Comments on: Smart hook – smart economics

By: hjtuna

hjtuna — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:49:10 +0000

In an effort to provide a clearer perspective on the Smart Hook, the following information is offered. Not sure what the metal pollution issue is? The shields are steel (a natural product made from iron & carbon) which will have dissolved back into the environment within 12 months. There have been no environmental issues with steel ships as artificial reefs or other ships sunk except for the accidental oil pollution. The pin is an alloy made up of natural materials also and is completely dissolved leaving nothing behind from a natural reaction that happens between the two elements. The environment has been a priority consideration with this product innovation and development. The costs have been minimised to ensure it is economical, in fact the use will negate the need to use hundreds of tonnes of lead in their lead swivels, which is lost in their fishing gear and into the ocean environment every year. Its use will also increase bait retention to catch more fish so it could be cost neutral or even profitable to use it. Turtles are also hooked during the setting process as the bait drifts down through the water column, the shield ensures the bait is taken beyond their feeding range quickly, they are caught during the soaking period on shallow set gear. Authorities can put into place administrative monitoring/surveillance, monitor the use by the types of hooks used and number of shields purchased. There is also the use of video observation being used in fisheries.
Yes there are alternatives, but none that take so much of the environment, fishing practice, several species, and provide benefits to the fishermen, into account in a one system.

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By: jc2

jc2 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:47:27 +0000

Partly agreeing with “birds”, I’d want a plan for retrieving the shields.

I’d also want to know what the pins are made of, how it measures depth, and what its ecological fate is.

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By: frog

frog — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:25:32 +0000

Good feedback birds – thanks. Do you have links to info on other innovations?

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By: birds

birds — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:47:48 +0000

Great to see efforts to avoid or reduce the killing of albatross. In addition to the intrinsicaly high level of undesirable metal pollution (as hundreds of millions of longline hooks are set each year globally), some other problems would include the daily cost to fishers of thousands of throwaway “shields” will be a disincentive to use them; turtles get caught while longlines are “soaking” rather than (like albatross) when they are being set so unless the line is set too deep for them they will still be caught; and how will authorities know if fishers are using them without expensive monitoring or surveillance? There are other innovative approaches being developed to avoid or reduce seabird and turtle bycatch that look more promising.

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By: greenfly

greenfly — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:09:56 +0000

The next and logical step, is the dissolving hook.

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