The Tom’s Fisheye is a bycatch reduction device (BRD) used in the Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF) and is being evaluated in the Queensland East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery (QECOTF). It aims to reduce the capture of non-target species while maintaining prawn catch efficiency. Here are some key points:
- Design and Function: Tom’s Fisheye creates a low-pressure area in the trawl net, allowing fish to escape through a gap. This design helps reduce bycatch by 40% compared to traditional Square Mesh Panel BRDs1.
- Efficiency: Trials have shown that Tom’s Fisheye can achieve significant bycatch reduction with minimal impact on prawn catch, with prawn losses ranging from -3.33% to +0.5%1.
- Implementation: The device has been adopted by the NPF fleet and is used alongside other BRDs to enhance versatility and effectiveness in different conditions1.
Tom’s Fisheye represents a significant step towards more sustainable fishing practices by reducing the environmental impact of prawn trawling1, 2.
- Industry gear innovations achieve bycatch reduction target in the Northern Prawn Fishery
- NPF bringing Tom’s Fisheye to commercial fishing – The Australian Farmer
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