Fishing Multitool for Reef Fish Barotrauma Management and Mitigation

Uses an All-in-One Fish Handling and Deep-Water Release Device to Reduce Catch and Release Mortality Rate of Reef Fish

This fishing multitool provides an all-in-one solution for professional and amateur anglers for reef fish barotrauma management and mitigation. Fishing has become an important recreational hobby and an important tool for research, helping establish the health of fish populations. In recent years, recreational fishing has seen a rise in popularity. The number of participants in recreational fishing in the United States reached approximately 58 million, the highest level in over a decade. It is common practice to release fish back into their habitat after catching them to maintain the health of the population and comply with seasonal and size regulations. However, the fish caught and brought to the surface from deeper waters experience rapid pressure changes, leading to barotrauma.

Returning a barotrauma-affected fish to the surface water alone does not guarantee survival. Symptoms such as expanded swim bladder and bulging eyes significantly impact the health of the fish and their likelihood of survival after release. If the release does not happen at the appropriate depth, the mortality rate increases as the fish is unable to properly recover or descend as they require, making them susceptible to predation. Each year, catch-and-release mortality affects millions of fish. With participation in recreational fishing continuously growing, there is an evident need for innovative tools and methods to reduce catch-and-release mortality due to barotrauma and promote safe fish handling.

Researchers at the University of Florida developed a fishing multitool for reef fish barotrauma management and mitigation. Offering an integrated solution, this device enables barotrauma symptom mitigation at surface and deep-water release, effectively reducing barotrauma-related fishing mortality and improving post-release survival. This tool reduces the handling time of fish on board, keeping the fishing experience focused on catching fish--a win-win approach for the angler and the fish.

Application

All-in-one fish handling and deep-water release device for reef fish barotrauma management and mitigation

Advantages

• Mitigates signs of barotrauma after catch, resulting in a reduced barotrauma fishing mortality rate
• Provides deep water release capabilities, significantly increasing the likelihood of survival after release
• Offers multiple functionalities, eliminating the need for multiple fishing tools required by regulations, saving space on the fishing boat
• Comprises a venting needle, enabling air to be released from the fish’s bloated swim bladder by puncturing, improving their health conditions
• Includes a loop on the hook to allow for safe removal from the fish’s mouth in case of deep ingestion, reducing the risk of injury to anglers
• The non-barbed hook end allows holding the fish at the surface, reducing fish skin manipulation impacts
• Holds a camera mount for waterproof action cameras, enabling image capturing capabilities of deep-water-release, allowing for health monitoring of the released fish
• Incorporates an attachment point for a weight, facilitating descent to the appropriate depth for release, and reducing multiple rigging effort for descending setup
• Features a non-barbed hook end, aiding the retrieval of the descending hook during release without causing injury to the fish

Technology

This all-in-one device offers multiple functionalities to mitigate barotrauma and manipulate fish on board, and release reef fish into deep water. After catching and bringing the fish to the surface, anglers may detect signs of barotrauma. By pressing the needle actuator on the side of the device’s plastic body, they deploy a venting needle to a length suited to the fish’s size. Puncturing the fish’s bloated swim bladder releases the trapped air, and the user retracts the needle into its stowed position.

To prepare for deep-water release, the anglers deploy the hook from its stowed position inside the device’s body and lock it in place. Next, they attach a line to the hook loop and insert the non-barbed hook end through the fish’s lip. The anglers then add weight to one end of the device, helping it descend to the release depth. Once the device and the fish are placed in the water, they begin their descent. Upon reaching the appropriate depth, the angler releases the fish by applying tension to the line. Additionally, the device includes a camera mount for waterproof action cameras for health monitoring purposes after release.