AB Fishing Tackle

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Fishing Tackle
  • Fishing Rods
  • Fishing Gear
  • Fishing Equipment
  • Fishing Store

AB Fishing Tackle

Header Banner

AB Fishing Tackle

  • Home
  • Fishing Tackle
  • Fishing Rods
  • Fishing Gear
  • Fishing Equipment
  • Fishing Store
Fishing Gear
Home›Fishing Gear›New project to reduce entanglement of marine animals in net fishing gear

New project to reduce entanglement of marine animals in net fishing gear

By Sharon D. Horowitz
December 16, 2021
0
0


A stranded humpback whale entangled in net fishing gear. Image: Scottish marine animal stranding pattern

A joint effort is underway to reduce the level of entanglement of marine animals in net fishing gear around Scottish waters.

Nature agency NatureScot today released a report on the first phase of the Scottish Entanglement Alliance (SEA) project, the first of its kind in the UK.

It brings together commercial trap fishers, researchers, NatureScot, and marine mammal conservation and rescue charities to better understand the extent of the entanglement of whales, sharks and other marine life offshore. Scottish coasts.

Entanglements in fishing gear and marine debris can impact both the welfare and conservation of marine animals, causing injury, disability and death. Entanglement is the leading identified cause of human-induced mortality in minke and humpback whales in Scottish waters, and the only known cause of human-caused mortality in basking sharks and sea turtles.

During surveys at sea, over 22% of live minke whales sighted on the west coast showed signs of prior entanglement.

The project consisted of interviewing 159 trap fishermen about their fishing practices and their experience of the entanglement. A total of 146 entanglements over a 10-year period have been reported.

According to NatureScot, only a small number of them were previously known, showing that entanglements are “extremely underreported”. Interviews also revealed that a wider range of species than previously thought was involved.

Fishermen also participated in training events and workshops to promote best practices, reduce the risk of entanglement, and safely disentangle large marine animals from fishing gear. This training allowed fishermen to call to each other and intervene quickly and safely in the face of any entangled animal.

NatureScot Fisheries Advisor Dr Kirstie Dearing said: “We all find it heartwarming to see our majestic marine species in distress, so we are truly encouraged by the strong commitment and willingness of the fishing industry to work. to practical, safe and lasting solutions to the entanglement problem.

“We will only solve this problem by working together on possible legislative changes. The new reporting requirement will also help us better understand the extent of the problem. “

Based on feedback from fishermen, the report recommends a number of ways to tackle marine entanglement, including testing weighted ropes (ropes that sink rather than float) and stricter regulations to limit the amount of gear in the water and put caps on the number of creels – all of which were supported by the fishermen involved in the study, NatureScot said.

Other recommendations include the development of seasonal distribution maps of vulnerable species to identify potential high-risk areas, and testing of “on-call” – or cordless, fishing systems.

Bally Philip, Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation (SCFF), said: “The SCFF is proud to have participated in this study which is at the forefront of understanding and research into mitigations to address the global problem of entanglement of marine animals in fishing gear.

“The project demonstrates that when an alliance of government, industry, academics and conservation groups work together, solutions can advance to a degree that would otherwise be elusive.

“We look forward to working with our partners to find funds for the next phase of this project, which will be to research and develop equipment and strategies to reduce the entanglement of cetaceans and sharks in our fisheries. “

This research focused on entanglements in fishing gear associated with the trap sector. However, cases involving monofilament lines and trawls have also been observed.

The study was led by NatureScot and supported by SCFF, the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, British Divers Marine Life Rescue, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, and Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust. It was funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.


Do you want to respond to this article? If yes, click here submit your ideas and they can be published in print form.


Related posts:

  1. Five tools to secure your fishing gear on the fly
  2. Randolph County community comes together to help student whose fishing gear was stolen
  3. 8 storage tips for your ice fishing gear – Wired2Fish
  4. Fishing rod holders to organize your fishing gear
Tagsfishing gear
Recent Posts
  • Colorado bankruptcies drop 30.9% in May
  • Sport Fly Fishing Tackle Market Size 2029
  • Automatic stay of bankruptcy: tribal sovereign immunity repealed | Dorsey & Whitney LLP
  • Fishing gear and plastic threaten whales and marine life off the coast of Florida
  • Global Sport Fishing Equipment Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and Sales Channel, Forecast 2022-2030 – Instant Interview
Categories
  • Fishing Equipment
  • Fishing Gear
  • Fishing Rods
  • Fishing Store
  • Fishing Tackle
Archives
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • September 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • November 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • November 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • May 2011
  • March 2011
  • November 2009
  • July 2007
  • October 2006
  • May 2006
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions