SMART Drumline Catch Report

December 2020 

Operation Summary

During December 2020, 10 SMART drumlines (SDL) were deployed during daylight hours for 23 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 eight days.

Catch Summary

During December 2020, no target species (white sharks) were caught. Twelve non-target sharks were caught, along with one other non-target species (smooth stingray). All sharks were tagged and released and there was one recapture recorded. The smooth stingray did not activate the bouy and was found during a regular bait check. 

Full details are listed in the table below.

Other Comments

During December 2020, SMART buoys were activated 29 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.

TABLE 1. SMART DRUMLINE (SDL) TARGET SPECIES CATCH DETAILS FOR DECEMBER 2020.

*No target species caught

TABLE 2. SMART DRUMLINE (SDL) NON-TARGET SPECIES CATCH DETAILS FOR DECEMBER 2020.