Disentangling pinniped incidental mortality in a bottom-trawl fishery with seal exclusion devices

Location
Falkland Islands
Article
Target catch
Patagonian squid (Doryteuthis gahi)
Study Type
Field study in the wild
Effect on target catch
Not studied.
Effect on bycatch species
0.91% of seals over 12 fishing seasons were caught in trawls with SEDs, with a survival rate of 89.5%. SED mortalities were attributed to drowning from blockages in the SED or entanglement in the trawl. Faster hauling speeds may also increase bycatch.
Bycatch species
Fishing Gear
Reduction technique