Gear loss reported by longline fishing vessels for the 2018 and 2019 fishing seasons

Gear loss as reported by longline vessels from the 2018 and 2019 fishing seasons, including differences in line loss by gear type, is reviewed following recommendations made at WG-FSA-18. Vessels reported 1 632 km of line lost in the Convention Area, of which 27% were complete lines. There was no difference in the relative reporting of lost hooks by gear type, with rates of loss recorded at 0.3% for each gear type for the past two seasons. There was a significant difference in the frequency of complete line loss between gear types, with a higher rate of complete line loss for trotline than for Spanish or autoline. It is important to improve reporting in order to accurately quantify rates of gear loss, and the associated environmental impact. It is also important to identify differences in gear design and fishing techniques that might influence rates of gear loss in longline fisheries.