A veteran group of scientists and fishermen will embark on a weeks-long journey through the Pacific in search of better fishing practices, and ways to reduce bycatch as part of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) #BycatchProject.
The #BycatchProject aims to reduce bycatch associated with purse seine vessels, particularly those using fish aggregating devices (FADs). The team will observe tuna swimming underneath FADs and study how the fish behave inside the fishing net.
“We’re thrilled to get back out on the water, along with this crew in order to build upon our successes from last year,” said Jeff Muir, lead scientist. “And these truly are ‘our’ successes. The guys that work on this vessel played an important role in our project last year and they will be just as important to the discovery process this time.”
“Supporting scientific initiatives to reduce the impact of FAD usage on tuna stocks and the greater marine ecosystem is a core component of ISSF’s strategic vision and this cruise promises to advance our understanding of what works, and what doesn’t,” said Susan Jackson, ISSF president.
