Austral, as members of the Northern Prawn Fishery Management Advisory Committee (NORMAC), have fully supported the compulsory introduction of Bycatch Reduction Devices that will apply to all trawlers operating in the Northern Prawn Fishery. The most significant of these are Turtle Excluder Devices.
A grid is attached to the net which deflects turtles to an escape opening. This prevents them from being caught in the end of the net. Other big marine species such as stingrays and sharks, also benefit from the introduction of these devices.
Other devices are also being trialled to further enhance our efforts to reduce the incidental catch of bycatch species to prawns.
These initiatives are the culmination of years of commitment to research, development and rigorous sea trials of methods all aimed at maximisation of the catch of our target species.
