SMART Drumline catch report

MARCH 2019

Operation Summary

During March 2019, 10 SMART drumlines (SDL) were deployed during daylight hours for 23 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 eight days.

Catch Summary

During March 2019, no target species (white sharks) were caught. 20 non-target sharks were caught, along with 10 other non-target species. All sharks were tagged and released and there were no recaptures recorded. All species captured were released alive.

Full details are listed in the table below.

Other Comments

During March 2019 SMART buoys were activated 41 times, with an average response time of 10 minutes. The maximum response time of 30 minutes from alert via the SDL to arrival of the vessel at the SDL was exceeded on one occasion. This was a response to an alarm that occurred (7 March) while the contractor was attending to a shark on another SDL. The alarm was a false alarm and no animal remained on the hook during this period.

TABLE 1. SMART DRUMLINE (SDL) TARGET SPECIES CATCH DETAILS FOR MARCH 2019

*No target species caught.

TABLE 2. SMART DRUMLINE (SDL) NON-TARGET SPECIES AND BY-CATCH DETAILS FOR MARCH 2019