Navigation apps help with directions. Lamps tail us as we walk. Now lighted fish nets are here to make commercial fishing more humane and efficient.
A research team equipped their gillnets with green LED lights and used them to fish along the Pacific Coast of Mexico.
The innovation reduced bycatch – the capture of non-target species – by 63%. Only 5% of the previous number of sharks were caught, to go with an 81% reduction in Humboldt squid.
The new nets could save the lives of a number of sea creatures, including various endangered species of turtle.
It’s worthwhile for fishermen too, with an hour less time spent removing unwanted species from their nets per trip.
Enlightening catch of the day.
