Freshwater Biodiversity Toolbox
Bycatch Reduction – Fish
Bycatch, or the incidental capture of non-target species, is commonplace in the fisheries industry. Intense bycatch can cause population declines of non-target species, especially for those already threatened or at-risk. 'Ghost fishing' is a phenomenon that occurs when discarded fisheries gear in aquatic environments continues to trap animals, which also contributes to population declines. Most of the research regarding bycatch mitigation strategies focus on marine ecosystems and therefore many gaps in the literature exist when examining the effectiveness of these strategies in freshwater. Technological advances and modifications already exist in capture gear such as constructing nets with panels or larger mesh sizes to aid an animal's escape. Other conservation actions include introducing bycatch caps or quotas or implementing seasonal closures. The issue is still prevalent worldwide though, as it is unclear in the freshwater realm how effective or widely adopted these strategies are by fishers and industry. There is a need for strong, evidence-based research to inform the future creation of devices and proposed bycatch policies.
Rating:
Both syntheses for this intervention scored poorly in CEESAT demonstrating limitations in the rigour and the transparency in which they were conducted (i.e., no a-priori protocol, critical appraisal, or search strategy provided).
All syntheses were scored highly according to RASCAT criteria, demonstrating high applicability and relevancy to a Canadian freshwater context. Syntheses scored Gold or Green in all elements except in regards to the applicability of the syntheses to practitioners, where most syntheses did not provide appropriate considerations of implications, practical advice, or recommendations.
