Study

Using pingers to reduce bycatch of small cetaceans in Peru's small-scale driftnet fishery

  • Published source details Mangel J.C., Alfaro-Shigueto J., Witt M.J., Hodgson D.J. & Godley B.J. (2013) Using pingers to reduce bycatch of small cetaceans in Peru's small-scale driftnet fishery. Oryx, 47, 595-606.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Use acoustic devices on fishing gear

Action Link
Marine and Freshwater Mammal Conservation
  1. Use acoustic devices on fishing gear

    A replicated, controlled study in 2009–2011 of multiple pelagic sites in the South Pacific Ocean, northern Peru (Mangel et al. 2013) found that fishing nets with acoustic devices attached had fewer entanglements of small whale, dolphin and porpoise species than nets without acoustic devices. Average entanglement rates were lower in fishing nets with acoustic devices (0.5 cetaceans/km/h) than in nets without acoustic devices (0.8 cetaceans/km/h). Five species or species groups were entangled including dolphins, porpoises, and pilot whales Globicephala spp. (see original paper for details). Catch rates of target sharks and eagle rays Myliobatis spp. did not differ significantly with acoustic devices (26 sharks/km/h; 0.002 rays/km/h) or without (19 sharks/km/h; 0.001 rays/km/h). Six small-scale ‘drift’ net vessels carried out 43 experimental fishing trips (total 156 nets with acoustic devices) and 47 control trips (total 195 nets without acoustic devices) during 29 months in April 2009–August 2011. Acoustic devices (Dukane NetMark 1000, emitting 300 ms pulses at 10–12 kHz) were attached to the lead line of experimental nets spaced 200 m apart at a depth of 14 m. Onboard observers recorded entanglements and target fish catches during each of the 90 fishing trips.

    (Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)

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