Our research has confirmed 2 new bycatch reduction devices – Soady's Fish Window and Tom's Fisheye – can reduce impacts to protected marine species without compromising commercial fishers' catch quality and quantity.
What started as a personal project for Moreton Bay fisher and net maker Michael Soady has evolved into an innovative tool that could help safeguard protected marine life and future-proof Queensland's trawl fishery.
Michael combined his experience as a net maker and long-term commercial fisher to invent the Soady's Fish Window – a device designed to reduce bycatch (the unintentional capture of non-target species).
He believes continuous improvement is essential to maintaining the industry's long-term sustainability.
"I'm a great believer that we should only catch what we can sell and look after the oceans as best we can," he said.
"We care about the environments we fish in. We have to keep reinventing ourselves and looking for better ways to do things."
A fisher's perspective
Moreton Bay commercial fisher Joey Bruce jumped at the chance to trial the Soady's Fish Window and was pleasantly surprised by the results.
"As commercial fishers, we're always looking for ways to fish more responsibly while maintaining a viable business," Joey said.
"The Soady's Fish Window really stood out in the way it allowed unwanted schools of small fish to escape before they reached the cod-end (the closed end of the trawl net that holds the catch).
"We also saw an incredible reduction in the number of sea snakes coming aboard, which was a really positive outcome.
"Seeing that we could greatly reduce bycatch and improve environmental outcomes without compromising the quality and quantity of our prawn catch was extremely encouraging."
How effective are the devices?
Soady's Fish Window and another bycatch reduction device – the Tom's Fisheye – were trialled on commercial fishing vessels fitted with GPS-enabled cameras, with fishers logging bycatch data from more than 1,250 trawls.
Soady's Fish Window reduced finfish bycatch by about 30% and enabled some sea snakes to escape. Tom's Fisheye, which was developed by fishers in the Northern Prawn Fishery, reduced sea snake captures 17–48% during industry trials.
The trials also tested the effectiveness of reducing the bar space on turtle excluder devices, which are mandatory in the fishery.
Department of Primary Industries (DPI) researchers found that reducing the bar space from 120mm to 100mm reduced the capture of smaller sharks and rays without impacting the catch.
These results are great news for the environment and commercial fishers, showing the devices can maintain catch volumes of prawns, scallops and bugs while reducing interactions with non-target species, including some that are threatened, endangered or protected.
Underwater footage shows fish using the Soady Fish Window to escape from a trawl net.
Working closely with industry
DPI senior fisheries biologist Matthew Campbell highlighted the importance of early innovators like Michael and fishers who put their hands up to support research trials.
"Our research doesn't happen in a vacuum – it's driven by industry support, knowledge and participation," he said.
"Fisher-led innovations like the Soady's Fish Window and Tom's Fisheye are great examples of how industry experience and scientific research can work together to improve environmental outcomes while supporting a viable commercial fishery."
Information collected during the trials enabled the Tom's Fisheye to be officially added to the list of prescribed bycatch reduction devices that can be used in the Queensland trawl fishery. The Soady's Fish Window is currently being considered for use in Moreton Bay.
This project was funded by the Department of Primary Industries and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation on behalf of the Australian Government, the Australian Government’s Reef Trust, Australian Council of Prawn Fisheries and James Cook University.
Last updated: 12 Nov 2026