 PhD student
Research Project
Reducing the impact of Queensland's trawl fisheries on protected sea snakes
(Supervisors: Lanyon & Courtney)
This project is quantifying the impact of prawn trawling on sea snake populations along Queensland's east coast. Sea snakes are protected species, yet thousands of snakes are known to die as a direct result of exposure to commercial trawl gear. This project has three components: 1) A crew-member observer program, in which commercial fishers are encouraged to record sea snake catch data and make these available to researchers, 2) Post-trawl mortality trials to quantify survival rates of snakes caught in trawl nets and 3) Testing of by-catch reduction devices and their effects on sea snake catch rates in trawlers.
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