Editing Catch and release (section)

==Techniques==
[[File:Fishhook.jpg|frame|[[Fish hook]]]]
[[File:Professor with pinched barb.JPG|thumb|Professor with pinched barb]]

Into the 21st century, there has been an emphasis on the development and refinement of science-based practices to increase the likelihood that released fish will survive (e.g., see research by [[Steven J. Cooke]]). That work led to the development of the UN FAO Technical Guidelines for Recreational Fisheries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fao.org/3/i2708e/i2708e00.pdf|title=FAO Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries
|website=fao.org|access-date=5 October 2023}}</ref> 

Effective catch and release fishing techniques avoid excessive fish fighting and handling times by using sufficiently strong tackle and barbless hooks, avoid damage to fish skin, scale and slime layers from nets, dry hands and dry, hot or rough surfaces (that leave fish vulnerable to oomycete skin infections), and avoid damage to jaw ligaments and vertebrae by suspending fish from jaws or gills for weighing or handling. If a net must be used it is important that it is pre-wetted and is not abrasive to the fish (such as a rubber coated net or very dense lightweight mesh), because fish can easily damage themselves in a normal net while thrashing.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} The use of barbless hooks is an important aspect of catch and release; barbless hooks reduce injury and handling time, increasing survival. Frequently, fish caught on barbless hooks can be released without being removed from the water, and the hook(s) effortlessly slipped out with a single flick of the pliers or leader. Barbless hooks can be purchased from several major manufacturers or can be created from a standard hook by crushing the barb(s) flat with needle-nosed pliers. Some anglers avoid barbless hooks because of the belief that too many fish will escape. Concentrating on keeping the line tight at all times while fighting fish, equipping lures that do not have them with split rings, and using recurved point or "Triple Grip" style hooks on lures, will keep catch rates with barbless hooks as high as those achieved with barbed hooks.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

One study looking at [[brook trout]] found that barbless hooks had no statistically significant effect on mortality rates when fish were hooked in the mouth, but observed that they did reduce mortalities compared to barbed hooks if fish were hooked deeper.<ref name="afsjournals.org">{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1577/M02-172.1| title = Effect of Hook Type on Mortality, Trauma, and Capture Efficiency of Wild, Stream-Resident Trout Caught by Active Baitfishing| journal = North American Journal of Fisheries Management| volume = 24| issue = 2| pages = 617| year = 2004| last1 = Dubois | first1 = R. B. | last2 = Kuklinski | first2 = K. E. | bibcode = 2004NAJFM..24..617D}}</ref> The study also suggested bait fishing does not have a significantly higher mortality when utilized in an active style, rather than a passive manner that allows the fish to swallow the bait.<ref name="afsjournals.org"/>

The effects of catch and release vary from species to species. A study of fish caught in shallow water on the Great Barrier Reef showed high survival rates (97%+),<ref>[http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/126/paper/MF96108.htm Australian shallow reef fish study]</ref> for released fish if handled correctly and particularly if caught on artificial baits such as lures. Fish caught on lures are usually hooked cleanly in the mouth, minimizing injury and aiding release. Other studies have shown somewhat lower survival rates for fish gut-hooked on bait if the line is cut and the fish is released without trying to remove the hook.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}