Sub-Surface Sets

Fishery Type

Gillnets

Ocean Region

Indian Ocean, Eastern Pacific Ocean, Northern Atlantic Ocean

Target Species

Atlantic Cod, Groundfish, Hake, Tuna

Bycatch Species

Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles, Seabirds

Surface set gillnets can catch sea turtles and small cetaceans that spend most of their time at the surface. By increasing the depth of the float line (the top rope on the net) a few meters, sea turtles and small cetaceans at the surface can pass over without becoming entangled, decreasing the bycatch rate. This can be achieved by increasing the length of the buoy line and by increasing the weight of the lead line thereby pulling down the float line to a specified depth.