Evaluation of a simple decompression procedure to reduce decompression trauma in trap-caught burbot

We tested the effectiveness of a simple decompression procedure to reduce decompression trauma in burbot Lota Iota captured in deepwater traps. The procedure involved pulling traps containing captured burbot, but only up to a depth at which pressure was approximately one-half the capture pressure; the traps were then pulled to the surface the following day. Regardless of trap retrieval method, all burbot captured showed signs of decompression trauma. Although the tested method did not prevent such trauma entirely, burbot treated with the procedure experienced significantly lower mortality (6%) and occurrence of stomach evulsion (0%) than those pulled directly from the capture depth (22% and 20%, respectively).