STFA/CFMC Pilot Trap Vent Study

Progress Report(8/1/2008)

Completed TripsTrips/Fisherman

02468

101214

Blanchard Ledee Magras Quetel

Fisherman

Tra

p H

auls

Trap Hauls/Fisherman

0

10

20

30

40

50

Blanchard Ledee Magras Quetel

Fisherman

Tra

p H

au

ls

2 by 4 1 by 41 by 6 Control

Completed Trap Hauls

Total Fish (all traps)Total Fish

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1 by 4 1 by 6 2 by 4 Control

Trap Vent Size

# F

ish

Catch/Trap Haul

Fish/TrapHaul

0.000.501.001.502.002.503.003.504.00

1 by 4 1by 6 2 by 4 Control

Vent Size

Fish

Total Fish in LandingsTotal Fish in Landings

0

100

200

300

400

500

1 by 4 1 by 6 2 by 4 Control

Trap Vent Size

# F

ish

Total Fish in BycatchTotal Fish in ByCatch

0

50

100

150

200

1 by 4 1 by 6 2 by 4 Control

Trap Vent Size

# F

ish

% Bycatch% Bycatch

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

1 by 4 1 by 6 2 by 4 Control

Trap Vent Size

# F

ish

Empty

Empty Traps# Empty Traps

0102030405060708090

1 by 4 1 by 6 2 by 4 Control

Trap Vent Size

# F

ish

Reasons for Discard

Reasons for Discard

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1 by 4 1 by 6 2 by 4 Control

Vent Type

%

Regulatory

Non Comercial

Ciguatera

Too Small

Average FL in Bycatch

Average FL in ByCatch

188189190191192193194195196197

1 by 4 1 by 6 2 by 4 Control

Trap Vent Size

# F

ish

Average Length

150170190210230250270290310330350

Species

Leng

th (m

m)

Control 1 by 41 by 6 2 by 4

Average Lengths

Only 1 Doctorfish in 2 x 4

Blue Tang(Retained, FL)

Control

01234

5678

Fork Length (mm)

#

1 by 4 Trap Vent

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Fork Length (mm)

#

1 by 6 Trap Vent

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Fork Length (mm)

#

2 by 4 Trap Vent

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

Fork Length (mm)

#

Queen Triggerfish (Retained FL)

Control

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

150

180

210

240

270

300

330

360

390

420

450

480

Fork Length (mm)

#

1 by 4 Trap Vent

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

150

180

210

240

270

300

330

360

390

420

450

480

Fork Length (mm)

#

1 by 6 Trap Vent

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

150

180

210

240

270

300

330

360

390

420

450

480

Fork Length (mm)

#

2 by 4 Trap Vent

0

1

2

3

4

5

150

180

210

240

270

300

330

360

390

420

450

480

Fork Length (mm)

#

Preliminary Findings

1. Study design works well.

2. Escape vents release fish but also release target fish (2 x 4).

3. Other vents do not differ from controls.

4. Need to test other vents in order to find a successful design.

Vent Design Considerations• Location. Currently all of the vents in the pilot

study are located in the lower portion of the back panel of the trap (down as the trap is being hauled).

• 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.

STFA CRP Proposal1. Goal: Design vents that will release target

species and still retain landings2. 18 Month study period3. 8 Fishermen: to rotate among interested

participants4. Phase 1 Vents to be developed from pilot

study findings5. Phase 2 Vents to be developed from Phase

1 findings6. Implement within STFA (46% of STT Trips)

as soon as developed (i.e. Don’t have to wait for FMP amendment or compatible regulations