Fisheries observer data from six gear types operating in the US Northeast and mid-Atlantic were analysed for seabird interactions. Between 1996 and 2014 an estimated 48,821 seabirds interacted with commercial fishing gear. This resulted in an estimated average interaction rate of 2,570 seabirds per year. The majority of interactions occurred in gillnet fisheries and involved shearwaters/fulmars. A comparison with previous work in the region was also conducted. This comparison highlighted the need for consistency in data preparation to relative trends in seabird bycatch in the region can be compared. Additional analysis should provide context for interaction estimates to allow for population-level impacts to be inferred.

Observer data from European purse seine vessels operating in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean (1995-2011) were used to assess spatial and temporal variation in sea turtle bycatch rates. Information from both free swimming school sets and sets made on drifting fish aggregating devices (DFADs) was included in the analysis. Overall the results indicate purse seine fisheries have a very low impact on sea turtles. Annual, 218 and 250 individual sea turtles were estimated to be captured by purse seine's operating in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean respectively. The majority, 75%, of these turtles were released alive. The study also suggests that DFADs may play a role in aggregating juvenile sea turtles.

Two test systems were developed to examine fishing line entanglement injuries in large whales. The systems evaluated straight pull abrasion and oscillatory abrasion in relation to tissue compliance. The straight pull abrasion study was used to measure the depth of epidermal penetration after a unidirectional pull of line over a standard draw-length. The oscillatory pull abrasion system measured the tissue compliance limit under a shear load and used a series of upper/lower pulleys to position an abrading line across the leading edge of the test sample. Tissues from the leading edge of a flipper for a right whale calf and leading edge of an adult right whale were used during this study. Line furrow patterns were documented through photographs and tissue abrasion was compared using the 1) maximum depth of epidermal/dermal penetration and 2) length of epidermal removal. For the straight pull abrasion test, an adult right whale fluke required 3.7 times the load and 15 times the draw-length of a right whale calf flipper for epidermal failure to occur. The oscillatory abrasion test indicated that line draw-lengths were more than the tissue compliance limit and resulted in substantial increased tissue abrasion. Increasing the line's ability to stretch in response to a load could minimize sliding of the line and help mitigate entanglement injuries.

Right whale survey data and Canadian fishing gear deployment data were used to estimate the threat of gear entanglement to right whales in the Scotia-Fundy region and the risk of lethal entanglement in the Bay of Fundy and Roseway Basin, Scotian Shelf. The following fisheries were investigated: groundfish and pelagic hook and line, groundfish gillnet, and crab, hagfish and inshore/offshore lobster traps. Groundfish hook and line gear poses the largest threat to right whales during the summer resident period in the Bay of Funday and on Roseway Basin (Critical Habitat). The lobster fishery poses the greatest threat during the spring and summer periods as whales migrate to and from Critical Habitat. Gillnet's pose a considerable gear related threat, 18% of the total threat.