September 19, 2013 — NOAA Fisheries Service has awarded 16 grants totaling nearly $2.4 million under its Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP). Five awards went to projects that originated in the Northeastern U.S.:
Belle Quant Engineering, Modeling the dynamics of Baleen whale entanglements in fishing gear
Integrity Fishing Corp., Minimizing bottom habitat impacts in the otter trawl fishery with a light weight riser sweeper
Cornell University, Enhanced bycatch avoidance communication network for river herring and butterfish
Fairleigh Dickinson University, Optimization of gear size and post‐release mortality reduction in the New Jersey summer flounder hook-and- line fishery
University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Determination of the impacts of trap fishing on Mid-Atlantic benthic habitats, with emphasis on structure-forming invertebrates
The BREP provides funds critical to key partners for the research and development of innovative approaches and strategies for reducing bycatch, seabird interactions, bycatch mortality, and post-release mortality in federally managed fisheries. More information on past accomplishments, a complete list of 2013 recipients, and project descriptions are available on the BREP website.
In September 2013, NOAA Fisheries awarded grants as part of its Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program. Bycatch of various species—whether fish, marine mammals, or turtles—can have significant, biological, economic, and social impacts. Preventing and reducing bycatch is a shared goal of fisheries managers, the fishing industry, and the environmental community. It is also a key component of NOAA’s efforts to end and prevent overfishing in the United States under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
NOAA Fisheries’ Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program provides funds critical to key partners for the research and development of innovative approaches and strategies for reducing bycatch, seabird interactions, bycatch mortality, and post-release mortality of non-target species and protected species in federally managed fisheries. Ongoing projects are conducting research intended, among other things, to:
– Reduce bycatch of Atlantic sturgeon and harbor porpoise in the monkfish gillnet fishery.
– Develop best capture and handling practices for Atlantic cod in Gulf of Maine recreational hook-and-line fisheries.
– Reduce bycatch of overfished rockfish species in the U.S. Pacific hake fishery.
– Enhance the visibility of fishing ropes to reduce right whale entanglements.
– Find more program accomplishments in the annual report to Congress.
Read the full story at NOAA Fisheries