Modeling Right Whale Entanglements

In the absence of direct observations of entanglement events involving baleen whales, the goal of this project is to better understand the dynamics of rope entanglements using computer models.

Short-finned Pilot Whales

Duke University scientists have been working with longline fishermen within the Cape Hatteras Special Research Area (CHSRA) to study pilot whale (Globicephala spp.) interactions with the longline fishery.

Stiff Rope

The Consortium is testing whether ropes that have greater stiffness or fish under greater tension may be effective for reducing entanglements. The stiffness or tension would reduce the ability of the rope to bend, allowing animals to slide off any rope encountered. The Consortium is measuring rope tension under different environmental conditions and studying the fisheries that use tense rope to determine how effective it may be to reduce bycatch.

Developments in Funding Models

Presenter:

Erin Fogel

Presenter's Organization:

Devcollaborative

File:

Bycatch Sample Conference Agenda.txt

presentation_link:

Collaborating in the Wild

Red Rope

Scientists believe that vertical fishing lines pose a serious entanglement threat to whales. In 2012, New England Aquarium scientists tested whether whales could see and avoid different color vertical lines.

Test Presentation

Presenter:

Erin

Presenter's Organization:

DevCollab

File:

test doc.docx

presentation_link:

2013 Katerva Ecosystem Conservation Award Winner

The Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction has won the 2013 Katerva Ecosystem Conservation Award!

The Katerva award is hailed as “the Nobel Prize of Sustainability.” The Katerva Award, now in its third year, draws upon a network of experts from science, business, academia, finance, and government to

identify innovative projects in ten different categories that have the “greatest potential for both impact and scale” and have the potential to be applied in other locations and situations.

Metallic Repellents

Many species of elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) are incidentally caught in pelagic longline fisheries. Sometimes shark bycatch exceeds the amount of target fish that is caught (e.g. tuna).

Lobster Gear Configurations

The Maine Lobstermen's Community Association and the Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction worked with lobstermen in the Gulf of Maine to document the range of fixed-gear lobster fishing methods for the first time. The publication provides new data and illustrations on how lobster trap gear is configured and deployed by season and location.

International Marine Mammal Bycatch Assessment

Bycatch is the principal and most immediate threat to many species and populations of marine mammals. In many parts of the world, especially in countries with large artisanal fishing sectors, the extent of this bycatch is largely undocumented. This project will take the initial step of understanding the bycatch associated with particular fisheries—industrial and small-scale—in Ecuador, Chile, and Thailand, so that bycatch reduction programs can be directed at the fisheries where they are most needed.

Presenter:

Presenter's Organization:

File:

presentation_link:

Presenter:

Presenter's Organization:

File:

presentation_link:

Pages