Field Trials to Evaluate Practicality of Recompression Devices in the Gulf and South Atlantic

Discard mortality resulting from barotrauma is a serious problem in many deep water fisheries.  Scientists and fisheries managers at a recently convened (March 2011) National Deep Water Release Workshop funded by NOAA reported results from the US west coast that documented that survival of these fish can be significantly increased using a variety of methods that quickly return the fish to depth while minimizing injury. Recent closures of several Gulf reef fish fisheries (eg. red snapper and groupers) have focused attention on the importance of successful release (survival) of fish caught in deeper water. Currently, fishers in the Gulf of Mexico are required to use venting tools to improve survival of released fish.

 A number of recompression devices have been developed on the U. S. coast with several new innovative designs coming into the market within the past six months.  In response, the Florida Sea Grant College Program funded an extension project to conduct field trials to evaluate the practicality of these devices, and to work with anglers to determine if they would use the devices and what the barriers to their adoption there would be. Results of the field trials on seven different recompression devices will be presented.