Funding Opportunities

Description

Global shark populations have declined by about 50% over the past 50 years, largely due to fishing, including accidental capture in tuna fisheries. While small sharks can be handled relatively safely, large adult sharks—critical for reproduction—are difficult and dangerous to release, often leading fishers to leave them on deck until they are near death. Older release methods (like tail ropes) were banned due to injury risks.

To address this, AZTI developed two safer release devices (a padded “shark velcro” and “shark harness”) that allow quick, less harmful lifting and release. Early tests showed promising survival results, but sample sizes were too small for firm conclusions. This new pilot project will expand testing through fisher training, onboard trials, and satellite tagging to assess post-release survival.

If proven effective, these devices could improve shark survival, enhance fisher safety, support sustainable fishing practices, and help fisheries meet conservation standards.

Description

Oceanic shark populations have declined sharply over the past 50 years, largely due to fishing. In tropical tuna purse seine fisheries, vulnerable  and critically endangered sharks are commonly caught as bycatch around fish aggregating devices (FADs). Handling these sharks on deck is dangerous for fishers and harmful to the animals, often leading to injuries and poor survival outcomes.

To address this, AZTI developed slide systems that allow sharks to be released directly back into the water with minimal handling, improving safety and survival. Trials with customized slides, along with the introduction of shark-bite-resistant gloves, aim to further reduce risks. The project includes gear development, training, data collection, and collaboration with fleets to promote adoption.

Expected outcomes include safer working conditions, improved shark survival, wider adoption of release tools across fleets, and potential integration into fisheries regulations—ultimately supporting shark population recovery and more sustainable fisheries.

Description

Mobulid rays (manta and devil rays) are highly vulnerable and now endangered due largely to fishing impacts, especially from tuna purse seine fleets where they are accidentally caught. Current release methods are slow, stressful, and often harmful, leading to high mortality—even when rays are alive upon capture. Research shows that releasing them within three minutes can boost survival rates to up to 90%.

A new solution, the “sorting grid,” developed by AZTI, allows tuna to fall through while retaining large rays, which can then be quickly lifted and released with minimal handling. This method is safer for crews and significantly reduces stress and release time for the animals.

The grids have already been successfully adopted by Spanish and U.S. fleets. This project aims to expand their use to other fleets through gear development, training workshops, at-sea trials, and data collection. Results will be shared to encourage wider adoption and integration into fisheries regulations. Overall, the initiative seeks to improve survival rates of mobulid rays, support their population recovery, and enhance the sustainability of fisheries.

Description

Chilean purse-seine fisheries are comprised of around 500 “artisanal” vessels (<18m in length).  Historically, high bycatch rates of Pink-footed shearwater were observed in the area (>1,500), an Endangered in Chile. A modified version of the purse seine (MPS) has been developed through a collaboration between the fishing industry, BirdLife, and net makers, and has shown significant reduction of Pink-footed shearwater and Black-browed albatross bycatch.

In the MPS, sections of the net with high seabird entanglement rates need to be modified.  This includes a novel buoy mounting method, adjusting the mesh size, and removing excessive netting material.  Following these modifications, trials not only showed a 98% reduction in diving seabird bycatch but had no impact on target fish catch and even helped saving costs in net materials. This innovation was recognized as one of the best environmental initiatives in Latin America in 2017 (Premios Latinoamérica Verde).

This project will benefit artisanal fishermen that sell to Blumar Seafood in central Chile. Out of the total 25 purse-seiners managed by Blumar Seafood, 5 vessels have already gone through gear modification thanks to a project lead by BirdLife International and supported by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).  This project will upgrade 5 additional purse-seiners targeting sardine and anchovy to continue efforts toward a total transformation of the artisanal fleet in south-central Chile with Modified Purse Seines (MPS).

In addition to the development of the MPS, this funding will support training workshops for captain and crew members, to provide expertise on the structural modification of the fishing gear and on the minimum standards and maintenance of modifications to secure best bycatch mitigation practices in this fishery.

This project also includes a committed matching contribution of $95,563 USD combined from Birdlife International and Blumar Seafood.

Contact the Bycatch Hub Manager for more specifics on the project workplan and a line-item budget.