SOLUTIONS



In recent years, the consequences of fishing have increasingly become the source of research interest. Much of this has been prompted by the collapse of commercially valuable fisheries, as well as the threat of extinction to many animals. For some species, like bluefish and flounder in the mid-Atlantic, implementing catch limits has been successful in bringing back depleted stocks. For other species like the Atlantic cod, however, such regulations have not resulted in a rebounding of the population. In these instances, there may be other factors such as increasing water temperature that inhibit recovery.

Research has also focused on new methods of fishing that are less destructive. For example, studies on diver harvesting of oyster showed that the technique was less damaging to the structure of the reef than traditional methods like dredging. Whereas the latter method indiscriminately picks up all oysters, including those that are dead on the reef, diver harvesting is more selective and only collects those that are commercially valuable. The practice was also shown to increase the amount of oysters harvested per unit time of fishing.

There has likewise been much investigation into techniques that reduce fisheries bycatch. For example, studies on longline hooks have shown that certain hooks do not get stuck in the mouths of sea turtles, which reduces their risk of capture. Acoustic pingers on fishing vessels have been shown to deter marine mammals and reduce their bycatch rates in the California drift gill net fishery. Swordfish longline fisheries employ lights to attract fish, but they also attract leatherback turtles as well. Research on turtle light perception has shown that certain light frequencies are not visible to turtles, but are still attractive to swordfish. This offers a mechanism of reducing bycatch without impacting the catch of target species. For crab pots, bycatch reduction devices are tiny plastic rings that are attached to the openings. These make the openings smaller so that blue crabs can still get in while keeping terrapins out.

One of the largest success stories of bycatch reduction has been the use of turtle excluder devices (TED) in shrimp trawlers. In the Gulf of Mexico, bycatch of Kemp's ridley turtles in shrimp trawlers was cited as a major factor in declines of the species. The TED is a large grate that is attached to the inside of the net and an opening in the net is placed next to it. Shrimp easily pass through the grate, but turtles cannot get through it. When they come into contact with the grate, the opening in the net provides a way out and the turtle can leave the net unscathed. Reduction in bycatch from using this device has led to significant recovery of Kemp's ridley turtles in the Gulf of Mexico. These avenues of research offer solutions that can ease the harmful environmental consequences of fishing and allow fishing practices to proceed in a more environmental friendly method in the future.