LEDs IN GILLNETS REDUCE SEABIRD DEATH BY 85 PERCENT Bycatch in net fisheries is recognized as a majo

LEDs IN GILLNETS REDUCE SEABIRD DEATH BY 85 PERCENT Bycatch in net fisheries is recognized as a major source of mortality for many marine species, including seabirds. Anually, 400,000 diving seabird die by getting caught in gillnets, in a deadly attempt to get fish. Few mitigation solutions have been identified, however, a new study prove fishing net attached with green battery-powered light-emitting diodes (LEDs), can reduce seabirds death rates by more than 85 per cen.Researchers compared 114 pairs of gillnets anchored in fixed positions at sea and designed to snare fish by the gills, in fishing waters off the coast of Peru. They found that the nets fitted with the LEDs caught 85 per cent fewer guanay cormorants (Phalacrocorax bougainvillii), compared with those without lights. - Guanay cormorant dead in a fishing net. Photo by Andrew F Johnson.Gillnets entangle fish by their gills, in addition to entangling target fish species, they can entangle and cause great harm to a variety of ocean wildlife. It acts as a large net wall that hangs vertically in the water. Floats line the top of the net, while weights line the bottom of the net. The net is made of transparent monofilament line, so fish and other animals are unable to see it. In Perú, gillnet fleet comprises the largest component of the nation’s small-scale fleet and is conservatively estimated to set 100,000km of net per year in which thousands of turtles and seabirds will die unintentionally. Previous researchs showed LED lighting also reduced the number of sea turtles caught in fishing nets by 64 per cent. Researchers believe the lights offer a cheap, reliable and durable way to dramatically reduce the capture and death of birds and turtles, without reducing the intended catch of fish. Photo: Fishing net with LED lights, credit ProDelphinus.Reference: Mangel et al., 2018 Illuminating gillnets to save seabirds and the potential for multi-taxa bycatch mitigation Royal Society  Open Science[Image description:  One of the fishing net with LED lights on a artisan fishing boat. Lights are on, ready to be used. The second image shows an entangled guanay cormorant to a gillnet. The bird is black and white, with a red part over its eye, rests peacefully.] -- source link

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