NOAA Fisheries announced effective July 15, 2020 that descending devices must be onboard and readily available for use on commercial, for-hire, and private recreational vessels while fishing for or possessing snapper-grouper species. This was passed to reduce bycatch mortality in the snapper-grouper species complex thereby enhancing stock health and potentially allowing for better future fishing opportunities.

The SeaQualizer descending device is an innovative release tool designed to help fish recover from the effects of barotrauma. Barotrauma is the result of bringing a fish up from depth to quickly while fishing. Doing this prevents the fish from releasing air from its air bladder quick enough as pressure on it is decreased as it reaches the surface. This causes the air bladder to expand beyond its normal size.

Physical effects of barotrauma can include:

• Floating at the surface
• Stomachs protruding out of the fish's mouth
• Bulging eyes
• Flared gills
• Inflated body cavities

To use the SeaQualizer pressure activated release tool - first, attach the device to a fishing rod or retrieval line. Next, you'll attach your fish and lower it back down into the water. The device will release the barotrauma stricken fish at a predetermined depth set on your SeaQualizer.

Each Saltwater model has three depth settings to choose from:

• 30-50-70 ft for the Shallow Release
• 50-100-150 ft for the Standard Release
• 100-200-300 ft for the Deep Release

By bringing the fish back down to depth, naturally occurring pressure will re-compress the enlarged swim bladder causing the fish to become neutrally buoyant allowing it to swim on their own. This also eliminates all of the other physical effects of barotrauma that were seen at the surface.

SeaQualizer© is a well known "Cadillac" version of descending device that allows easy hookup and release of the fish with a depth sensor. These devices retail for approximately $60.00.

SCWF recommends this tutorial for learning more about barotrauma and safe return of fish to the bottom: http://www.scwf.org/fish

Item available for free pick up at the SCWF office in Columbia. Some limited delivery options available. Email [email protected] if you have any questions.