Highlighted Collaborator

Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction

        (from The Consortium's Homepage)

Project Summary

Experts in marine biology, engineering and fishing are collaborating on the design, field-testing and promotion of fishing gear that minimizes bycatch. Founding members of the consortium include the University of New Hampshire, Duke University, the Maine Lobstermen’s Association , and the New England Aquarium. An unprecedented partnership between scientists and industry, the consortium is engaged in a number of research and development projects. Among these are:

• Evaluation of degradable, stiff, illuminated and abrasion resistant ropes
• Comparison of fish catches in typical and stiff-twine gill nets
• Field testing a new generation of acoustic alarms to reduce dolphin bycatch
• Characterizing the diving behavior of loggerhead turtles in the Chesapeake Bay to propose new “bycatch safe” fishing regulations
• Field testing gear to reduce bycatch in Maine’s lobster fishing industry

The Aquarium also hosts the consortium’s annual meeting, an international gathering of fishermen and scientists interested in creating realistic and effective wildlife bycatch solutions.

Project Objectives

To identify and promote practical solutions for eliminating bycatch as a threat to endangered species, ecosystem health and sustainable fishing.

To reduce wildlife bycatch through increased sharing of scientific information and collaborations among scientists, the fishing industry and governments.

For more information, please contact: Timothy Werner, Senior Scientist and Consortium Director