Review of potential mitigation measures to reduce fishing-related mortality on silky and oceanic whitetip sharks (Project 101)

The paper develops and applies a model for how silky (Carcharhinus falciformis) and oceanic whitetip (C.longimanus) shark might interact with longline gear in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) and potential reductions in mortality with two different management measures: 1) the removal of shark lines and 2) the transition from branchlines with wire leaders to monofilament leaders. Using Regional Observer Program (ROP) data, the study compared absolute values of total catch and total mortality across scenarios and the relative change in fishing-related mortality from the status-quo option given a conversion from wire to monofilament leaders, no shark lines used, and both a conversion to monofilament leaders and no shark lines.