SC/69A/HIM/17  

Document Number

SC/69A/HIM/17

Full Title

Chilean experience in the diagnosis, regulation and control of discards an incidental bycatch

Author

Luis Cocas And Jorge Guerra

Authors Summary

Within the framework of the implementation of a fisheries management strategy with an ecosystem approach, and following the recommendations of FAO and other fisheries forums, aimed at guaranteeing ocean´s sustainability and food security, Chile has developed since 2012 a process of diagnosis, reduction and control of discards and incidental bycatch in its national fisheries. This process has involved the joint efforts of the regulatory, research and control agencies along with a collaborative work with the fishing users, leading the country to the gradual solution of the problem.
Regarding marine mammals’ bycatch specific measures, these have been promulgated in 2021 for industrial purse seine fisheries, artisanal traps, industrial trawling and artisanal gillnets, establishing the mandatory use of devices along with the application of fishing maneuvers to release specimens into the water, handling protocols on board, codes of good practices and reporting in logs, among others. These components are of differentiated application depending on the target fishery, gear, and type of fleet.
Finally and considering the challenges of controlling and registering discards and incidental bycatch at sea, it was recently incorporated the mandatory use of EMS (Image Recording Devices - DRI and Electronic Logbook System - SIBE) to control compliance, with differentiated application depending on the type of fleet, together with the maintenance and enhancement of human observation programs for scientific purposes.

Publisher

IWC

Keywords

Publication Year

2023