Reduce the duration of exposure to air of captured fish before release

Overall effectiveness category Awaiting assessment
Number of studies: 3
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Background information and definitions

In all types of fishing activity, fish are exposed to the air when the fishing gear they have been captured with is retrieved from the water. In commercial fisheries, the duration of air exposure can vary widely and depends on fishing method, the amount and type of catch and the processes used to sort it. When fish leave the water the surface area of their gills is drastically reduced and oxygen uptake into the bloodstream virtually stops (Ferguson & Tufts 1992). They are likely to suffer external injury as well as internal damage as a response to the acute stress. A fish will ultimately die if left out of water. However, some fish species are more tolerant to exposure than others and can survive for a relatively long time in air. Reducing the length of time fish are exposed to air before being returned to the water may influence survival by reducing physical injury and damage caused by lack of oxygen. Normal gill function returns when live fish are returned to water.

For related interventions, see ‘Handling of catch’.

Ferguson R.A. & Tufts B.L. (1992) Physiological Effects of Brief Air Exposure in Exhaustively Exercised Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynus mykiss): Implications for “Catch and Release” Fisheries. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 49, 1157–1162.

Study locations

Key messages

Three studies examined the effect of reducing the duration of exposure of fish to air on marine fish populations. One study was in each of the Bay of Biscay (Spain), Gulf of Alaska (Canada) and Coral Sea (Australia).

COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES)

POPULATION RESPONSE (2 STUDIES)

Survival (1 study): One replicated study in the Bay of Biscay found that reducing air exposure before release did not increase the survival of small-spotted catshark caught during commercial trawling.

Condition (1 study): One replicated study in the Gulf of Alaska found that shorter durations of air exposure before release improved the physical condition and reduced the amount of injury to discarded chum salmon caught in purse seine nets.

BEHAVIOUR (1 STUDY)

Behaviour change (1 study): One study in the Coral Sea found that minimal exposure to air and handling resulted in improved overall behaviour after release (activity and ability to return to reef) of reef fish, compared to fish exposed to air and handling for longer duration.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A replicated study in 2000–2001 of bottom fishing grounds in the Bay of Biscay, Spain (Rodríguez-Cabello et al. 2005) found that reducing air exposure under commercial fishing conditions did not increase the survival of unwanted small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicular, but it was increased under research fishing conditions. Catshark survival rates were similar between exposure times (sorting time on deck) on commercial trawling trips (20 min: 82%, 30 min: 80%, 40 min: 78%, 60 min: 68%, 85 min: 64%). However, survival rates were improved with shorter times on deck during bottom trawl survey deployments (20 min: 100%, 30 min: 94%, 40 min: 92%, 60 min: 81%). The authors noted that although a weak effect was found under commercial conditions, survival did not appear to be affected by sorting time or tow duration (data reported as graphical analysis). Data were collected from otter trawl deployments during commercial fishing trips (16 hauls) and bottom trawl surveys (20 hauls). For each deployment, groups of twenty catshark were exposed to air: for six intervals between 18–85 min during commercial deployments and 20, 30, 40 and 60 min intervals during the trawl survey. Tow duration was 180–360 minutes for commercial deployments and 30 minutes during the survey. After each period of time on deck after capture, catshark were transferred to onboard tanks and survival was assessed after 1 h.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Rodríguez-Cabello C., fernández a., Olaso I. & Sánchez F. (2005) Survival of small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) discarded by trawlers in the Cantabrian Sea. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 85, 1145-1150.
A replicated study in 2015–2016 in two areas of pelagic water in the Gulf of Alaska off British Columbia, Canada (Cook et al. 2018) found that shorter durations of air exposure reduced levels of injury and improved physical condition of unwanted chum salmon Onchorynchus keta caught in purse seine nets. In both areas, salmon injury was lower and physical condition was better for shorter durations of air exposure during handling than longer (data reported as statistical model results). In addition, shorter holding times in the purse seine before retrieval were associated with improved physical condition (data reported as statistical model results). Experimental purse seining was carried out on two fishing trips targeting Pacific salmon Onchorynchus spp., in July-August 2015 and 2016. The effects of air exposure (1–12 min) and experimental holding times (4–43 min) on discarded chum salmon were investigated. Injury was scored based on scale loss, skin loss, wound depth and fin damage. Fish physical condition was scored according to the number of reflexes (e.g. burst swimming, orientation, eye movement, fight response and ventilation) that were impaired.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Cook K.V., Hinch S.G., Watson M.S., Patterson D.A., Reid A.J. & Cooke S.J. (2018) Experimental capture and handling of chum salmon reveal thresholds in injury, impairment, and physiology: best practices to improve bycatch survival in a purse seine fishery. Fisheries Research, 206, 96-108.
A study in 2014 in an area of coral reef on the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, Australia (Raby et al. 2018) found that the overall behaviour of reef fish released after minimal air exposure was improved compared to longer air exposure. Average time spent immobile under the boat following release was lower after “low stress” handling with no air exposure than “high stress” handling that included air exposure for coral trout Plectropomus leopardus (low: 4 s, high: 9 s), emperor fish Lethrinus spp. (low: 0 s, high: 1 s) and Spanish flag snapper Lutjanus carponotatus (low: 0 s, high: 9 s). Time to reach the nearest reef was also lower (trout, low: 13 s, high: 19 s; emperor, low: 10 s, high: 19 s; snapper, low: 18 s, high: 33 s). Time taken to enter shelter was not affected by handling conditions, but varied with species (trout, low: 20 s, high: 24 s; emperor, low: 20 s, high: 135 s; snapper, low: 108 s, high: 130 s). In addition, fish subject to lower air exposure (all species) took less time to reach the ocean floor and exhibited higher tailbeat and ventilation rates (see original paper for data). In August-September 2014, a total of 62 fish were caught by hook and line from reefs 5–20 m deep and transferred to a 30,000 l tank. After 1–5 days, fish were transported by boat to a release site 8–12 m from the nearest reef. Fish were released after “low stress” handling (no forced exercise or air exposure) or “high stress” handling (1 min forced exercise, 5 min air exposure) to simulate capture by hook and line.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Raby G.D., Messmer V., Tobin A.J., Hoey A.S., Jutfelt F., Sundin J., Cooke S.J. & Clark T.D. (2018) Swim for it: effects of simulated fisheries capture on the post-release behaviour of four Great Barrier Reef fishes. Fisheries Research, 206, 129-137.

Please cite as:

Taylor, N., Clarke, L.J., Alliji, K., Barrett, C., McIntyre, R., Smith, R.K., and Sutherland, W.J. (2021) Marine Fish Conservation: Global Evidence for the Effects of Selected Interventions. Synopses of Conservation Evidence Series. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Marine Fish Conservation

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Establish handling and release protocols in non-recreational fisheries Action Link	Awaiting assessment	2	Synopsis Link
Use a different method to sort or bring catch onboard Action Link	Awaiting assessment	0	Synopsis Link
Reduce the duration of exposure to air of captured fish before release Action Link	Awaiting assessment	3	Synopsis Link