WWF launches 2006 competition for fishing gear that reduces accidental marine bycatch

“WWF’s looking for real-world fishing solutions that allow fishermen to fish ‘smarter’—better targeting their intended catch while safeguarding the dolphins, sea turtles and other marine life often caught unintentionally,” said Ginette Hemley, Vice President, Species Conservation, WWF-US. “This unique collaboration among conservationists, fishermen and scientists is designed to inspire new technologies for more sustainable fishing.”

The international competition will award a $25,000 grand prize and two $5,000 runner-up prizes to the designs judged to be the most practical, cost-effective methods for reducing bycatch of any species. The competition is open to eligible entrants from any background–including fishermen, professional gear manufacturers, teachers, students, engineers, scientists and backyard inventors. Instructions for entry along with the competition rules are available at www.smartgear.org and completed entries must be submitted by March 15, 2006.

Conventional fishing gear does often not allow users to selectively target their catch. As a result, non-target fish species, marine mammals, birds, and sea turtles are caught and sometimes killed. More than 25 percent of what is caught in the course of fishing – as much as 20 million metric tons, annually—is thrown over the sides of fishing boats dead or dying. This bycatch is the leading threat to many endangered marine mammals, sea turtles and sea birds around the world.

“Last year we had a Canadian runner up and we hope to see more entrants from Canada this year,” said Josh Laughren, Director, Marine Conservation, WWF-Canada. “There are some highly creative people working on solutions to the bycatch problem and we hope this contest will encourage and reward these new ideas.”

Last year, WWF awarded three new practical solutions to marine bycatch: a system for keeping longlines away from sea turtles by a former high-school biology teacher and commercial fisherman; changes to the chemical properties of fishing ropes and nets by a North American team; and modified trawls to reduce bycatch of undersized shrimp and fish by a team of Indian scientists.

The winner of the WWF International Smart Gear Competition will be decided by a diverse set of judges, including fishermen, researchers, engineers and fisheries managers from all over the world.