By supporting innovative thinking, research and information-
sharing across the commercial fishing industry, we have
encouraged the development of new fishing gear and practices
that aim to reduce the risk of bycatch to non-targeted species
Reducing Porpoise Bycatch in the Gillnet Fishery with Acoustic
Pingers During the 1990s, our researchers began the investigate
the use of acoustic pingers as a bycatch reduction device in the
gillnet fishery. We proved that these pingers reduced the
bycatch of harbor porpoises in gillnets by an order of
magnitude. These results eventually led to the mandated use of
pingers in a number of gillnet fisheries in the US and the
technique has spread to other fisheries around the world. It
also highlighted the monumental gains in bycatch reduction that
could be achieved by having science and industry working in
partnership. The Consortium developed the Bycatch Reduction
Database to facilitate information sharing between scientists,
fishermen and fisheries managers.