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Optimizing Trap Vent Design for Sustainable Fishing: A Pilot Study Report

This report analyzes the effectiveness of trap vents in reducing bycatch while maintaining target species landings, discussing findings on trap vent location, design considerations, and preliminary results. Recommendations for optimizing vent design are provided for future studies. Proposed phases outline the development and implementation of improved vents for sustainable fishing practices.

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Optimizing Trap Vent Design for Sustainable Fishing: A Pilot Study Report

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  1. STFA/CFMC Pilot Trap Vent StudyFinal Report(3/25/2009)

  2. Acknowledgements • Project Funding • CFMC • Puerto Rico Sea Grant • SEFSC • Fishermen • Tony Blanchard • Winston Ledee • Julian Magras • Ernest Quetel • Sampling • Gerald Greaux • Ruth Gomez

  3. Trap Vents Tested

  4. Location of Vents

  5. Completed Trips

  6. Completed Trap Hauls

  7. Total Fish (all traps)

  8. Effect of Set Length

  9. CPUE (Fish/Trap Haul)

  10. Total Catch/Bycatch

  11. % Bycatch

  12. Total Fish in Landings

  13. CPUE Landings(Fish/Trap Haul)

  14. CPUE Bycatch(Fish/Trap Haul)

  15. Reasons for Discard

  16. Empty Empty Traps 12% 15% 32% 13% 12%

  17. Average TL (mm)

  18. Species Totals(20 Most Abundant)

  19. Species Abundance

  20. Average Lengths

  21. Blue Tang (FL mm) N=153 N=137 N=21 N=196

  22. Longspined Squirrelfish (FL mm) N=65 N=136 N=166 N=9

  23. Queen Triggerfish (FL mm) N=133 N=84 N=80 N=56 Missing Bycatch

  24. Red Hind (TL mm) N=153 N=137 N=196 N=12 Missing Bycatch

  25. White Grunt (FL mm) N=50 N=109 N=9 N=85

  26. Scrawled Cowfish (TL mm) N=69 N=29 N=42 N=41

  27. Preliminary Findings • Study design works well. • Escape vents release fish but also release target fish (2 x 4). • Other vents do not differ from controls. • Need to test other vents in order to find a successful design. • Release Panels function on long sets

  28. Vent Design Considerations • Location. Location was held constant for the pilot study but could be significant. • Visual cues. All of the vents in the present study were created by removing portions of the mesh. There are no collars around the vents and some of the fishermen feel that the current one inch wide vents might work if there was a visual cue. • Size. There is a general consensus that the 1 by 6 vent, or some modification of that vent size might be likely to improve escapement of by catch and the likely starting design will be some version of the 1 by 6 vent size. • Orientation. Escapement may be enhanced by either horizontal or vertical orientation of the vents.

  29. STFA CRP Proposal • Goal: Design vents that will release target species and still retain landings • 18 Month study period • 8 Fishermen: to rotate among interested participants • Phase 1 Vents to be developed from pilot study findings • Phase 2 Vents to be developed from Phase 1 findings • Implement within STFA (46% of STT Trips) as soon as developed (i.e. Don’t have to wait for FMP amendment or compatible regulations

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