smart drumline catch report

July 2019

Operation Summary

During July 2019, 10 SMART drumlines (SDL) were deployed during daylight hours for 18 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 13 days.

Catch Summary

During July 2019, no target species (white sharks) were caught. Eight non-target sharks were caught, along with two other non-target species. All sharks were tagged and released alive. There were no recaptures recorded. 

The Pink Snapper caught on 12 July was dead when the contractor arrived at the SDL. The vessel arrived 22 minutes after the SDL was triggered. 

Full details are listed in the table below.

Other Comments

During July 2019, SMART buoys were activated 39 times, with an average response time of 11 minutes. The maximum response time of 30 minutes from alert via the SDL to arrival of the vessel at the SDL was exceeded on one occasion, but this was a false alarm (no animal captured).

Table 1. SMART drumline (SDL) target species catch details for July 2019.

*No target species caught.

Table 2. SMART drumline (SDL) non-target species and by-catch details for July 2019.