Testing Raised Foot Lines in Virginia\u27s Striped Bass Fishery: A Gear Based Method of Reducing Sturgeon Interactions in Anchored Gillnets

Working with commercial fishermen and scientists, the project evaluated the efficacy of altering net designs to achieve reductions in incidental contacts with protected species while maintaining harvest efficiency. In addition project participants assisted in the transfer of the new gear technology to industry as a gear-based method to reduce sturgeon interactions in gillnets targeting striped bass. The intent was to raise the effective fishing depth (webbing) of anchored gillnets interactions with protected Atlantic sturgeon while not impacting direct harvest of striped bass, the target species. The gear was shown to not impact Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) of the directed species