Funded by ACPF’s development bursary funds, the CatchLog electronic logbook system was investigated, tailored and trialled on one of Sea Harvest’s prawn trawlers as a potential replacement for the current paper-based logbooks in the Shark Bay fishery. The trial methodology involved using an “off the shelf” e-log software and integrating the software to fit [...]
Austral Fisheries FishEX 70 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 [...]
UPDATE: 18 October 2018 Port meetings continue in prawn fisheries to explain techniques for greater bycatch reduction and improved catch efficiency as part of the ACPF bycatch extension project. Common interest was expressed by our members on 26th September in : a) examining Kon’s Covered Fisheye and/or the FishEX 70 compared to the square [...]
A new otter board design from Danish company Thyborøn Trawldoor has been developed specifically for the prawn trawling industry. Test results showing a 10-20% fuel efficiency saving over the Bison board. The new board "THYson" has been tested/evaluated in both Danish and Australian flume tanks. It has had limited use (1-2 months) on NZ scampi gear [...]
UPDATE: 14 July 2018 Australia’s prawn fisheries’ ongoing commitment to a more targeted and efficient catch is not just better for the industry’s profitability but earns it respect amongst the community. As part of a national project to explain and adapt techniques for greater bycatch reduction and improved catch efficiency in each fishery, seven workshops [...]
The Kon’s Covered Fisheyes BRD was scientifically trialled in the NPF in 2016 and demonstrated almost 40% reduction in small bycatch with no prawn loss. During this coming season, the NPF is trialling modified covered fisheyes and different BRD configurations to further improve bycatch reduction technology in the NPF. […]
Kon’s Covered Fisheyes installed in the net of a vessel in the Northern Prawn Fishery has reduced bycatch by up to 40%, with less than 2% prawn loss and is set to halve on-board processing time. Skipper Jamie Ball, who trialled it in June and November, tipped it as having the same far reaching [...]
