New Zealand-based Prion Technology says their new snood system is getting a positive response on the sea and they hope to sell it into a number of markets, according to director Andy P. Smith.
They call it the 'nude snood' because it can be bought on its own. The new machine welds loops at the end of each monofilament snood and they can be quickly attached on the swivel in the mainline and to a new type of clip-on hook.
Also, at present, both snoods and hooks have to be replaced if either of them is damaged. The new system makes it possible to replace hook or snood independently if only one needs changing.
Smith says Spanish Fishermen in Punta Arenas (Chile) were impressed with the snood and the fact that on a 14/0 hook it was as strong as the hook. A company in the Falklands is reported to be interested in trying them to catch toothfish. Prion says it is also targeting Argentina and are in talks with a gear supplier company there.
In New Zealand, a small vessel has carried out trials with a new autoline system, targeting red snapper in shallow water and using the 1.2mm snoods. They were reported to last a long time and the captain has taken 20,000 more to try them in the snapper fishery in the North of New Zealand.
"Overall, the response to the snoods has been positive and we have the new machine operating here in Nelson and four staff are being trained to operate and maintain the machine. So we are still in a start up phase.
"We have sent over 500,000 to Norway where they are being trialled and we are waiting for feedback." He said a new type of clip-on hook will be introduced by Fiskevegn of Norway with the new snoods. However the 'nude snood' can be also used on existing hook patterns and swivel arrangements, Smith said.
