SMART drumline catch report

February 2020

Operation Summary

During February 2020, 10 SMART drumlines (SDL) were deployed during daylight hours for 25 days across the Gracetown SMART drumline fishing zone (including one day where only 5 SMART drumlines were deployed due to operational requirements). Weather permitting, SMART drumlines are deployed and retrieved each day. However, adverse weather conditions and operational requirements prevented the setting of SDLs for four days.

Catch Summary

During February 2020, no target species (white sharks) were caught. Fourteen non-target sharks were caught, along with three other non-target species. All sharks were tagged and released and the smooth stingray was a recapture (previously caught in the SDL trial).

Full details are listed in the table below.

Other Comments

During February 2020, SMART buoys were activated 63 times, with an average response time of 9 minutes. The maximum response time of 30 minutes from alert via the SDL to arrival of the vessel at the SDL was not exceeded on any occasion.

TABLE 1. SMART DRUMLINE (SDL) TARGET SPECIES CATCH DETAILS FOR FEBRUARY 2020.

*No target species caught

TABLE 2. SMART DRUMLINE (SDL) NON-TARGET SPECIES CATCH DETAILS FOR FEBRUARY 2020.