The Bait Container & WaTS system (Whale and Trap Saviour) are designed to reduce bait cost, rebait your trap during long soaks while WaTS prevent whales from becoming entangled in vertical lobster and crab lines and drag your traps away. When paired the combined solution delivers a step-change in safer, smarter, and more profitable fishing—protecting marine mammals while increasing catch consistency and lowering bait costs. Challenge overview and why it matters •Inefficient bait conversion: Traditional setups often require approximately 1.8 kg (3.9 lbs) of bait to catch 1 kg (2.2 lbs) of lobster. That imbalance represents money lost on every haul. •Predation and environmental loss: Bait is quickly scavenged by non-target species or degraded by currents and temperature, diminishing its effectiveness within hours. •Operational strain: To compensate, crews increase soak times or the number of pots—raising fuel use, labor hours, gear exposure, and entanglement risk. •Conservation and compliance: Whales and other marine mammals face entanglement risks from vertical lines. Fishers also face tightening regulations, seasonal closures, and gear mandates aimed at reducing those risks. How the Bait Savior addresses the problem •Purpose-built efficiency: The Bait Savior is engineered to maximize bait performance and minimize waste by controlling when and how bait becomes available inside the trap. •Behaviour-based timing: Because lobsters are predominantly nocturnal feeders, time-activated release aligns bait availability with peak activity, improving catch probability during the hours that matter most. •Selectivity and retention: By limiting early exposure, bait remains attractive longer and is less accessible to unwanted predators, keeping more scent and nutrients available when lobsters are actively foraging. Core features of the Bait Savior system •Electronically controlled bait container: A rugged, sealed unit that delivers precise, scheduled bait release during the soak, day or night. •Programmable timing: Fishermen set one or multiple release windows to match target species behaviour, tidal cycles, or seasonal patterns. •Bait preservation: Reduced early-stage scavenging and slower breakdown keep bait fresh and potent over longer periods. •Modular integration: Securely mounts in lobster creels, crayfish batten pots, and rock lobster traps without major gear modification. •Power efficiency: Designed for multi-day operation on a compact power source with low maintenance. •Durability at sea: Saltwater-resistant materials, impact-tolerant housing, and simple field servicing for reliable performance in harsh conditions. Operational benefits fishermen can expect •Higher catch consistency: Concentrating bait effectiveness during peak feeding hours improves set-to-haul results, even with shorter soaks. •Lower bait spend: Optimized release reduces bait consumption by an estimated 50% to 75% while maintaining or improving catch. •Fewer pots, fewer hauls: With more efficient sets, crews can achieve targets with less gear deployed and fewer trips, lowering fuel and labor costs. •Cleaner gear interactions: Less bait waste means fewer non-target scavengers around the gear, which can reduce damage and interference. The WaTS system: protecting whales from getting entangled! •Reduced entanglement risk: WaTS minimizes reliance on vertical lines that can pose danger to whales, supporting healthier marine ecosystems and aligning with evolving best practices. •Compliance support: By cutting entanglement risk and unnecessary gear loss, WaTS helps operations move toward whale-safe standards and mitigation measures and . Why the combination is a game changer •Synergy in practice: Bait that activates at the right moment means fewer lines can deliver the same (or better) catch, while WaTS reduces whale interaction risk—an efficiency and conservation win. •Strategic fishing windows: Crews can plan releases around tide and moon phases, initiating bait activity overnight and hauling at first light for maximum freshness and safety. •Resilience to conditions: In strong currents, heat, or heavy predator pressure, controlled release preserves bait value instead of letting it vanish in the first few hours. Example use scenarios •Short soaks: Set a single nighttime release for a 6–10 hour soak, then haul at dawn. Ideal for day-boat operations seeking quick turnarounds with minimal bait loss. •Long soaks: Use staggered releases across 24–96 hours to maintain ongoing attraction without physically having to rebait your trap. •Seasonal tuning: Adjust release patterns when lobsters change depth or feeding aggression, maintaining efficiency across seasons. Economic impact snapshot •Bait savings: Cutting waste by 50% to 75% directly reduces per-trip costs. •Fuel and labour: With fewer pots and optimized timing, crews can reduce steaming and hauling cycles. •ROI timeline: Many operations recoup investment rapidly through bait savings alone, with additional upside from improved catch rates and reduced maintenance on predator-damaged gear. Sustainability and fishery health •Lower waste stream: Less discarded bait and fewer scavenger swarms mean cleaner seafloor conditions and reduced bycatch interactions. •Wildlife safety: WaTS addresses a leading cause of whale injury and death—line entanglement—supporting ecosystem resilience and community stewardship. •Data-driven adaptation: Consistent performance across varied conditions helps stabilize yields, improving planning and reducing pressure to over-deploy gear. Ease of use and maintenance •Quick install: Brackets and straps fit standard creels and traps; no special tools required for routine mounting. •Simple programming: Intuitive controls for setting release times; visual indicators confirm schedule status. •Field serviceable: Rinse, inspect seals, and replace consumables as needed; components designed for straightforward swap-outs. Best practices for results •Align release with peak activity: Typically set first activation shortly after dusk; refine timing using logbook results. •Calibrate bait quantity: Use smaller, fresher portions released strategically rather than loading large amounts at set time. •Tune to tides and moon: Strong tidal flow and bright moonlight can shift feeding windows—adjust schedules accordingly whale migration. •Track and iterate: Record catch per unit effort (CPUE) by release timing to quickly converge on optimal patterns for your grounds. Putting it all together By employing the Bait Savior Systems (Bait Container & WaTS), fishermen can transform their operations with safer, more predictable, no loss of fishing gear and more profitable sets. The electronically controlled bait container maximizes bait effectiveness precisely when lobsters are feeding, while WaTS reduces entanglement risk and aligns with whale-safe practices and the loss of gear. The result is a must and innovative, responsible approach to trap fishing that delivers higher efficiency, lower costs, and stronger long-term sustainability for both crews and the marine environment.