SMART Drumline Catch Report

May 2020

Operation Summary

During May 2020, 10 SMART drumlines (SDL) were deployed during daylight hours for 12 days across the Gracetown SMART drumline fishing zone. Weather permitting, SMART drumlines are deployed and retrieved each day. However, adverse weather conditions and operational issues prevented the setting of SDLs for 19 days.

Catch Summary

During May 2020, no target species (white sharks) were caught. Five non-target sharks were caught, tagged and released. The Shortfin Mako captured on 13 May was originally tagged on 24 May 2019 and it was released in good condition.

Full details are listed in the tables below.

Other Comments

During May 2020 SMART buoys were activated 24 times, with an average response time of 8 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 MAY 2020.

*No target species caught

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