Study

Effect of pingers on harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) bycatch in the US northeast gillnet fishery

  • Published source details Palka D.L., Rossman M.C., Vanatten A. & Orphanides C.D. (2008) Effect of pingers on harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) bycatch in the US northeast gillnet fishery. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, 10, 217-226.

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 controlled study in 1999–2007 of a pelagic area in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, USA (Palka et al. 2008) found that fishing nets with a ‘complete’ set of acoustic devices attached had fewer harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena entanglements than nets without acoustic devices, but nets with an ‘incomplete’ set of acoustic devices had the highest number of entanglements. Harbour porpoise entanglement rates were lower in nets with a ‘complete’ set of acoustic devices attached (0.02 porpoises/metric tons landed) than in nets with no acoustic devices (0.05 porpoises/metric tons landed). Entanglement rates were highest in nets with an ‘incomplete’ set of acoustic devices attached (0.12 porpoises/metric tons landed). In 1999–2007, acoustic devices were attached to gill nets during commercial fishing operations. Gill net strings were deployed with either a ‘complete’ set of acoustic devices attached (11 devices on each string of 10 x 92 m long nets; total 2,407 hauls), an ‘incomplete’ set of acoustic devices (<11 devices/string; total 1,065 hauls), or no devices (total 3,157 hauls). Acoustic devices emitted 300 ms pulses every 4 seconds at 10 kHz. Observers on board the fishing vessels recorded porpoise entanglements, fish catches and numbers of acoustic devices used during each of the 6,629 hauls in 1999–2007.

    (Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)

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