Which statement about bycatch caps is true?

• A. Bycatch caps set a maximum allowable incidental catch for non-target species.
• B. Bycatch caps require all bycatch to be discarded immediately.
• C. Bycatch caps apply only to target species.
• D. Bycatch caps remove the need for observers.

Answer: (A)

Bycatch caps set a ceiling on how many non-target species can be captured incidentally in a fishery. This limit directly controls unintended takes and helps protect vulnerable populations by ensuring the total bycatch doesn’t exceed what the system can sustainably manage. When the cap is reached, management actions—such as reducing effort, changing gear, or closing the fishery—are triggered to prevent exceeding the limit. The idea centers on non-target species, not the target species, and it doesn’t automatically require that all bycatch be discarded; handling rules depend on separate regulations. Monitoring, whether through observers or electronic systems, remains an important part of enforcing the cap and verifying bycatch numbers.