Update on EM device for improving compliance with bird scaring line measures in longline and trawl fisheries

Bird-scaring lines (BSL) are a best practice mitigation measure for the mitigation of seabird interactions and bycatch in pelagic longline, demersal longline and trawl fisheries. While BSL have proven to successfully reduce seabird deaths and bait loss in fisheries, compliance with their use remains a challenge. The use of electronic monitoring (EM) devices may help ensure implementation and compliance with BSL mitigation measures while vessels are out at sea. A BSL compliance monitoring device has been in development and trialled since 2020, and is currently in its final production stage making it suitable for manufacture for the market. This BSL EM device works by continuously measuring the tension exerted by a BSL when it is dragged through the water and then transmitting real time and tension data wirelessly. Such devices have the potential to cover all fleets that use BSLs, improving the independent monitoring of the deployment and use of BSLs across the world, and reducing workloads and potential work health and safety hazards facing fisheries observers at sea.