Northern Prawn Fishery Tackles Bycatch with Innovative Measures
The Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF) in Australia has implemented several measures to reduce bycatch of sea snakes and sawfish, two significant components of its catch. These efforts, part of a collaborative framework involving fishers, managers, and researchers, aim to create a sustainable and productive fishery that minimizes risks to endangered species.
In recent years, the NPF has introduced neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnet net material in its TED panels to enhance capture efficiency and reduce bycatch. Additionally, TED flaps were modified from black mesh to grey Magna mesh to decrease sawfish entanglements. In 2020, Tom's Fisheye BRDs were adopted fleet-wide to minimize sea snake bycatch.
These initiatives have been part of the NPF's journey to become Australia's first tropical prawn fishery to gain MSC certification. However, a study from 2019 to 2021 found that vessels using grey mesh TED flaps had a higher probability of interacting with sawfish, although the number caught remained similar across mesh types. This increase could be due to improved reporting, as the adoption of grey mesh TED flaps coincided with an industry education program.
The NPF's commitment to sustainability is evident in its efforts to reduce bycatch and gain MSC certification. While challenges persist, such as the increased probability of sawfish interactions with grey mesh TED flaps, the ultimate goal remains clear: to create a productive and sustainable fishery that minimizes risk to endangered species like sea snakes and sawfish.
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