Demonstrating Effectiveness of a Microprocessor-Based Shark Bycatch Reduction Device (BRD) in Longline Fisheries Using an Academic-Industry Partnership.

Nguyen, Michael* ¹, Sara Mirabilio², Richard Brill³, Peter Bushnell⁴, Walter Golet⁵, Ilan Levine⁴, John Mohan¹, ¹University of New England, Biddeford, ME, ²North Carolina Sea Grant, Manteo, NC, ³Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, VA, ⁴Indiana University South Bend, South Bend, IN, ⁵The University of Maine/Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Portland, ME

Shark bycatch is detrimental to pelagic longline fisheries. Bycatch reduction devices (BRD’s) that emit electrical signals aim to impair elasmobranch electrosensory systems to deter sharks from biting hooks intended for commercially valuable species. If successful implementation of BRD’s in a controlled laboratory setting can decrease shark bite response, there could be practical application of BRD’s to commercial longline fisheries. This study conducted preliminary laboratory experiments with a prototype BRD (5V 6Hz AC field) to test the hypothesis that Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) can detect electrical fields emitted by a battery powered BRD and significantly decrease final bite response.