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Results of a short study of interactions of cetaceans and longline fisheries in Atlantic waters: environmental correlates of catches and depredation events

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Essential Fish Habitat Mapping in the Mediterranean

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 203))

Abstract

In the Atlantic, economic losses have been reported from shark, swordfish and tuna longline fisheries due to depredation by cetaceans. We examined interactions of odontocete cetaceans with commercial longliners operating in waters off Brazil and the Azores archipelago during 2006–2007, analyzing relationships between catches, depredation on hooked fish, cetacean sightings, acoustic records of cetacean presence and environmental variables. Data were provided by skippers of six vessels and by on-board observers for two vessels. The percentage of longline sets depredated by cetaceans was low (ranging from 1% to 9% of total sets per ship) but the proportion of fish damaged was high (up to 100%) when depredation occurred. Catches were related to the phase of the moon, cloud cover, sea surface temperature and water depth whereas cetacean sightings were primarily related to catches. In particular there was a positive association between Delphinus delphis sightings and catches of swordfish, and between Stenella frontalis sightings and mako catches. Acoustic detection was low when depredation by false killer whales occurred although high rates of clicks were detected when delphinids were sighted and false killer whales were by-caught. This may indicate that false killer whales are not echolocating when feeding on fish hooked on a longline.

Guest editor: V. D. Valavanis Essential Fish Habitat Mapping in the Mediterranean

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Aberdeen, Tillidrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK

    Gema Hernandez-Milian, Jianjun Wang & Graham J. Pierce

  2. Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Cabo Estai, Canido, 36200 Vigo, Spain

    Sabine Goetz, M. Begoña Santos, Julio M. Portela & Graham J. Pierce

  3. Estación de Biología Mariña da Graña, University of Santiago de Compostela, Casa do Hórreo e Casa da Estrela, Ru’a da Ribeira 1-4, A Graña, 15590 Ferrol, Spain

    Catuxa Varela-Dopico

  4. Cooperativa de Armadores de Pesca del Puerto de Vigo, Sociedad Coop. Ltda. Puerto Pesquero, Edif. Cooperativa de Armadores, Apdo, 1078, 36202 Vigo, Spain

    Catuxa Varela-Dopico, José Rodriguez-Gutierrez, Joge Romón-Olea, José R. Fuertes-Gamundi & Edelmiro Ulloa-Alonso

  5. Chelonia Limited, Beach Cottage, 5 Beach Terrace, Long Rock, Cornwall, TR20 8JE, UK

    Nick J. C. Tregenza

  6. Aquatec Group Ltd., High Street, Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, RG27 8NY, UK

    Andy Smerdon

  7. MG Otero Consultores SL, Porto Pesqueiro, Nvo Tinglado Xeral Empaque Of. 8, PO Box 1132, 36202 Vigo, Spain

    Monserrat G. Otero & Vicente Tato

  8. CEMMA, Apdo. 15, 36380, Gondomar, Pontevedra, Spain

    Alfredo López & Rebeca Lago

Authors
  1. Gema Hernandez-Milian
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  2. Sabine Goetz
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  3. Catuxa Varela-Dopico
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  4. José Rodriguez-Gutierrez
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  5. Joge Romón-Olea
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  6. José R. Fuertes-Gamundi
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  7. Edelmiro Ulloa-Alonso
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  8. Nick J. C. Tregenza
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  9. Andy Smerdon
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  10. Monserrat G. Otero
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  11. Vicente Tato
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  12. Jianjun Wang
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  13. M. Begoña Santos
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  14. Alfredo López
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  15. Rebeca Lago
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  16. Julio M. Portela
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  17. Graham J. Pierce
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Crete, Greece

    Vasilis D. Valavanis

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Hernandez-Milian, G. et al. (2008). Results of a short study of interactions of cetaceans and longline fisheries in Atlantic waters: environmental correlates of catches and depredation events. In: Valavanis, V.D. (eds) Essential Fish Habitat Mapping in the Mediterranean. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 203. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9141-4_19

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