Bill Brown, Jeffery Liederman, Patrick Brown and Ryan Brown, U.S.A.

The SeaQualizer is a noninvasive, pressure activated, fish recompression tool that is capable of releasing fish at targeted depths and represents a breakthrough in bycatch release technology that could have a major impact on the management of recreational fishery mortality.  A significant problem in the management of some recreational fisheries is the mortality of bottom dwelling fish (fish with air bladders) that are released at the surface. When brought to the surface from depth these fish undergo barotrauma due to the air bladder expanding with reduction in pressure. These fish cannot release the gas in the airbladder quickly enough to prevent expansion of the air bladder when brought to the surface on fishing gear. When released at the surface with their air bladder expanded they are unable to return to the depth where they were captured and mortality of these fish is very high.

Although several techniques have been introduced to mitigate this bycatch mortality, none are widely used in many recreational fisheries and others are not very effective. The SeaQualizer appears to be very effective and capable of increasing the survival rate of fish that are experiencing barotrauma symptoms by releasing them after they have been returned to depth and sufficiently recompressed. It reduces the time and effort an angler must expend to repeatedly reel heavy weights all the way up from the bottom and the SeaQualizer can also accommodate the release of many species of fish, both large and small.

Conservation Potential

Management of many fish species including the valuable red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico and rockfish in the Pacific include the mandatory release of undersize fish and catch limits that require the release of significant numbers of fish.  If survival could be improved for these fish, significant improvements could be made in management and stock levels of these valuable fish species. Studies have suggested that survival rates greater than 50% are possible, depending on the species and the depth from which they are raised. Species such as the rockfish are usually caught in less than 200’ of water and when recompressed have shown survival rates of up to 90%.

With its user friendly capabilities and apparent effectiveness the SeaQualizer could be widely accepted by the recreational fishing community and if so, could make a significant contribution to the reduction of bycatch mortality in many recreational fisheries and contribute to improved management and increased fishing opportunities.