Grand Prize Winner 2009 - Implementing the Winning Idea
During the second half of 2010 a set of field trials was conducted in the waters off the coast of Uruguay. This country has the highest seabird mortality associated with pelagic longlining of any country in the world.
Tests of the Underwater Baited Hook were designed to illustrate its potential benefits against other widely used mitigation measures, provide evidence that baits can be deployed at pre-set target depths and that bait retention on hooks is not affected by deployment underwater.
The testing in Uruguay proved the potential of the device, but the inventors feel that they can improve the performance of the bait setter even further. As such, they are planning another set of trials in Uruguay in the first half of 2011 with further modifications to the device.
The device has the potential to eliminate the mortality of seabirds associated with pelagic longlining, as well as to improve the conditions under which this type of fishing is undertaken.
It may also reduce the need for onboard independent observers to monitor compliance with mitigation requirements. For example, part of the control system for the Underwater Baited Hook, an onboard programmable logical controller, can also record operational data in the device’s control box, and this information can be used to assess compliance to requirements to set gear with the underwater setter.
Tests of the Underwater Baited Hook were designed to illustrate its potential benefits against other widely used mitigation measures, provide evidence that baits can be deployed at pre-set target depths and that bait retention on hooks is not affected by deployment underwater.
The testing in Uruguay proved the potential of the device, but the inventors feel that they can improve the performance of the bait setter even further. As such, they are planning another set of trials in Uruguay in the first half of 2011 with further modifications to the device.
The device has the potential to eliminate the mortality of seabirds associated with pelagic longlining, as well as to improve the conditions under which this type of fishing is undertaken.
It may also reduce the need for onboard independent observers to monitor compliance with mitigation requirements. For example, part of the control system for the Underwater Baited Hook, an onboard programmable logical controller, can also record operational data in the device’s control box, and this information can be used to assess compliance to requirements to set gear with the underwater setter.