Barotrauma treatment performance of fish release devices during the different fishing operations

The aim of this study is analyze the barotrauma treatment performance of different fish release devices and its effects on different fishing operations. The study was carried out between September 2017 and April 2018 in İskenderun Bay, located in the Eastern Mediterranean.İn this study, three release devices, which are Fishing Release Hook (FRH), Fish Release Clamp (FRC) and Fish Release Basket (FRB) were used in three different fishing activities, which are longline, hand line and bottom trawl fishery. İndividuals of Epinephelus aeneus, Epinephelus costae and Nemipterus randalli were released into the sea after fishing operations. Study results showed that fish release devices were very effective for barotrauma treatment. The use of FRB is suitable for bottom trawl fishing, while the use FRH and FRC is more ergonomic in longline and hand line fishery.