Weak Hooks
WHAT ARE WEAK HOOKS?
Weak Hooks are a variant of Circle Hooks. They are made out of a lower-gauge wire which allows them to bend and straighten more easily than standard hooks, allowing large animals to escape but retaining target catch. Although in an early stage of research, weak hooks have been trialled in Hawwaiin longline pelagic fisheries to combat bycatch of false killer whales.
CURRENT USE & RESEARCH
Current research centres around reducing bycatch from depredation in longline pelagic fisheries and is complemented by studies analysing the impacts of various hook strengths on toothed whale tissue and mandibles. Such research suggests that using circle hooks with a maximum wire diameter of 4.5mm, offset at 10 degrees or less, significantly improves the selectivity (for the target catch) of deep set longline fisheries. As of December 2012, their use is mandatory in Hawaii deep-set longline fisheries. rials conducted in 2010 and 2011 in the North Carolina-Based pelagic longline fishery were less successful with no significant reduction in serious injuries among shortfin and longfin pilot whales.
This page was last updated on 12.02.21.
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