A Peer Review of Pelagic Longline Circle Hook Experiments
OVERVIEW
GRANT AWARDED: August 2010. Accidental capture, or bycatch, of sea turtles in pelagic longline fishing gear is a global conservation concern. Research has indicated that replacing traditional fishing hooks with circle hooks has reduced turtle deaths, but it is unclear whether they have been universally successful at reducing bycatch. This project reviews the published literature on pelagic longline circle hook experiments in the Northwestern Atlantic, Azores, Ecuador and Gulf of Mexico.
Reports
Summary of Biological Conservation paper
February, 2007
Lenfest Circle Hook report
May, 2006
Published Papers
Read, A.J. 2007. Do circle hooks reduce the mortality of sea turtles in pelagic longlines? A review of recent experiments. Biological Conservation 135(2): 155-169.
March, 2007