maximios

This article summarizes cetacean strandings along the Bulgarian coast of the Black Sea between 2010-2022; of a total 1,528 strandings, evidence of bycatch was present in 80 animals. The presence of strandings with signs of bycatch even during the seasonal bans on turbot fishing suggests that IUU fisheries may be operating.

A trap-net modification reduced seal-induced [Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and Ringed seal (Phoca hispida botnica)] catch and gear damage in the northern Baltic Sea trap-net fishery for salmon (Salmo salar) and whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus). Target catch remained the same or increased in four of five modified traps.

Modified ground gear in the North Sea brown shrimp (Crangon crangon) bottom trawl fishery utilized electromagnetic deterrents and a raised groundrope to obtain catch separation. Preliminary results of the modified gear indicate a selective effect on fish and invertebrate species. Bycatch of various fish and invertebrate species were decreased with a negligible effect on shrimp […]

Congratulations to the successful applicants: Institution:     Oregon State University PI:                 Shanta Shamsunnahar Title:               Cetacean bycatch: Understanding socio-psychological factors to instigate behavioral change Institution:     Khmer Ocean Life Co-PIs:           Rose Ellis, Sarah Tubbs Title:               Conserving Cambodia’s marine mammals: a nationwide bycatch assessment and initiation of a marine mammal stranding network Institution:     Department […]

Acoustic alarms reduce bycatch of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the Gulf of Maine sink gillnet fishery. Gillnets with and without acoustic alarms caught similar quantities of target species, cod and pollock. Acoustic alarms did not affect catch of bycaught silver hake, but Atlantic herring was caught less frequently in experimental nets with alarms. Harbour […]

A summary study of methods used to reduce or eliminate marine mammal entanglements was conducted. The authors found little evidence on the effectiveness of the use of sound to reduce or eliminate marine mammal incidental capture. Substantial decreases in cetacean bycatch, due to the use of passive methods such as increasing fishing net reflectivity, were […]

This summary study provides the  first global meta-analyses  of small- and large-scale gillnet odontocete bycatch  during 1990–2020, and estimates that annual gillnet bycatch in this timespan is 50,000 odontocetes. It highlights the need for improved management of gillnet fisheries worldwide, noting that effective methods (spatial closures, deterrent devices, gear modifications, etc.) will vary depending on […]

Bottom-set gillnet fisheries that target flounder in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina are responsible for incidentally taking juvenile sea turtles during the fall months. This is expecially problematic given that it is the State’s most valuable finfish fishery. The Division of Marine Fisheries has employed a variety of management tools to address this problem including: closed […]

Gillnets equipped with acoustic pingers caught only one harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) compared to 42 caught in control nets off of New Hampshire, USA. Alarms sounds are above groundfish hearing and are not expected to affect fish catch.

Standardized external injury assessments were used to investigate the relative importance of direct anthropogenic and natural threats to northwest Atlantic leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea). The information was used to assess whether the susceptibility to these threats varies between low latitude nesting and high latitude foraging region, by size and sex. Leatherback turtles foraging off the […]

Two types of streamer lines, a “light” with short streamers and a “hybrid” with mixed long and short streamers, were tested in the Japanese joint venture tuna fishery that operates in the South African EEZ.  The authors also looked at differences in catch rates between weighted and unweighted branchlines. The mean total attack rate was […]

A trap modification reduced bycatch of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in a blue crab (Callinectes sepidus) pot fishery in the Patuxent River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. Three wire modifications were tested and found that terrapin bycatch can be reduced without decreasing the number or size of captured crabs.

The study assessed the efficacy of applying bird scaring line regulations from the demersal longline fishery in Alaska to a similar fishery along the U.S. West Coast. However, unlike in the  Alaskan sablefish fishery, some U.S. West Coast sablefish vessels utilize floated longlines. Results from the study confirmed that bird scaring regulations from Alaska were […]

 The ability of little penguins (Eudyptula minor) to distinguish  differently colored netting materials was tested under controlled conditions to test gillnet color as a potential bycatch mitigation technique. Clear, green, and orange colored monofilament were tested in the form of a gillnet mimic in an enclosed tank containing 25 penguins. Orange colored monofilament line resulted […]