SELECTIVITY
Fish pots can be designed to be selective in the pursuit of various species. They can be rigged to be size selective, and in some cases, species selective. Examples of species and size selectivity are listed below.

SPECIES SELECTIVITY
The Pacific cod pot fishery in Alaska has provided the model of how fish pots can be rigged to create a selective piece of fishing gear. Concerns in Alaska about the bycatch of halibut and crab in the cod pot fishery prompted the requirement for vertical excluding devices across the Neptune cod trigger that break the wide open entrance into separate 9 inch divisions. This simple modification virtually eliminated the bycatch of halibut and crab and turned the cod pot fishery into one of the "cleanest" fisheries in Alaska. The fact that a pot can be modified to suit certain species, and avoid others, is very important to the overall health of the resource and ocean environment.

SIZE SELECTIVITY
Fish pots can also be size selective through various means. These include selecting the right mesh size, using circular escape rings or using rectangular escape vents. Selecting a certain web size for the pot that allows the small fish to escape through the web is the best method since it provides numerous escape routes. The use of multiple escape rings, panels or vents mounted in the pot's sides also works.

In some fisheries, it might be advantageous to avoid the largest fish since they usually produce the most eggs and are likely to be the best suited to avoid predators. If a fishery management plan were to value the idea of allowing larger fish to escape entry into the pot, methods are available to allow this to happen by restricting the opening size

LOW BYCATCH MORTALITY
There is a low mortality for bycatch of unwanted species and juvenile fish in a pot fishery. Bycatch species are kept alive in the pot until it is hauled and then can be released alive. The reduction of bycatch, and bycatch mortality, is a key element in having healthy fishery resources for the future. Pot and trap gear provide the obvious answer in a number of fisheries.

EXCELLENT QUALITY PRODUCT
Fish that are caught in pots are of excellent quality. This is due to the fish being kept alive in the pot until it is pulled. The fish are unbruised and in pristine condition when brought to the surface. In Alaska, pot caught fish are paid a premium over trawl caught fish because of this quality difference. Pacific cod can often be seen swimming in the RSW tanks of Alaskan cod pot boats when they deliver their catch.

LIVE FISH CATCHING
Catching fish with Neptune equipped pots is an excellent method of capture for the live fish market. No hook damage to the fish will insure a higher survival rate. Neptune triggers can be adapted to existing traps or can be used to modify lobster or crab pots.

PASSIVE GEAR MINIMIZES DISRUPTION OF OCEAN BOTTOM HABITAT
Passive fishing gear like pots and longlines can be fished without damage to the bottom environment. This is important in preserving habitat suitable for the development of small fish and other components of the food chain.

ROUGH TERRAIN FISHING CAPABILITY
Traps and pots can often be fished in rough areas that are not easily fished with mobile gear. Using tethered pots on longlines, or fishing with single pots, pot fishing is ideal if fish are found in rough areas.