Cooperative Research to Evaluate and Improve a Potential Incidental Catch Reduction Strategy

Concern over incidental catches in commercial fisheries has been increasing, but few effective mitigation strategies exist. Incidental catches of alewife and blueback herring in the commercial Atlantic herring fishery have received substantial attention on the Northeast U.S. continental shelf and a bycatch avoidance program has been developed. We coupled previously developed alewife, blueback herring, Atlantic herring, and Atlantic mackerel distribution models with an ocean forecast model to predict future distributions. We worked with captains from the commercial Atlantic herring bottom trawl fishery to test species distribution model predictions during the fishery season. Vessels were equipped with conductivity, temperature, and depth probes. Locations of forecasted low and high incidental catches were sampled, along with locations the captain expected to find low and high incidental catches. This allowed us to sample within the spatial area the fishery occurs, and to evaluate the forecasted conditions, and predictions, at the spatial scale of the fishery. Further, we can identify variables that captains associate with incidental catches that were not included in the species distribution models. Collaborations between researchers and industry not only improve relationships between the groups, but also increase industry buy-in and improve scientists understanding by providing new perspective on applied research problems.