Mitigation options for shark bycatch in longline fisheries. New Zealand Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Report No. 148

Systematic literature review addressing methods of reducing shark catch rates on longline fishing gear. Gear technology as well as operational and environmental variables were evaluated as potential elasmobranch bycatch reduction methods for use in New Zealand commercial longline fisheries. Methods of mitigating shark bycatch that ranked highest in this assessment were nylon leaders, large hooks and squid bait. Circle hooks appeared to increase shark retention but may complement nylon leaders by improving the odds of survival for animals that bite off the leader.