ISSF Purse Seine Bycatch Mitigation - WCPO Research Cruise Protocols

Research protocols, objectives, materials and methods for:
1. Underwater visual census at FADS;
2. Pre-set Estimation of Catch and Bycatch;
3. Natural Behavior of Tuna and Bycatch in the Net;
4. Vertical and Horizontal Behavior of Tuna and Bycatch Species on FAD Aggregations;
5. Targeting skipjack after dawn - while avoiding bigeye and bycatch;
6. Intial release of fish from the net by towing the FAD;
7. Best Practices for the handling and live release of whale sharks and manta rays; and
8. Condition and Post-release survival of sharks.