Moves to make circle hooks mandatory for longline fishing fleet

Fisheries authorities are preparing to require every horizontal longline vessel operating in Barbadian waters to replace traditional J-hooks with circle hooks, following trials which found that a C16 hook configuration caught more yellowfin tuna while improving the chances of survival for non-target species released at sea.

The move, which supports the Sustainable Fisheries Development and Management Act, was outlined as the Fisheries Division launched a public awareness campaign on Friday under the theme, Transformative Change: Fish Smart, Hook Right.

The campaign aims to sensitise fisherfolk, vendors, and the general public to the transition from J-hooks to circle hooks, or C-hooks, as Barbados seeks to modernise its fishing industry while protecting marine ecosystems.