Inspiring Innovation by
Capitalizing Creativity
Bycatch: A Critical Threat To
Marine Biodiversity
2
© WWF-Canon / Hélène PETIT
Bycatch is largely avoidable
“Smarter,” more selective fishing
Circle Hooks
TEDs
Sonar pingers
• Concept for Smart Gear competition arose during a WWF
workshop designed to tackle issue of cetacean bycatch
• Decided to use the concept to address wider issue of
overall bycatch
• Use competition to stimulate innovative thinking
and
demonstrate problem is solvable
• Foster collaboration between science, industry and
government
• Use cash prizes as major incentive to attract entries on
global basis.
To inspire innovative, practical, cost-effective ideas that allow
fishermen to fish “smarter” – to better target their intended catch
while reducing bycatch.
Open to all: fishermen, professional gear manufacturers,
teachers, students, engineers, scientists and backyard inventors.
2005:
2006:
2007:
2009:
50 entries from 16 countries
83 entries from 26 countries
70 entries from 22 countries
71 entries from 27 countries
8
Partners
2009 Judges Workshop
Judging Criteria
•Effectively reduces bycatch
•Innovative
•Practical
•Cost-effective
•Maintains target catch
•Conservation impact
2007 Grand Prize Winner
The Eliminator
Laura Skrobe, Dave Beutel, Jim O’Grady, Philip
Ruhle Sr., Philip Ruhle Jr., Jon Knight.
USA
12
Advancing the Winning Ideas
●
All required trials
completed. Fulfilled
NOAA protocol for
adoption.
●
Regulated for
commercial use in
August 2008, and now
being used in
northeastern U.S.
fisheries.
●
More than a dozen now being used in the U.S. catching
hundreds of thousands of pounds of haddock with little bycatch.
Impetus is shift to catch shares.
●
Trials in the U.K.
●
Mandated as part of cod bycatch reduction measure in E.U.
2007 Runner-Up Prize Winner
Nested Cylinder Bycatch Reduction Device
Glenn Parsons, USA
Advancing the Winning Ideas
●
WWF working with Ocean Conservancy
and NOAA Fisheries to assist with
certification trials for Gulf of Mexico.
●
Trials to be conducted in mid 2010
●
Exploring other fisheries who could
benefit from this device.
2009 Grand Prize Winner
The Underwater Baited Hook
Ian Carlyle, Phillip Ashworth, Peter
16 Ashworth
Australia
17
Advancing the Winning Ideas
●
Mechanical trials
conducted in Jan/Feb
2010 off Australia
●
Comparison trials
planned for Uruguay,
August 2010.
2009 Runner-Up Prize Winner
The Batwing Otter Board
David Sterling
Australia
20
Advancing the Winning Ideas
●
Trials planned in U.S. waters in late 2010. Compare
bottom impact, net spread and fuel efficiency vs
standard doors presently being used.
●
Results to be presented at Energy Use In Fisheries
Symposium in November.
●
Flume tank testing to maximize potential of design to be
undertaken in 2011.
2009 Runner-Up Prize Winner
The Hovercran
Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research
Belgium
22
Advancing the Winning Ideas
●
WWF providing funding to assist with trials and advancement
of devices
●
Work with winning ideas to get them to the stage where they
can be used in commercial industry to address bycatch issues
they were designed for.
●
Explore other fisheries who could benefit from these devices
or ideas.