“Every day, hundreds of albatross die in longline fisheries. But there is a unique and exciting new solution to halt this. It's called a Hookpod. Hookpods stop birds getting caught as they dive for baits. They are effective, easy to use, safe and economic for fishermen. If every pelagic longline fishing fleet used Hookpods, I believe we can stop the accidental death of these magnificent ocean wanderers.” Sir David Attenborough
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“I really liked the equipment and I intend to continue using it. In my opinion, the hook pod is a mitigation measure more efficient than bird scaring lines, line weighting and night setting. It’s a pleasure to help to develop this technology…”
Celso de Richa Oliviera Brazilian Captain
Designed and tested to work with a range of hook sizes and types, and varying monofilament diameters.
Simple action to load, close and reset. Long-term attachment to the branchline means no additional setting or hauling time.
No waste, no need for additional lead weighting and where regulations permit there is no need for tori lines.
Available with LED fishing light built-in, removing the need for disposable lightsticks which saves you time and money.
Operationally effective to 1000m depth.
Durable polycarbonate design lasts up to 3 years.
Protects against injury from hooks from fly-backs.
Virtually eliminates bycatch; recommended by ACAP as best practice for the pelagic longline industry. Evidence shows a 95% reduction in bycatch when using Hookpods, compared to standard line weighting and tori lines.
ACAP Recommended Best Practice Mitigation MeasureWe designed the Hookpod with fishermen and for fishermen, to be easy to use and minimise any operational impact. There are four simple steps to setting and using Hookpods, simply click on the diagrams to see how it works.
The pod requires opening before first use to equalise the pressure in the air chamber
Locking collar - rotated to align groove with identation on the front
Lug
Pass the branch line through the locking collar and the lug
Rotate the locking collar to secure the line
Clip the baited hook into the Hookpod
Mainline
Branchline
The baited hook is disarmed and ready to set. Ensure the loaded pod is thrown clear of the propeller wash. The pressure release mechanism will open the pod once it reaches a depth of greater than 20m.
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Hookpod Ltd was created in 2013 but our story started many years earlier. In 2005, Ben Sullivan started working with British brothers and inventors Ben & Pete Kibel to solve one of fishing’s biggest environmental challenges – seabird bycatch in longline fisheries. Working closely with the fishing industry, the team spent the next 6 years perfecting what fishermen need, a solution that fits seamlessly into the fishing operation, allowing them to catch fish and not birds.
Along the way a lot of people have helped make Hookpod a reality. We owe a huge thanks to the fishing and conservation communities for making this all possible – and we hope that you’ll continue to be a part of our story.
The 20m opening pod is developed and production commences
Ben Kibel is awarded the Ocean Award for Innovation 2018
Hookpod wins the Virgin Voom 2018 Award!
Sir David Attenborough endorses a crowdfunded project launched to equip five Brazilian longliners with pods opening at 20m to stop birds, and hopefully turtles being caught on hooks. Over £72,000 is raised
A recommendation from New Zealand is put to WCPFC to approve the Hookpod as a stand-alone mitigation measure at the annual meeting of the Commission in Manila. Despite support from several countries this is postponed.
Paper summarising 4 years of trials is published in the ZSL journal Animal Conservation. Download Paper
Engineer and Hookpod designer Ben Kibel is presented with the Marsh Award for Innovative Ornithology by the BTO.
Long term commercial use begins in New Zealand with support from Dept of Conservation and Ministry of Fisheries.
BirdLife / RSPB commence trials with 2000 Hookpods on several vessels in Brazil.
Hookpod in Fiji at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, to raise awareness of the pod. The New Zealand delegation start the lengthy process of approval for the Hookpod as a stand-alone bycatch mitigation measure.
Government-led large scale commercial trials begin in New Zealand.
ACAP Advisory Committee recommend Hookpod as best practice mitigation measure for the longline fleet.
Successful completion of Kickstarter funded Australian trials – leading to the Australian delegation to the Agreement for the Conservation of Albatross and Petrels (ACAP) recommending the Hookpod as ‘best practice mitigation for the pelagic longline industry’.
Hookpod ‘Mini’ developed and initially sent for trials in New Zealand.
Trials of Hookpod take place in Japan.
Product well received by fishermen and the wider industry at the
Nor-Fishing Expo.
Kickstarter campaign generates
£113,000. Generous donations mean the start of major Australian trials and further development.
Second series of trials in Brazil commences – indications that product may reduce turtle bycatch noted and Hookpod well received by fishermen.
Hookpod Ltd formed - exciting times!
Hookpod redesigned with input from fishermen and the current shape created, fitting easily into at-sea operations.
Redesign leads to testing of tiny pod which only covers the barb of the hook… found hard to handle quickly at sea.
First trials of the large ‘Bait-pod’ undertaken. Proven too large to work easily with fishing gear.
Fishtek approach Ben S at RSPB, proposing to develop prototype devices to address the albatross bycatch issue in pelagic longline fisheries.
Becky Ingham meets Ben Sullivan working on seabird bycatch in Falkland Island fisheries
Ben (right) is the design brain behind the Hookpod! born in Botswana in Africa, he has studied and always worked in engineering and electronics. He set up his own business Eco Electric in 1990, developing equipment to benefit the environment. In 1999, Ben started Fishtek with his brother Pete and has designed a range of innovative new products to address marine problems. He also leads on the manufacturing side, producing Hookpods from his Devon-based factory.
LinkedIn
Pete is a fishery biologist by training who established the company Fishtek in 1999 along with his brother Ben, with the aim of developing technological solutions to marine bycatch issues. Pete has worked collaboratively with a broad range of research partners around the world and is an experienced commercial businessman working in the fields of freshwater and marine science and fisheries technology.
Dave is a keen birdwatcher, seabird enthusiast and Director of Hookpod Ltd. He currently works with major donors at the British Trust for Ornithology and previously was Major Donors Manager for 13 years at the RSPB where he was a leading figure in setting up and funding the Albatross Task Force. Prior to this, Dave had extensive experience as a senior Director in the food supply industry.
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Based in Tasmania, Ben received his PHD from the University of Queensland and was later awarded a 2010 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation for his work to reduce seabird bycatch.
Ben has a vast amount experience working with fisheries and seabirds and has worked for the RSPB, Falklands Conservation and is also a director of Hookpod. He has been... Read More involved in the implementation of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) International Plan of Actions for seabirds for many years. Ben is also involved with the work of the Agreement for the Conservation of Albatross and Petrels (ACAP).
Becky is a marine scientist who has worked in the fisheries industry in the Southern Oceans as part of her role as Director of Falklands Conservation between 1997-2005. Becky has also worked for the RSPB, joining Hookpod shortly after its incorporation in 2013 and heading up the company now as the CEO.
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£5 provides one Hookpod to the longline fishing industry and helps protect against seabird bycatch for 3 years. By sponsoring a hook, you can provide a Hookpod direct to the longline fishing industry to protect against seabird bycatch. Just £5 will buy a Hookpod and we will work with our partners in New Zealand and around the world to equip a fishing vessel – saving the albatross, one hook at a time.
(Taiwan)
