Gear Switching as a Means to Reduce Bycatch and Habitat Impacts

We examined the value and feasibility of gear substitution as a means to reduce bycatch and habitat impacts of fisheries. The U.S. west coast sablefish fishery (off California, Oregon and Washington) is an excellent subject for this study, because it permits three different gear types: bottom trawls, bottom longlines, and fish pots and has a problem with bycatch of overfished species. Using data from the West Coast Groundfish Observer Program and the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, for each gear type we calculated bycatch ratios and when possible applied a Welch Two Sample t-test with  log(x+0.01) transformation of the data. We determined that bycatch rates were highest in trawls and lowest in pots. By combining interview data with findings from a previous study, we determined that habitat impacts were highest with trawls and lowest with longlines. Using Upstream Policy Analysis and grounded theory, we analyzed interviews with 44 individual stakeholders and identified several common themes in the opinions of gear substitution. Positive opinion themes of gear substitution included that it would allow for better management of the fish populations by reducing bycatch and it would allow more business options, flexibility, and increased profit for some trawlers. The main negative opinion theme was that gear substitution could decrease landings needed to support shore-side infrastructure.  The interviews also revealed that most stakeholder groups saw some benefit in gear substitution. Notably, the trawlers we interviewed voiced a unanimous preference for converting to pots rather than longlines.  A scenario analysis revealed that the preferable management option from a socio-cultural and ecological perspective would be long-term gear conversion, but incentives are likely to be an important means of encouraging gear conversion. With few exceptions the pros and cons listed were of a general nature, suggesting that our study may hold value in identifying concerns of stakeholders in other fisheries where gear substitution is being considered. One of the most exciting outcomes of this research was the success of the Upstream Policy Analysis technique, which accurately elicited detailed forecasts about the potential impact of future policies. This indicates that this technique may be of use for future innovative management options, helping to streamline the policy-making process. In August 2010, NMFS approved a provision that adopts an Individual Fishing Quota system with 100% observer coverage and a provision that allows trawlers to switch gears at will.