Smart Drumline Catch Report

January 2021

Operation Summary

During January 2021, 10 SMART drumlines (SDL) were deployed during daylight hours for 28 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 three days.

Catch Summary

During January 2021, no target species (white sharks) were caught. Forty seven non-target sharks were caught, along with three other non-target species (smooth stingray). All sharks brought alongside the boat were tagged and released and there were no recaptures recorded.

Full details are listed in the table below.

Other Comments

During January 2021 SMART buoys were activated 89 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 three occasions. On all three occasions the alerts were false alarms. 

TABLE 1. SMART DRUMLINE (SDL) TARGET SPECIES CATCH DETAILS FOR JANUARY 2021.

*No target species caught

TABLE 2. SMART DRUMLINE (SDL) NON-TARGET SPECIES CATCH DETAILS FOR JANUARY 2021. 

*animal was relocated