Over four consecutive nights, 109 snakes were captured for sampling during a
2 h period beginning at sunset when snakes began to surface. Ninety-eight snakes
were used in developing the subsequent RIs. Eleven were excluded due to inadequate
size (n = 1), inability to collect a suitable volume of blood (n = 3), if they were
deemed to be unhealthy (n = 2), or were unsuitable species (either non-Hydrophiinae
or Hydrophiinae of insufficient number to formulate RIs) (n = 5). Halogen spotlights
were used to illuminate the surface of the water whilst travelling at
approximately 6 knots (0.51 m/s) in a 6 m low-sided boat. Sea snakes seen swimming
normally at the water surface were opportunistically caught using a widemouth
landing net to scoop the snake out of the water.