April 2, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
NOAA Fisheries’ Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program supports the development of technological solutions and changes in fishing practices designed to minimize bycatch. Our mission is to find creative approaches and strategies for reducing bycatch, seabird interactions, and post-release mortality in federally managed fisheries.
$2.5 Million Available for Your Innovative Bycatch Solutions
BREP is now accepting project proposals for your ideas to reduce bycatch in our nation’s marine fisheries. Approximately $2.5 million is available to fishermen, academics, and other interested groups for projects that offer practical engineering and technological solutions to reduce bycatch.
This year, we’re seeking ideas that address one or more of these focus areas:
1. Technological Innovation – Developing effective technologies, gear modifications, and improved fishing practices in recreational and commercial fisheries to reduce bycatch impacts.
2. Release or Discard Mortality – Understanding and reducing post-release mortality in recreational and commercial fisheries.
3. Fishing Gear and Corals – Understanding the amount and severity of interactions, and ways to reduce harmful interactions, between fishing gears and corals, sponges, and other structure-forming invertebrates.
4. International Best Practices – Informing conservation engineering in U.S. fisheries through analyses or research of international bycatch practices.
Past BREP-funded projects have:
• Supported development of a new circle hook that reduced bluefin tuna bycatch by 56 percent.
• Tested the use of strategically placed LED lights on trawl nets. This simple, but creative solution reduced bycatch of Columbia River smelt in the pink shrimp trawl fishery by 90 percent.
Pre-proposals should be submitted by 5:00 pm EDT on Thursday, April 16, with full proposals due by May 28, 2015.
For more information or to apply, download the call for proposals or contact Derek Orner, National Bycatch Coordinator.
2013 Report to Congress
The 2013 BREP Report to Congress highlights outcomes and management applications of projects funded with $2.44 million in FY 2012 in four priority areas: reducing protected species bycatch, reducing post-release mortality, improving fishing practices, and developing innovative technologies. Download the report, or read more about how these innovative projects are helping find ways to reduce bycatch.
2013 Report to Congress
Read more about BREP projects