FLD Effectiveness Video Rewards Program

Overview

We’re working with NOAA Fisheries and the Hawaiʻi Longline Association to collect real-world videos of the Fighting Line Device (FLD) in action during protected species interactions on Hawaiʻi deep-set tuna trips. These videos will help evaluate how well the FLD works to reduce injury and mortality of hooked whales, sea turtles, rays, and sharks, and will guide future training and mitigation measures for the fleet.

Qualified videos are eligible for cash rewards paid to vessel owners.

Who Can Participate

Hawaiʻi deep-set longline vessels on tuna trips only
Vessels that:

Are equipped with an FLD
Have vessel owner permission to participate
Agree to the payment and tax terms belo

What We’re Looking For

We are targeting videos of FLD use during interactions with the following priority species (highest priority first):

False killer whales
Other hooked cetaceans (whales/dolphins)
Leatherback sea turtles
Giant manta rays / potential manta rays
Oceanic whitetip sharks

To qualify for payment, videos must:

Be filmed on a deep-set longline tuna trip
Clearly show:
- FLD deployment (sliding the device down the line to the weight)
- Crew handling techniques
- Outcome of the interaction (how the animal is released)

Be recorded in 1080p (HD) or higher with a steady camera focused on the animal and
gear until the interaction is over
Include all required information in the online form (vessel name, trip ID, date, species,
and notes).

Sampling limits

To keep a good mix of species and vessels, the project uses the following limits:

Species	Per-Trip Limit	Per-Vessel Limit
False killer whales
Other cetaceans
Leatherback sea turtles
Giant manta rays
Oceanic whitetip sharks

Rewards

Payments are made per qualifying video after review and approval:

Species / Category	Reward (per video)
False killer whales	$1,500
Other cetaceans (whales/dolphins)	$1,500
Leatherback sea turtles	$1,000
Giant manta rays (max 2 per trip / 5 per vessel)	$500
Oceanic whitetip sharks (max 5 per trip / 5 per vessel)	$200

Payment details

● Payments are issued to vessel owners by ACH transfer through American Savings Bank.
● Vessel owners decide how to share proceeds with their crew.
● All payments are taxable income.
● Participants may need to submit a Form W-9 before payment is made.
● FLOAT Partners LLC will issue IRS Form 1099 to qualifying participants in line with
federal tax rules.

Contest Timeline

● The FLD Effectiveness Video Project runs for approximately 12 months.
● Submissions are accepted while the project is active and until we reach at least 50
qualified videos or NOAA ends the project.
● Videos will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and payments will be processed regularly
throughout the project period.

(You can add specific open/close dates here if you want them on the site.)

How to Submit Your Video

1. Film the interaction

○ Use a phone or other camera in 1080p or higher.
○ Keep the camera steady and focused on the animal and gear.
○ Make sure the FLD deployment, handling, and release are visible.

2. Go to the upload page

○ Visit www.fldvideo.com and click on the “Upload Video” link,
or scan the QR code on the FLD flyer to go directly to the upload form.

3. Complete the online form

○ Enter vessel name, trip ID, date of interaction, species, and brief notes.
○ Upload your video file (one interaction per upload).

4. Submit

○ Our team will review the video for quality, species, and FLD visibility.
○ If approved, the vessel owner will be contacted to confirm payment details.

Rules & Fine Print

By participating, vessels agree that:

● Videos and associated information may be used by NOAA Fisheries and project partners
for research, analysis, and training related to protected species mitigation.
● Only authentic, non-staged interactions are eligible. Do not intentionally alter fishing
practices or interact with protected species just to create a video.
● Any videos that are incomplete, poor quality, or do not show the FLD in use may be
disqualified and not eligible for payment.
● Participation in the video program does not replace any existing observer, reporting, or
regulatory requirements.

Contact

For questions about eligibility, uploading, or payments, please contact: