Technical change in fisheries is an under-researched area in resource economics and management. This is
surprising, because technical progress is the main driver of the development in fishing power and
capacity. This article reviews the recent research and development in technology that have occurred in
fisheries. New policy implications of introducing technical change into the standard bioeconomic model
are illustrated. Bycatch saving technical change is critical to bycatch reduction and ecosystem based
fisheries management, and optimal policies cost-effectively reduce bycatch, create incentives to induce
bycatch saving technical change, and establish technology policy for research and development.