Hotspots are areas that have a higher abundance of bycatch taxa where it is more likely to have high bycatch rates if fishing is conducted. It is a best practice to avoid setting fishing gear in these locations.
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
American Lobster, Dungeness Crab, Mahi, Swordfish, 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.
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
Seabirds are visual hunters and most active during daylight hours. By shifting to setting fishing gear when it is dark, seabird interaction with baited hooks and nets is greatly reduced thereby decreasing bycatch rates.
Fishery Type
Longline, Gillnets, Trawls
Ocean Region
Indian Ocean, Eastern Pacific Ocean, Western Pacific Ocean, Northern Atlantic Ocean
Turtle excluder devices are modifications to trawl nets that block specific taxa from getting dragged into the cod end of the net and allows them to swim out while the trawl net is being towed.
Fishery Type
Trawls
Ocean Region
Indian Ocean, Eastern Pacific Ocean, Northern Atlantic Ocean