Bycatch release tools help boost crew safety and sustainability in tuna fisheries

New onboard tech helps tuna fisheries release bycatch with minimal handling, improving crew safety and advancing sustainability goals

A set of new onboard tools is making it easier and safer for fishing crews to release accidentally caught sharks and rays – a step forward in protecting vulnerable species while improving crew safety at sea.

The technologies, developed by the marine research center AZTI in partnership with OPAGAC and ANABAC, are part of the Spanish tuna fleet’s commitment to strengthening sustainability practices under its Code of Good Practices, adopted in 2012.

The technologies, known as bycatch release devices (BRDs), include release ramps, stretchers, Velcro leashes, hoppers, lower-deck chutes and sorting grids for mobulid rays. Designed to minimize handling, BRDs boost crew safety and allow for faster releases and significantly increase the chances of survival for bycatch in tropical tuna purse-seine fisheries.

“A quick release is essential to give these species a real chance of survival. But handling large sharks or mobulid rays can be tricky and dangerous,” said Jefferson Murua, AZTI researcher and lead author of the study. “That’s why we’ve worked closely with fishers throughout – from design to sea trials – to develop solutions that are both practical and safe.”

The BRDs were developed in close collaboration with captains and crews from the Spanish freezer tuna fleet, represented by ANABAC and OPAGAC. Involving the industry from the start was crucial for ensuring buy-in and voluntary uptake, and many of the devices are already being used on working vessels in tropical oceans worldwide.

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Since 2012, OPAGAC and ANABAC have implemented a voluntary code of good practices aimed at reducing the environmental impact of tuna fishing. The code introduced operational measures, such as the exclusive use of non-entangling fish aggregating devices (FADs), routine onboard training, 100 percent observer coverage through physical or electronic means and best practice protocols for releasing sharks, turtles and rays.

AZTI served as the fleet’s independent scientific advisor, overseeing compliance and supporting continuous improvements, helping the fleet move towards more selective, low-impact fishing methods.

“These new BRDs are a natural next step in the fleet’s sustainability journey,” said Murua. “They are practical tools that make it easier to stick to the high standards the fleet has already committed to.”

The study also notes that several Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) have started endorsing the use of bycatch release devices. This growing support at the regulatory level may encourage broader adoption of the tools across global purse seine fleets, potentially improving bycatch handling practices industry-wide.

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