What’s the catch? Examining optimal longline fishing gear configurations to minimize negative impacts on non-target species

Changes to fishing gear configurations have great potential to decrease fishing interactions, minimize injury and reduce mortality for non-target species in commercial fisheries. In this two-part study, we investigate potential options to optimize fishing gear configurations for United States Pacific pelagic longline vessels to maintain target catch rates whilst reducing bycatch mortality, injury, and harm. In part one, a paired-gear trial was conducted on a deep-set tuna longline vessel to compare catch rates and catch condition of target and non-target species between wire and monofilament leader materials. Temperature-depth recorders were also deployed on hooks to determine sinking rates and fishing depth between the two leader materials. In part two, hooks of different configurations (size, diameter, shape, metal type, and leader material) were soaked in a seawater flume for 360 days to obtain quantitative estimates of breaking strength, as well as the time taken for gear to break apart. We found that switching from wire to monofilament leaders reduced the catch rate of sharks by approximately 41 %, whilst maintaining catch rates of target species (Bigeye tuna, Thunnus obesus). However, trailing gear composed of monofilament did not break apart even after 360 days. In contrast, branchlines with wire leaders began to break at the crimps after approximately 60 days. Additionally, the breaking strength of soaked fishing hooks was greater for larger, forged hooks composed of stainless steel typically used in United States Pacific longline fisheries. These results have direct implications for fisheries management and the oper­ ational effectiveness of bycatch mitigation strategies for longline fisheries worldwide.