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SC/69B/HIM/14
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Resource ID
22106
Access
Open
Document Number
SC/69B/HIM/14
Full Title
Collaborating with Scotland?s creel fishers to reduce entanglement of whales and other megafauna through simple gear modifications
Author
Susannah Calderan, Bianca Cisternino, Michele De Noia, Russell Leaper, Ellie Maclennan, Bally Philp
Authors Summary
Entanglement in static fishing gear (pots, or creels as they are known in Scottish fisheries) is a welfare and conservation concern for minke and humpback whales. The Scottish Entanglement Alliance (SEA) estimated that 6 humpback whales, 30 minke whales, and 30 basking sharks become entangled annually. Where entanglement type was known, 83% of minke whales, 50% of humpback whales, and 76% of basking sharks were caught in floating groundlines between creels pots. Following a recommendation from the Committee in 2022 a collaboration with fishers on Scotland?s west coast was established to trial sinking groundline and assess its practicality. 15 Nephrops (langoustine) and crab fishers re-roped 61 sets of creel gear and fished the gear for approximately 15 months, reporting on each haul as to the ease of handling of the rope, any snagging, signs of abrasion etc. Over 1500 gear hauls were reported, with the fishers encountering very few problems with the re-roped fleets, in some cases preferring them to gear made up with floating line. The project also deployed depth sensors/accelerometers and carried out filming with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) on a range of creel gear configurations to gather qualitative and quantitative data on the performance of gear underwater, including whether sinking rope might cause any impacts to the seabed. No likely impacts were observed, with sinking rope lying lightly on the seabed with minimal movement. Floating rope was found to form arches with a mean height at the maximum point of 3.7m off the seabed, for both hand-shot and self-shot gear. This project is encouraging, both because of its results ? that there may be a simple, low-cost option to greatly reduce entanglement risk ? and because of the successful, bottom-up, partnership approach with Scottish creel fishers.
Publisher
IWC
Publication Year
2024
Abstract
Entanglement in static fishing gear (pots, or creels as they are known in Scottish fisheries) is a welfare and conservation concern for minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) and other megafauna in Scottish waters. The Scottish Entanglement Alliance (SEA) estimated that 6 humpback whales, 30 minke whales, and 30 basking sharks become entangled annually. Where entanglement type was known, 83% of minke whales, 50% of humpback whales, and 76% of basking sharks were caught in floating groundlines between creels pots. Here we discuss a collaboration with fishers on Scotland?s west coast to trial sinking groundline to assess its practicality. 15 Nephrops (langoustine) and crab fishers re-roped 61 sets of creel gear and fished the gear for approximately 15 months, reporting on each haul as to the ease of handling of the rope, any snagging, signs of abrasion etc. Over 1500 gear hauls were reported, with the fishers encountering very few problems with the re-roped fleets, in some cases preferring them to gear made up with floating line. The project also deployed depth sensors/accelerometers and carried out filming with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) on a range of creel gear configurations to gather qualitative and quantitative data on the performance of gear underwater, including whether sinking rope might cause any impacts to the seabed. No likely impacts were observed, with sinking rope lying lightly on the seabed with minimal movement. Floating rope was found to form arches with a mean height at the maximum point of 3.7m off the seabed, for both hand-shot and self-shot gear. This project is encouraging, both because of its results ? that there may be a simple, low-cost option to greatly reduce entanglement risk ? and because of the successful, bottom-up, partnership approach with Scottish creel fishers.