Mitigating bycatch of sharks and rays is critical to preventing further population declines. Rapid release of bycaught animals back into the water significantly increases their chances of survival. However, handling large, active sharks and mobulid rays—some weighing over a tonne and measuring more than seven meters—poses serious safety and practical challenges.
In the latest Editor's Choice article, researchers collaborated closely with Spanish tropical tuna purse seine fishers over five years to design and implement new tools and protocols enabling safer, faster releases of elasmobranchs. This collaboration resulted in the creation and voluntary adoption of several bycatch release devices (BRDs), including Velcro release straps, ramps, gutters, hoppers for sharks, and sorting grids and straps for mobulid rays. Many Spanish vessels now use these devices, and their uptake is spreading to other major purse seine fleets in the USA, Ecuador, France, and beyond. Tuna regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) are also beginning to incorporate these BRDs into their best handling and release practice regulations.
The study was built on more than a decade of regular engagement between the authors and Spanish purse seine fishers through sustainability workshops and research projects. Although some fishers were initially hesitant to share information, trust developed over time. As environmental awareness grew, so did the willingness of fishers to adopt new practices. The time and effort invested in understanding fishers' perspectives and addressing their concerns was key to developing solutions that are both effective and widely accepted.
The authors emphasize that long-term, face-to-face collaboration platforms—such as bycatch mitigation committees and best practice training workshops—are essential. The cooperative, participatory approach demonstrated by this study offers a valuable model for both artisanal and industrial fisheries worldwide seeking to reduce their environmental impacts.
Read the full paper, Codeveloping on deck conservation technology with tropical tuna purse seine fishers to mitigate elasmobranch bycatch, in ICES Journal of Marine Science.
