What is Bycatch?

 Hi readers!Have you ever heard of the term bycatch?If not, don't worry.Today we will we telling you more about it.Enjoy!

Meaning:

Wherever there is fishing, there is bycatch—the incidental capture of non-target species such as dolphins, marine turtles and seabirds.

Facts:

1.While most bycatch research occurs in marine freshwater, freshwater bycatch is an understudied yet likely important threat, particularly for endemic species with small home ranges. Conservation solutions. Many tactics have been tested to reduce problematic bycatch.

2.Sharks are among the most vulnerable marine animals when it comes to bycatch. Because sharks and fishing vessels often take the same fishing routes, these animals are particularly susceptible to being accidentally caught on a longline or ensnared in a gill-net.

3.Bycatch can negatively affect species such as dolphins, sea turtles, protected fish, and whales by harming animals, contributing to population declines, and impeding population recovery.

 4.Possession of gill-nets is illegal in some U.S. states and heavily regulated in others. Fish are getting trapped in these gill-nets that are illegally used.

5.We can reduce bycatch by using pole and line. Some fisheries simply use poles and lines to catch fish, greatly reducing the risk of bycatch. With this fishing technique, fishermen catch one fish at a time and can more easily release any unwanted catch from their hooks. Many canned and fresh fish are now labeled as pole and line caught.

6.The type of gear that is used to catch fish is an important variable in the bycatch equation. Depending on the specific target species, small changes in net design or hook shape and size can drastically reduce bycatch.

Here is a picture of a bycatch turtle:

 

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World Environment Day!