Experimental determinations of factors affecting the sink rates of baited hooks to minimise seabird mortality in pelagic longline fisheries

Citation
Robertson G, Candy SG, Wienecke B, Lawton K (2010) Experimental determinations of factors affecting the sink rates of baited hooks to minimise seabird mortality in pelagic longline fisheries. WCPFC, Nuku’alofa, Tonga
Abstract

Also published as IOTC-2010-WPEB10

1. While line weighting and other mitigation measures are required in the pelagic longline fishery off Australia's east coast, some seabirds are still caught, suggesting that mitigation measures are not fully effective in all conditions. An experiment was conducted in that fishery to establish a scientific basis for potential changes to reduce seabird mortality; in particular, by evaluating different combinations of line weighting and other variables affecting line sink rates.

2. The experiment examined the effects of different bait species (blue mackerel, yellow-tail mackerel and squid), bait life status (dead or alive), weight of leaded swivels (60 g, 100 g and 160 g) and leader length (distance between leaded swivel and hooks: 2 m, 3 m and 4 m) on the sink rates of baited hooks from 0-6 m deep.

3. On average, live bait sank much slower than dead bait, greatly increasing the exposure of baited hooks to seabirds. Sink rates of individual live bait were highly variable. Many were < 2 m underwater 18 seconds after deployment, including some on the heaviest swivels, and some were < 10 m deep after 120 seconds.

4. Within the dead bait group, gear with 60 g and 100 g swivels on the same leader length sank at similar rates, as did all three swivel weights on 4 m leaders. The 160 g x 2 m combination sank the fastest, averaging 0.27 m/s and 0.74 m/s from 0-2 m and 4-6 m, respectively. The 60 g x 4 m combination sank the slowest, averaging 0.16 m/s to 2 m depth and failing to attain 6 m depth after 18 seconds. Initial sink rates (0-2 m) were increased by placing leaded swivels close to hooks and final sink rates (> 4 m) by increasing the weight of the swivels.

5. The results indicate that the small (incremental) changes to the weight of leaded swivels and the length of leaders typically preferred by the fishing industry are unlikely to make an appreciable reduction in seabird mortality because resultant increases in sink rates will be insubstantial

6. Changing line weighting regimes to reduce seabird mortality requires consideration of sink rates close to the surface (i.e. 0-2 m) in addition to cumulative rates to the deeper depths. It is suggested that to substantially reduce seabird mortality compared to that associated with 60 g swivels and ~3.5 m leaders (the preferred option by industry) may require branch lines be configured with swivels ≥ 120 g ≤ 2 m from hooks. An alternative to the latter regime would be to place a smaller amount of weight at or very close to the hook. The exact amount of weight would have to be determined experimentally.

Note: also found among the meeting documents of the Third Meeting of the Seabird Bycatch Working Group (ACAP). SBWG-Doc 05