September 20, 2023 — A University of New England assistant professor and his students are testing a device they hope will cause reduce the accidental death of sharks by fisherman.
“We’re heading about 12 miles off shore out to Tantas Ledge and we are hoping to encounter spiny dog fish,” John Mohan, a UNE marine science assistant professor said.
Mohan and a few students are taking part in an open ocean lab class. It’s the latest opportunity to collect more data for their ongoing shark research.
“If we can continue to refine this technology and convince fishermen that it’s worth using then we think it could have a big effect on decreasing bycatch worldwide,” Mohan said.
The Bycatch Reduction Device was first developed around 2020 and tested inside tanks at UNE’s Marine Science Center.
Each emits a small electrical pulse only a shark can detect. The device is attached directly to a fishing line and only inches from the bait.