SMART Drumline Catch Report

May 2021

Operation Summary

During May 2021, until the conclusion of the SMART drumline trial (May 20), 10 SMART drumlines (SDL) were deployed during daylight hours for 14 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 six days.

Catch Summary

During May 2021, no target species (white sharks) were caught. Six non-target sharks were caught, with no other non-target species captured. All sharks were tagged and released and there were no recaptures recorded. Full details are listed in the table below.

Other Comments

During May 2021 SMART buoys were activated 18 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 not exceeded on any occasion. The tiger shark caught on 16 May spat the hook before it could be secured alongside the boat. The sex of this shark was thus not determined.

TABLE 1. SMART DRUMLINE (SDL) TARGET SPECIES CATCH DETAILS FOR MAY 2021.

*No target species caught

TABLE 2. SMART DRUMLINE (SDL) NON-TARGET SPECIES CATCH DETAILS FOR MAY 2021.

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