SMART Drumline Catch Report

December 2019

Operation Summary

During December 2019, 10 SMART drumlines (SDL) were deployed during daylight hours for 28 days across the Gracetown SMART drumline fishing zone. Weather permitting, SMART drumlines are deployed and retrieved each day. However, adverse weather conditions prevented the setting of SDLs for three days.

Catch Summary

During December 2019, no target species (white sharks) were caught, while twenty-one non-target sharks were caught. No other non-target species were caught. All sharks were tagged and released alive. There were three recaptures recorded.

Full details are listed in the table below.

Other Comments

During December 2019, SMART buoys were activated 41 times, with an average response time of 11 minutes. 

The maximum response time of 30 minutes was exceeded on one occasion. In this instance the crew were performing a gear check at the opposite end of the zone when the buoy was activated. The animal was released in good condition.

Table 1. SMART drumline (SDL) target species catch details for December 2019.

*No target species caught.

Table 2. SMART drumline (SDL) non-target species catch details for December 2019.