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title: "The “Hookpod-mini”: a new mitigation measure for reducing seabird bycatch gets discussed by ACAP"
---

# The “Hookpod-mini”: a new mitigation measure for reducing seabird bycatch gets discussed by ACAP

David Goad ([Vita Maris Limited](http://www.companiesnz.com/company/2315333/vita-maris-limited), Papamoa, New Zealand) and colleagues have published open access in the journal [Endangered Species Research](https://www.int-res.com/journals/esr/esr-home/)on field trials in New Zealand with the “Hookpod-mini”, designed to reduce seabird bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries.

 The paper appeared on line just in time to be mentioned at today's meeting of ACAP's Seabird Bycatch Working Group ([SBWG9](https://www.acap.aq/en/documents/working-groups/seabird-bycatch-working-group/seabird-bycatch-wg-meeting-9)) in Floreanopolis, Brazil, when it was mentioned that some resistance to the use of hookpods by fishers in the absence of on-board observers had been experienced.  The SBWG has still to consider the Hookpod-mini as a recommended best-practice measure.  In the meantime research on hookpods that release hooks at 20-m depth is about to commence in Brazilian waters, funded by an ACAP Small Grant ([ACAP 2018-05](https://www.acap.aq/en/latest-news/3280-progress-and-outcomes-of-conservation-projects-supported-by-acap-in-2018-to-be-reported-to-the-advisory-committee-this-month)) entitled "Hookpod for seabirds and sea turtles: looking towards a multi-taxa approach for reducing bycatch in pelagic longlines". The project is being led by Dimas Gianuca of [Projeto Albatroz](https://projetoalbatroz.org.br/).  A progress report for this project may be found in [AC11 Inf 02](https://www.acap.aq/en/documents/advisory-committee/ac11/ac11-information-papers).

 The paper’s abstract follows:

 “Hookpods are an emerging technology designed to reduce seabird bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries.  Hookpod-minis were trialled in the New Zealand surface longline fishery in 2016-2017 during short-term experimental (20 longline sets) and longer-term operational (110 longline sets) trials. Two sets of experimental trials were conducted. The first compared snoods fitted with Hookpod-minis with a tori line to unweighted snoods with a tori line. The second compared snoods fitted with Hookpod-minis as a stand-alone mitigation measure to weighted snoods in combination with a tori line. All gear, across both trials, was set at night. Operational trials compared snoods fitted with Hookpod-minis and tori lines to standard mitigation requirements for unweighted gear and tori lines, with all gear set at night. Both sets of trials demonstrated that Hookpod-minis fit easily into fishing operations, do not reduce target species catch rate, and may reduce seabird bycatch to low levels. Our findings suggest that Hookpod-minis as a stand-alone mitigation measure are as effective, or more effective, than current bycatch mitigation measures including the combination of line weighting and tori lines.”

 See an earlier report on the Hookpod-mini [here](https://www.bmis-bycatch.org/references/q6mf95fb).

 ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Mitigation/hook-pod-mini.jpg)

 **Reference:**

 Goad, D., Debski, I. & Potts, J. 2019.  Hookpod-mini: a smaller potential solution to mitigate seabird bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries.  [*Endangered Species Research* 39:1-8](https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00953).

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 07 May 2019*