Getting seafood to the dining table comes at an expense to endangered species that too often perish in the nets and on the hooks set for the fish and shellfish we eat. The incidental capture and mortality of non-target marine animals during fishing is known as bycatch, and is one of the principal threats to marine biodiversity worldwide.
Study is part of a contribution to the Consortium's research into the potential of whale-safe hooks.
A recent paper by William A. McLellan of UNC-Wilmington and colleagues examined the behavior of different longline hooks in the mouths of one small whale and two dolphin species. These are among many species of cetaceans that prey on the hooked bait and catch of longline fishermen. The consequence can be fatal to the marine mammal and costly to fishermen.
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Incidental captures of the franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) by artisinal coastal fishermen of Buenos Aires, Argentina were investigated. Data was collected on carcasses of 54 incidentally captured dolphins between 2003 and 2009. Results indicated that the majority (69%) were animals four years old and younger, 74% of entangled animals were sexually immature and 85% were physically immature. Entanglements were not associated with any disease or physiological disorder. No bycatch mitigation techniques were tested for this paper.
Information on the use of Dolphin Wall Nets (DWN) by fisherman in Kerala, India was presented in this paper. The DWN was designed by these fishermen to reduce dolphin attacks during fishing operations. Specifically humpbacked dolphins tend to congregate in fishing areas, surrounding the ring seine net and removing fish from the net. This net design can be used by fishermen instead of crackers, which can cause harm to the dolphins. The authors provided fishermen from four stations in Kerala, India (Kasargode, Kozhikode, Ernakulum and Kollam) questionnaires to fill out.
Field experiments were conducted to determine behavioral responses of minke whales to experimental ropes and buoys made up of different colors, simulating those used in crab and whelk fishing gear. Trials were conducted with yellow, orange, green, blue, white and black ropes. Visual and acoustic monitoring was used to assess behavioral responses of whales to the different experimental gears. In addition, remote sensing equipment was used to monitor oceanographic conditions, underwater sounds and to video the whales as they swam near the experimental ropes.
Five biodegrabable twine types were investigated for potential use in the snow crab (Chinoecetes opilio) fishery that operates off Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The five twine types included 1) 2-ply Sisal, 2) 3-ply Cotton 60-threated, 3) 3-ply Cotton 72-thread, 4) 3-ply Cotton 96-thread and 5) 3-ply Hemp 40 strand. Each twine was deployed at sea for 124 days and their degradation rates over time were studied. The results indicate variability in twine degradation rates. The 3-ply cotton 96-thread twine was the best performing twine.