Modify fishing gear to reduce reptile mortality in the event of unwanted catch

Overall effectiveness category Awaiting assessment
Number of studies: 1
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Effectiveness

not assessed
Certainty

not assessed
Harms

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Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Reptiles are vulnerable to drowning when caught in fishing gear and unable to escape. Modifying gear to allow reptiles to reach the surface may keep reptiles alive should they be caught incidentally in fishing gear.

For studies describing the effects of modifying the depth at which fishing gear is deployed, see Deploy fishing gear at different depths.

Study locations

Key messages

One study evaluated the effects on reptile populations of using modified gear to reduce reptile mortality in the event of unwanted catch. This study was in the USA.

COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES)

POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY)

Survival (1 study): One replicated study in the USA found that few diamondback terrapins died in crab pots fitted with mesh chimneys.

BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES)

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 2012–2013 in five estuarine sites in North Carolina, USA (Chavez & Williard 2017) found that pots fitted with a wire mesh chimney led to low mortality of diamondback terrapins Malaclemys terrapin. One of 14 terrapins that were caught in pots modified with the chimney died. Standard commercial crab pots (61 cm × 61 cm × 61 cm) were fitted with a chicken wire chimney (122 × 30.5 cm diameter) to provide trapped terrapins with access to air. Pots were deployed June–July in 2012 (4 sites) and 2013 (2 sites). Pots were baited and submerged for 48 hours at a time.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Chavez S. & Williard A.S. (2017) The effects of bycatch reduction devices on diamondback terrapin and blue crab catch in the North Carolina commercial crab fishery. Fisheries Research, 186, 94-101.

Please cite as:

Sainsbury K.A., Morgan W.H., Watson M., Rotem G., Bouskila A., Smith R.K. & Sutherland W.J. (2021) Reptile Conservation: Global Evidence for the Effects of Interventions for reptiles. Conservation Evidence Series Synopsis. 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:

Reptile Conservation

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Establish handling and release procedures for accidentally captured or entangled (‘bycatch’) reptiles Action Link	Awaiting assessment	1	Synopsis Link
Modify fishing gear to reduce reptile mortality in the event of unwanted catch Action Link	Awaiting assessment	1	Synopsis Link
Release accidentally caught (‘bycatch’) reptiles Action Link	Awaiting assessment	3	Synopsis Link