Swordfish buoy gear and green sticks have been identified by scientific research and anecdotal reports from commercial fishermen as two promising alternatives to surface longlines in the Gulf. These highly selective fishing gears reduce incidental catch of non-target species, while preserving the fishermen's access to target fish species. These alternative gears could more reliably decrease the incidental catching and killing of non-target marine animals than modifying surface longline gear to reduce incidental catch.
Read the full fact sheet at Louisiana's SeaGrant website.