Solutions
Decreased Soak Times
Fishery Type
Gillnets, Longline, Purse Seine, Trawls
Ocean Region
Eastern Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Northern Atlantic Ocean, Northern Pacific Ocean, Southern Atlantic Ocean, Western Pacific Ocean
Target Species
Atlantic Cod, Groundfish, Mahi, Tuna
Bycatch Species
Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles, Seabirds, Sharks and Rays
Soak time is the amount of time that deployed fishing gear stays in the water. The longer the gear is set in the water, the higher the bycatch rate will be. For bycatch that requires air to breath (marine mammals, sea turtles, seabirds) the longer that individuals are trapped underwater, the more likely they are to drown. Therefore, to decrease the overall mortality rate of bycatch as a result of being trapped underwater, the gear needs to be hauled and checked more frequently, to release bycatch more regularly and limit the time trapped underwater.