Return ‘Em Right Integration

The project addresses the challenge of reducing barotrauma-induced discard mortality through assessment of the use of fish descending devices (FDD) in Gulf of Mexico reef fish. The initiative is part of the Return ‘Em Right program, which educates fishers on using fish descending devices (FDD) to mitigate barotrauma effects. The research involves collating existing studies, collecting functional traits, and building models to predict discard mortality. The study aims to better understand species-specific responses to discarding with FDDs, characterization of discard compositions, and the impacts of FDD adoption. By focusing on the most affected species and fishers, the project aims to enhance communication strategies and improve the fishing experience while contributing to the sustainability of reef fish stocks. The project will also analyze discard composition and integrate survey data to focus outreach efforts on fishers who can benefit most from using FDDs.