Hook pod trials

Catching fish not birds and the sustainability of not only fish stocks, but the whole marine environment, is a focus of AFMA’s fisheries management. To help ensure that the latest technology is being used to reduce bycatch, we regularly work with industry and innovators to trial the latest in bycatch mitigation technology.

In September 2014, AFMA funded the FV Jordan Kate to commence at-sea trials of Hook Pods in the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery (ETBF).

The Hook Pod is a device designed and developed by BirdLife International and Fishtek Ltd (now called Hook Pod Ltd) to minimise the incidental capture of seabirds during pelagic longline fishing.

The Hook Pod easily attaches to pelagic longline gear and prevents incidental seabird capture by protecting the barb of the hook during setting. The Hook Pods can be set to release the hook at any depth from 10 to 100 metres and are fitted with a lead weight to pull the hook more quickly out of the diving range of seabirds. An advantage of Hook Pods is that they are easily retrieved during hauling and stored until the next time the line is deployed.

Hook Pod Ltd are hoping to have the at-sea trials completed by the middle of 2015 and a finalised product commercially available later in the year.