The NPF trialled Austral Fisheries’ FishEX 70, a modification of Kon’s Covered Fisheyes, in this year’s banana prawn season with AFMA scientific observers. The FishEX 70 is a single device set at 65 meshes from the codend drawstrings while the Kon’s Covered Fisheye is a double device.
Scientific trial results show an average small bycatch reduction of 41.82% with a slight increase in prawn catch of 0.13%. The FishEX 70 has been approved by AFMA for use in the NPF – device trials are continuing in the 2018 tiger prawn season.