Reducing bycatch in trawl fisheries

Bycatch is the incidental catch of non-target species that are returned to the ocean instead of going to market.

Queensland's trawl fishery uses bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) to minimise bycatch where possible.

Under the Fisheries (Commercial Fisheries) Regulation 2019, commercial fishers operating in the east coast trawl fishery must install an approved BRD in each net used.

There are 5 types of BRDs, with different features designed to exclude specific bycatch species.

Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) are mandatory for:

• all otter trawl nets
• some beam trawl nets.

Approved BRDs

Each fishery area must use one of these approved BRDs.

Northern area (north of 16 degrees)

• Square mesh codend specific for area
• Fisheye
• Bigeye
• Square mesh panel
• V-cut with bell codend

Central area (16–22 degrees)

• Square mesh codend specific for area
• Fisheye
• Bigeye

Shallow area (outside of the northern, central and deepwater net area)

• Square mesh codend specific for area
• Fisheye
• Bigeye
• Square mesh panel
• V-cut with bell codend

Deepwater net area

• Square mesh codend specific for area
• Fisheye
• Bigeye
• Square mesh panel

Scallop nets (anywhere)

• Scallop square mesh codend only

Research

• 2011: Improved bycatch reduction devices for the Queensland east coast otter trawl fishery.
• 2008: Reducing the impact of trawl fishing on protected sea snakes.
• 2007: BRDs affect the weight and composition of bycatch in the east coast trawl fishery.