Reducing bycatch in trawl fisheries
Bycatch is the incidental catch of non-target species that are returned to the ocean instead of going to market.
Queensland's trawl fishery uses bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) to minimise bycatch where possible.
Under the Fisheries (Commercial Fisheries) Regulation 2019, commercial fishers operating in the east coast trawl fishery must install an approved BRD in each net used.
There are 5 types of BRDs, with different features designed to exclude specific bycatch species.
Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) are mandatory for:
- all otter trawl nets
- some beam trawl nets.
Approved BRDs
Each fishery area must use one of these approved BRDs.
Northern area (north of 16 degrees)
- Square mesh codend specific for area
- Fisheye
- Bigeye
- Square mesh panel
- V-cut with bell codend
Central area (16–22 degrees)
- Square mesh codend specific for area
- Fisheye
- Bigeye
Shallow area (outside of the northern, central and deepwater net area)
- Square mesh codend specific for area
- Fisheye
- Bigeye
- Square mesh panel
- V-cut with bell codend
Deepwater net area
- Square mesh codend specific for area
- Fisheye
- Bigeye
- Square mesh panel
Scallop nets (anywhere)
- Scallop square mesh codend only