A new bycatch reduction device called “Tom’s Fisheye” has been added to three other tools that have been tested by the Commonwealth northern prawn fishery (NPF) fleet, for use during the tiger prawn season from 1 August this year.
Tom’s Fisheye creates an area of low pressure in the trawl net as it is pulled through the water, increasing access to a gap in the net for fish to escape.
Australian Fisheries Management Authority CEO Wez Norris said the trials conducted last year showed the device can reduce bycatch by up to 40 percent compared to the square mesh panel, which has been the bycatch reduction device primarily used in the NPF up to now.
There will be a choice for NPF trawl boat operators to use one of these devices from 2020, following further commercial testing in the fishery during this year’s tiger prawn season.
“The northern prawn fishery fishers, led by the NPF Industry Pty Ltd., continue to demonstrate commitment to reducing bycatch through design and trial of new equipment and technology. It is important that fishers can use an effective device that will suit different operating conditions,” Norris said.
NPF Industry CEO Annie Jarrett, said there were early indications of a good upcoming season.
“It has been a good start to this year’s banana prawn season, which commenced on 1 April, with some of the catchment areas around the fishery receiving high monsoonal rainfall – a strong indicator of a high-yield banana prawn season,” she said. “Market demand for NPF banana prawns remains high throughout the year – the 52 trawl boats operating in the NPF are working hard to supply supermarkets and fish markets with Australia’s favorite banana prawns.”
The northern prawn fishery is located off Australia’s northern coast – from Cape York in Queensland to Cape Londonderry in Western Australia. The annual catch is valued at more than AUD 120 million (USD 85.4 million, EUR 75.9 million).
Photo courtesy of AFMA
