Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai
https://www.doc.govt.nz/
https://www.doc.govt.nz/
Introduction
An underwater bait setter keeps baited hooks out of sight and reach of seabirds.Effect on fish catch
None.
Costs
The cost to buy, install, and train the crew is around US$31,000. Annual maintenance is around US$2,500. The life of the underwater bait setter can be extended indefinitely with replacement parts.
Image gallery
Effectiveness
The underwater bait setter reduces seabird captures by more than 95%. The science measuring effectiveness of underwater bait setting is good.
How underwater bait setting works
An underwater bait setter keeps baited hooks out of sight and reach of seabirds. Baited hooks are placed inside a capsule, which is released and travels down a track underwater.
When the capsule reaches its deepest depth, baits are flushed from the capsule with water pressure from a spring loaded door in the bottom section of the capsule. The release depth can be controlled and this allows baited hooks to be released beyond the reach of albatrosses and petrels.
Case study
The underwater bait setter has been used in Uruguay, Australia and New Zealand. The New Zealand skipper using the machine reported that seabirds stopped following the vessel because there were no baits in sight.