Fisheries in some parts of the world, notably Alaska, have developed ways to cut their by-catch by using technology and switching fishing grounds. Throwing the fish back is not an option.
If the trauma of being pulled to the surface from the deep is not fatal, the fish are usually crushed in the net by other fish.
In Alaska, officials forced fisheries to cut their by-catch by threatening to close them if they failed to do so, an example that Myers believes other fishing regions should follow.
"You can't expect fisheries to do it out the goodness of their hearts, but given the right incentive, fishermen can often find a way," he said.
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