escape rope JTED onl) + Ropes may sete and become slack rope JTED eny)

“| ‘A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Tropical Shrimp-Trawi Fisheries

Can square-mesh codi

help reduce bycatch?

[A codend constucted enirey from squareesh

netting can alow a substantial aout of smal sh

‘and olher bycatch to escape This is because

square-mesh nating stays open for he duration of

the tow, unike damond:mesh neting that closes

Under the weight ofthe catch The selection of

Imesh sz is very important and tl and eror is

needed to find the mesh size that maxin'ses fish

exclusion and prevents shrimp loss Typically, this

mesh size wil be 60 - 90% of the damon mesh

size, Squaremesh codends can also be

constuted fom knotad ciariond-mesh material

and oriented sideways However, this a waste

use of noting material andthe knts will evertualy

sip and diton mesh geometry (unless ropes ae

hung along the length of the codend to support he

neting under loa)

The last soction of tis square-mesh codend

Js replaced with dlamond-mesh to prevent

‘ean thei shape asi fils with catch and are availabe for fish fo escape,

[A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Tropical Shrimp-Traw! Fisheries Js

‘Square-mesh codends

Advantages

+ Sal sh byaich may escape

May reduce sorting times

* May eease towing ne (ess crag and fewer haus)

+ May cease shrimp catch dv to longer toning ine

* Less anton behaviour and simnig, ably excude smal fh and anima

+ May exclu smal seabed animals and ‘eis

‘Some fshermen are more comfortable using

Codend constucted trom both square- and

Giamond-mesh because this may prevent the

«escape of smal shrimp One options oreplae he

top panel ofa damond:mesh codend wih square-

‘mesh, Another options to replace the entre mia

section of the codend with @ oyinder of squate-

‘mesh neting la this way he last part ofthe codend

's consicted fom damond-mesh netting loses under load and prevents small timp ftom so that t

‘escaping Presumably these BROS are less

‘efecto in reducing the catch of small sh and

‘other bycatcn because there ae fewer epenings for

these animals to escape and they may become

Diocked by ied fish, seaweed ot debi, There is

aso considerable work attaching the square-

‘meshes unformi othe diamand-meshes

What are fisheyes and how can

they help to reduce bycatch?

Afsheye is an eiptzal ste! or aumiium fame

fited lo he coderé through which fish sui to

escape Fisheyes are usualy paced in he top or

sides fhe coded escape, whl shrimp pasvely enter the coder so ta strong swimming fish can

Fisheye must be inetd inthe coded shat fsh

swe frard to pass trough the escape opening

Disadvantages + Stape offs fects escape rates, so sone spedes are more ikl to escape than others + Roavly difcut to const, pata a

‘combined diamond and square-mesh codend + Square-meshes may dso i ot corecty ‘tached toa clamond-meshneting + More difeuttotesi han traditional ‘Samondimesh

“Mate wastage ‘constructed from damond:mesh and knot sippege

‘The loalon ofthe Fsheye is imgoriant fi ose tothe sccumuatd cach shrimp loss can occur is 0

‘ing haulback, particulary dung ugh weather

‘On the ather hand should ‘onvard as fish swimming head o the accurate not be focated foo far cach aro unlkly reach the escape opening The

‘optimal poston ofthe fisheye is diet io prodit ven that performance is infuenced by fish

‘behaviour, catch composton and vlue, The fishaye is designed to allow strong swimming fish to escape trom the trawl,

*L ‘A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Tropical Shrimp-Trawl Fisheries

Fisheyes

Advantages

+ Simpler desgn and cheaper then many oer BROS

+ Lower maintenance than cher BROS

+ Easly moved to cferentposinsin he cedend

* Nay inease svg catch eto longer toning time (less crag and fewer has)

*Nay educe sorting times

* Easy to handle

What is an RES and a Jones-

Davis BRD?

The RES was developed to exclude large fish

bycatch t consists of a tapered netting funnel

attached othe codend surounded by large escape

‘openings that extend radaly around the codend

Creumference Alarms in the raw passthrough

the funnel and ae rected toward he middle of he

cadend, As fish et the funnel, sore tun and swim

forward, and escape through the escape openings

Water turbulence around the outsie ofthe funnel

helps fis to swim forward and escape The escape

openings are usualy constructed from lage

Disadvantages:

“Vl not exclude seabed animals and debris + Poot escape for speci tat behave in the same way a8 ship + Optimal postin ica to determine

“+ May fou onthe sie ofthe vesse during hang

Aisheye in the lop of thơ codend

squate-mesh mater, athough they may simpy be large openings cut into the coden Inthe USA this [BRDisknowm asthe ‘expanded mesh design’ or the

“extended funnel desig’ ithe tapered funnel has {an overhanging upper section atthe rang end

‘The Jones-Davis BRD i similar to the RES but he escape opeigs are simply large hols cut ito the codend nating A cane sh stimulator (defect) or

2 float located behind the tapered funnel may be sed to promote fish escape

‘A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Tropical Shrimp-Trawl Fisheries Jv

‘May educe sorting tne

What is a square-mesh window and how might it reduce bycatch?

‘Asquare-mesh window is usually 2 pana mesh ntng located in tbe op panel fhe codend of square:

‘or tra body AS fish pass though the raw hey ovieniate drectonay toward he device and swim through the square escape openings The slecton

‘of mash sizes very important and tal and err is needed fod he mesh size that maximises fsb

‘excusion and prevents stvenp loss Like he fisheye the size and locaton of the square-mesh window's

‘also important The top of the codend 1s the favoured poston as this reduces shri loss, and itshoud not be oo cose tthe catch in he coded

‘Moret o handle hana standard chương

The racial escape section

or shrimp wil be lost Conversely if he square: mesh window Is located too fa foward inthe codend, fish swimming ahead ofthe accumulated cach wil be unable to sum foward and reach the escape openings,

Large square-mesh windows have alo been ested inte top pane of he ain the tapered secon of {he aul body immediatly ahead ofthe codend or bind the headline, The success ofthese windows has geeraly been led because sin oss can

be very high pariculaty ilarge volumes of simp contr the tau simultaneously,

wl ‘A Guide to Byeateh Reduction in Teopcal Strimp-Teawl Fish

‘Tse fishermen ar using a very large

‘square-mesh window to exclude fish

‘bycatch tom the trawl

The squave-mesh window

‘Square-mesh windows

Advantages: + Sa ish byeath may escape Disadvantages: + Shae sh ais escape rats, 0 some

Faby Ge bag ar cy louse: Species ae mare kl fo escape han ches

May nezease ovrg tie fess rag and fever tal) “efron ran be cate ied es

*Mayinezease sing cach due ‘omg ie to onger * “ioe ict oa han vst! mand mesh eh ieee

+ Wilnot exude seabed animals nd bis

‘A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Tropical Shrimp-Traw! Fisheries Jo

What is a Fishbox?

[A fishbox fs designed to ater the movernent of water in the codend isa boxsike device filed to

the lop or bom of (he codend with an opening

‘trough which fsh can swim and escape A laste

‘or meta plat (ii installed io the font itbox

frame and another tothe top ofthe frame, These

pales generate water turbulence adjacent the

escape openings inthe bofom and sides ofthe

Fishbox

Advantages: Easlylnsaled

*Large opening allows large fish o escape

* May increase simp cath de to langer

toning ime (ess rag and fewer haus)

*May reduce sorting te

device a he ais towed though he waer, The buk movement ofthis water is forvard into the fshbox and incined twough he escape opening in the batt ofthe deve, Many fish species actively seek regions of water turbulence because swimming easier and itis thought hatte inne

‘movement of water heps eet fsh out ofthe ra This is aelavely new BRO thathas been success:

‘uly tested nthe United States and Australia,

The fshbox

Disadvantages

* Poor escape for species tat behave nthe same way as simp + Limted knowledge of fch behaviour and infence off design and oventaton on {oh xcuson rates

*May foul onthe sie fhe boat dung hauling

“Wnt exclude seabed animals and debris

z2{ A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Tropical Shimp-Traul Fishefies

What other modifications can

be used to reduce bycatch?

‘Arange of simple rigging modifications to the awl

may be used to reduce the capture of bycatch

‘These modifcatons may not be sulable for all fisheries, and many have not been widely teste,

but they may sere fo stimulate new ideas They

+ Aiangular or diamond-shaped cut it he top

ofthe codend, This ver simple modification

that can reduce the capture of song swimming

fish

* Changes to round chain stings This

‘modification may reduce the capture of age

sponges and seabed debris For example, ‘easing the cent dropper chains ofa texas

<r’ ground cain system may allow his

bycatch to escape undemeath the tau!

loorope

* Longer sweeps between the clr board and

‘ra This can be used to reduce the cape of small ea uchins suchas ‘sea e90, oer

benthic animals and seabed debris, although

semetimes this may increase fish caches

+ Headline height eduction By reducing heading

height some fsh wil escape capture by

swimming over he healing othe ra This

modification could reduce catches of schooling

or lage swimming fish, By reducing headline

height the wingend spread ofthe aml may

increase and potently incease catches of

botom dweling shrimp (and ost anylss of

swimiing shine)

+ Alenthof wine sveched between the otter boars to tighten fish away ftom the aw The

twine wil vba as itis towed tough the

water, warming fsh ofthe approaching vaw and

ving them time to escape

+ horizontal separator panel This is 3 panel of et tha des the rant Wo

The use offong sweeps and headin floats wil neroase the amount of bycatch that

feners a tra compartments, each lating to separate ndends This panel alows rocks, sel, crabs and other botlo-<veting animal abe kept separate rom the remainder ofthe catch Ether codend can be le open if dese or made of larger mesh so that smal animals can escape

* Large mesh barr across the raw mouth The bares fted between the headine and footope ofthe rato prevent ge animals from entering he codend Fouling by large animal or deli key lo eduoe wingend spread and catching perfomance

*Large cuts in the top pane! ofthe ne ahead of the cadend Tis modication has successtuly reduced bycatch in daylight fsheris but been less successul during he night, Australia this

‘modiaton is known as the Bigeye + §quate-nesh neting adjacent the oorope ofthe

‘rau This modificaten has been successful sed in some fsa heres to reduce the caplue fess rete seabed animals such as

ea urchins and starfish, Ithas some ptental for sein shipirau heres, but has not been widely tested The sucesso tis modification

‘els on sep passing ovr the square-mesh

‘panel folowing ground cain contac

‘A Guide to Byatch Reduction in Tropical Shrimp-Trawi Fisheries je

+ Reducing the size of codend covers and + Aering te jing Manging) ato of coded chafing gear This modication wil alow more ‘meshes to trawl meshes By educng the cadend meshes io be aval fo small {oining lo he codend meshes are urate to

‘animals to escape, ose under oad This may alow more sal

eho escape ner te font ofthe codend, but ray have limited efecveness nar the accumulated cath

“Inereasedcodend mesh size, This wil sow

‘mot smal animals ‘Simplest BROS to implement but interestingly o escape is one ofthe

‘one ofthe leas favoured optons, particulary where smal sh are retsned forsale good Staring point or bycatch reduction research,

*Lastrige ropes hung’ along be length ofthe ‘cadand Tis can alow codend meshes to remain open and smal sh o escape, Usvlly atlas for ropes are required, and they must

be abou $% shorer than the setched length

of the codend This modification is used mainly fer dlamand-mesh codends and reves meshes cesing under load from he cach though it can also be useulin square-mesh tndens, paticat keoted maleial se, The efecirenes of is modfcalen is liel to

be limted lng codends ae used

Choosing and Testing a TED or BRD

This section proves information on how to choose

‘and constuct a TED or BRD that wil sut paride

‘operating conditions Detals on methods of estng

sa device through colaboraton with recognised

research orgrizalons are also provided The

subsequent section answers frequently asked

‘questions related to the installation of these

eves

How do | choose a TED or

BRD?

“The ow dagram on page 24 cesebes the main

steps for choosing and lesing a TED or BRD for

your patiouar needs

“The ial choice ofa TED or BRO depends on what

‘ype of bycatch sgcng tobe excluded The chice is intuences by:

+ the need to protect endangered or treatened

species,

‘the ze and behaviour of string being caught,

"he S29 and behaviour of bycatch

+ vations in catch composton,

"the dest retain valuable bycatch

*vaiatons inthe amount of yeah caught

through the Season and between sing

rounds, and

te costo the device

Cleat, the need to protect endangered or

threatened species is @ high priory, and iis

‘esse that fshermen choose the correct TED or

BRD to exclude these animals fom the Yaw

However, in some instances this choice may be

Predetermined by legslaion dosgnod to protect

these animals Knowledge of catch composton in

all areas of the fishery and throughout the fishing

szason is also required to choose an effective TED

or BRO This cote may be influenced bya desire

to maintain valuable bycatch, ands shoud not be

Aiscouraged providing regulations alow this

bycatch to be elaine and calc aes are ecoog- caly sustainable Given the vaabesze, betavout and composition of he bycatch it maybe necessary

to use several diferent devices simutanecusly to maximise bycatch reduction,

Gotting hod ofa TED or BRD to tes isthe next step, The lectricel data shets athe back of his guide provide constuction delals of the most common types of devices avalable today At bis sfage it might aso be useful to contact other fehamen, net makers ot fshing technologists experienced inthe constucton and use ofthese devices They can provide advice on the TED or BRO best suled for a particular fisher is Important tal the device does not contravene any etng regulations, parteulary tose elated tothe design, size or ype ofthe device, and it ust not

|eopardze the survival of endangered animals, or teatoned

By using an upward-excluding TED and a square-mesh window, lage animals and fish bycatch can be excluded from the trawl

‘A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Tropical Shrimp-Traw! Fisheries Je

How to choose and test a TED or BRD

al ‘A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Tropical Shvimp-Trawl Fisheries

Choosing a TED or BRD

The cost of purchasing or constusing a TED oF

BRO varies considerably between devices I is

infenced mainly by mater vaiby, cost, and

labour rates A simple device wil require less

‘atti and time to construct o wl be reaively

cheap, For example, a square-mesh vind: canbe

constructed from sraps of neting and may cost no

mote than a few dolar at most It can also be

easly madeby the fisherman In south 2st Asia the

cost ofa smal ste TED may be less than USS100 Incontasta lage stanes tel or aluminium TED

in usta ten times that amount or the United States may cost more than

Given ite experince inthe use and operation of

‘hese devices it may be wise to select a cheap and simple device, suchas a fsheye or square-mesh window Ths is 2 good choice because iis a relatively inexpensive way to get stared and wil hep shermen gain confidence and expenence in thei use It might also be useul to select a device thats curenty being used by oer fishermen to

‘exclude similar bycatch spacies In ths way {isheren can be reasonably assured that the evi wil reduce bycatch and shnp loss wi {hopeful not be too high

When fishermen fest use @ TED or BRD it is possible that shrimp loss occurs relatively equenly and ls lnlaly hgh Kis important rot be ésccuraged Experience and knowlege are the

‘ays to efcint bycatch reduction

‘A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Tropical Shrimp-Trawi Fisheries es

Who can help with the development and testing of these devices?

‘Tofuly assess a TED or BRD itis important to ask:

+isit working? (lessor no bycatch),

sisi afectng the size ofthe shrimp catch?

(ore or less ship) +Isitafeting the quality ofthe shim? (ewer damaged shimp),

+Isit easly handled onboard? and +s there any change in raw spread and crag?

(longer toning be and greater efcieney)

‘These are often dftcut questions to answer soit might be a good idea to work wih a fisheries research organization Many of them have

‘experience developing and testing and can assist with the selection, instalation, a TED ox BRD tesing and assessment of the device While collab-

‘oration isnot essential, it could save considerable im, efor and money

Its impotanto realise that he results of a collab-

“lon are usualy more favourably acceped by

‘ther stakeholders because the testing program is usualy more rigorous (Hherough) and involves an independent party, An example of benefits gained

by colaboration is provided by SEAFDEC working wih researches and fishermen in Southeast Asa to

Collaboration between researchors and fishermen isa key requirement for the

“successful introduction ofa TED or BRD into ‘aishory induce the JTED This has resulted in the JTED bing tested onboard commercial shrimp trawlers in many countries in te region, including training of Fshermen inthe instalation and operation of the device The development of an efectve tule protecton program and iting of the US embargo eqires al stvimp fshermen in a county 1 use approved TED designs This wl ot happen ifthe iso colabaraion with ether fshermen and fshery managers

Testing TEDs and BRDs

To uly assess the perfomance ofa TED or BRD 2 detaed testing program is recommended This will need to be a ngorous process, wth peomance targets in place to ensure tha the device performs

as claimed and sass the concems of other

‘Stakeholders, In Ausvala's Norher Praun Fishery,

a tesing protocol has been established to help fshermen test ther can TED and GRDs and 10 identify new devices suitable for approval in the fshery Te protocol has tree assessment phases: + an inal assessment phase

+a visual assessment phase; and + an asa testing phase

‘Tho inital assessment phase invoves the fisherman providing members of a special commitee bret notes ofthe TED or BRD to be tested, including @ description of the devoe, its

‘operation and claimed performance The conmitee

- consisting of a fishing technologist, an independent fsherman and the Fshery manager - detemines i the device has potential to perfom as aimed The commits wil then either request 2 vwsual assessment of the device or recommend commencement of he a-sea phase

| AA Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Tropical Shrimp-Traw Fisheries

‘The visual assessment phase involves the

cưmnitee viewing the device o testing iin a fume

tank Tis phase is required ony if some doubt

about the claimed ably ofthe device exits or

futher cariiaton is required It aso provides a

mechanism to assess complex or unusual TED or

BRD designs

The atsea testing phase inches te fisherman

being provided 2 permit to test the new device

under nomal fishing conditions The committee

provides instucton to the fsheman regarding

testing condons, duraton and dala coleclon -

these instucions are designed to minimize any

dstubance to the nomal Fsting operation and

recognize ha fshermen usualy have iid ebity

to collect catch data the new device perfoos aimed then a rained observer may board the boat as

for several weeks to enable an independent

assessment ofthe device

(Cuteny a new TED is deemed to have perfommed

saisfactorly if no tues are caught during the

ents atseatesing phase Tis ensures that any

new TED design pefoms as wells thse curenty

approved forthe fishery Inthe case ofa BRO there

| no bycatch target at present the codend wth the

‘new device simply needs to elan less bycatch han

‘a slandard codend thas been suggested that new BRD design shouldbe tested against a curently

approved device The new device would need to

‘excude the same amount of bycatch o mere 12

gain acceptance as an approved BRD The new

‘evi could also be the benchmark to compare the

performance of future devices, and in this way the

bycatch target would continue to increase Once the ‘alsa testing is complete the resus are provided

to the committee for recommendation oroherwise 2s an approved bycatch reduction device

The beneis ofthe protocol include

+a method of demonstrating the achievement of reduce bycatch, while accommadaing the

cates of testing under commer hing

conditions;

‘By working together information is exchanged

‘between researchers and fishermen,

* providing fishermen a quick, simple and inexpensive means of assessing TED or BRD perfomance onbcard the fshing boat (hey

‘ay oly forthe device and feed the observer + empowering fishermen to take greater conto

‘of TED and BRO development this improves ampiance with TED and BRD regutos);

+ providing rigorous testing process that satisfies he conoems of aber stakeholders,

* promoting the ongoing development of more efficient TED or BRDS; and + enhanced bycatch reduction

‘To tes a specie TED or BRD, oblain more infor Imation, discuss issues oto share resus, any of ihe research organizations listed under ‘Contacts

‘on page 108 can be contacted

[A Guide to Bycatch Reduction in Topical Strimp-Traw! Fisher Ịz

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Fisheries