Can biodegradable materials reduce plastic pollution without decreasing catch efficiency in longline fishery? | Bycatch Management Information System (BMIS)

Year

2022

Species Groups

Fishing Gear

Mitigation Techniques

ALDFG - management of abandoned, lost, discarded fishing gear

Monofilament / Wire Leaders

Type

Journal Article

Authors

Cerbule, Kristine

Grimaldo, Eduardo

Herrmann, Bent

Larsen, Roger B.

Brčić, Jure

Vollstad, Jørgen

DOI

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113577

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Source URL

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X22002594

Citation

Cerbule K, Grimaldo E, Herrmann B, et al (2022) Can biodegradable materials reduce plastic pollution without decreasing catch efficiency in longline fishery? Marine Pollution Bulletin 178:113577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113577

Abstract

Longlining is a widely used fishing method. During longline fishing, some of the snoods connecting the hooks to the mainline are often lost at sea. Since snoods are made of nylon or polyester, lost snoods contribute to marine plastic pollution. Replacing nylon or polyester with a new material made of biodegradable plastics can potentially reduce macro- and microplastic pollution that is caused by lost snoods. In this study, we estimated the risk for snood loss in a longline fishery targeting haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus (Linnaeus, 1758)) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua (Linnaeus, 1758)) in Barents Sea. Further, we compared catch efficiency in this fishery for snoods made of biodegradable and nylon materials. No significant differences were found between the two materials. Therefore, catch efficiency does not represent a barrier for using biodegradable materials in snoods.