Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T04:56:21.206Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Seabird bycatch in Spanish Mediterranean large pelagic longline fisheries, 2000-2008

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 September 2010

Salvador García Barcelona ,
José M. Ortiz de Urbina ,
José M. de la Serna ,
Enrique Alot  and
David Macías
Get access

Abstract

Incidental catch or bycatch represents a significant threat for the conservation of seabird populations. The western Mediterranean is an important fishing area where the Spanish pelagic and semi-pelagic longline fleet targeting swordfish (Xiphias gladius), bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) and albacore (Thunnus alalunga) operates. Bycatch of these fisheries includes several seabird species. Given the importance of conservation of the bycatch species (marine mammals, turtles, sharks and seabirds), an on-board observer program was implemented by the Spanish Oceanographic Institute (IEO); this included collecting data on effort and catch, as well as weight and number of individuals of the main bycatch species. The aim of the present study is to report data on seabird bycatch collected by the on-board observer program of the IEO in the Western Mediterranean. Data on seabird bycatch were collected for the period 2000-2008, throughout the year. Six longline gears targeting large pelagic fish were identified operating in the area of study, but only three had an effect on seabird species. Differences in catch per unit effort (CPUE, birds per 1000 hooks) for each gear, as well as their effect on particular seabird species, are reported in this study. A total of 4 786 466 hooks were monitored, which yielded 182 seabirds belonging to 7 different species. The average CPUE for the studied period was 0.038 birds per 1000 hooks. Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) and yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) were the species the most highly represented in the catch. In contrast, Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) was only present in the longline fishery targeting albacore (CPUE = 0.005 birds per 1000 hooks). Our results suggest that Cory’s shearwater is the species the most affected by the longline fishery in the Western Mediterranean, probably due to its biological characteristics, and corroborate the well-established downward trend in its population.

Keywords

BycatchSeabirdCPUEWestern Mediterranean SeaPelagic longline
Type
Research Article
Information
Aquatic Living Resources , Volume 23 , Issue 4 , October 2010 , pp. 363 - 371
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, IFREMER, IRD 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alegre F., Gonzalez B., Medina P., 2008, Episodio de captura incidental de 72 Puffinus spp. en una ZEPA marina por un palangre de superficie ilegal: Recuperación clínica y reintroducción de 20 individuos. Inf. Téc. Barcelona. CRAM.
Alverson, D.L., 1999, Some observations on the science of bycatch. Mar. Technol. Soc. J. 33, 6–12. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arcos J.M., Oro D., 2004, Pardela balear, Puffinus mauretanicus. In: Madroño A., González C., Atienza J.C. (Eds.) Libro Rojo de las Aves de España, Madrid, Dirección General para la Biodiversidad/SEO/BirdLife, pp. 39–43.
Báez, J.C., Real, R., García-Soto, C., De La Serna, J.M., Macias, D., Camiñas, J.A., 2007, Loggerhead turtle bycatch depends on distance to the coast, independent of fishing effort: implications for conservations and fisheries management. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 338, 249–256. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barnes, K.N., Ryan, P.G., Boix-Hinzen, C., 1997, The impact of the hake Merluccius spp. Longline fishery off South Africa on Procellariiform seabirds. Biol. Conserv. 82, 227–234. Google Scholar
Belda, E.J., Sanchez, A., 2001, Seabird mortality on longline fisheries in the Western Mediterranean: factors affecting bycatch and proposed mittigating measures. Biol. Conserv. 98, 357–363. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
BirdLife International 2008, Calonectris diomedea. In: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.1.  < www.iucnredlist.org >
Brothers, N.P., 1991, Albatros mortality and associated bait loss in the Japanese longline fishery in the Southern Ocean. Biol. Conserv. 55, 255–268. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brothers N.P., Cooper J., Lokkeborg S., 1999, The incidental catch of seabirds by longline fisheries worldwide review and technical guidelines for mitigation. FAO Fisheries Circular 937, Rome, FAO.
Camiñas, J.A., Báez, J.C., Valeiras, J., Real, R., 2006, Differential loggerhead bycatch and direct mortality in surface longline according to boat strata and gear type. Sci. Mar. 70, 661–665. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carboneras C., 2004, Pardela cenicienta, Calonectris diomedea diomedea. In: Madroño A., González C., Atienza J.C. (Eds.) Libro Rojo de las Aves de España, Madrid, Dirección General para la Biodiversidad/SEO/BirdLife, pp. 39–43.
Cooper, J., Baccetti, N., Belda, E.J., Borj, J.J., Oro, D., Papaconstantinou, C., Sánchez, A., 2003, Seabirds mortality from longline fishing in the Mediterranean sea and Macaronesian waters: A review and a way forward. Sci. Mar. 67, 57–64. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Croxall, J.P., Rothery, P., Pickering, S.P., Prince, P.A., 1990, Reproductive performance, recruitment and survival of wandering albatross Diomedea exulans at Bird Islands, South Georgia. J. Anim. Ecol. 59, 775–796. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guallart J., 2004, Análisis del conflicto entre las aves ictiófagas y la pesca de palangre en la Comunidad Valenciana. Inf. Téc. Madrid, SEO/BirdLife.
Dietrich, K.S., Melvin, E., Parrish, J. K., 2009, Understanding and adressing seabird bycatch in Alaska demersal longline fisheries. Biol. Conserv. 142, 2642–2656. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hall, M.A., 1996, On bycatches. Rev. Fish Biol. Fish. 6, 319–352. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Honig, M.B., Petersen, S.L., Duarte, A., 2008, Turtle bycatch in longline fisheries operating within the Benguela current large marine ecosystem. Coll. Vol. Sci. Pap. ICCAT 62, 1757–1769. Google Scholar
Hyrenbach, K.D., Fernandez, P., Anderson, D.J., 2002, Oceanographic habitats exploited by two sympatric North Pacific albatross during breeding season. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 233, 283–301. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jimenez, S., Domingo, A., Brazeiro, A., 2009, Seabirds bycatch in the Southwest Atlantic: Interaction with the Uruguayan pelagic longline fishery. Polar Biol. 32, 187–198. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kelleher K., 2005, Discards in the world’s marine fisheries: an update. FAO Fish. Tech. Pap. 470, Rome, FAO.
Klaer, N., Polacheck, T., 1997, Bycatch of albatrosses and other seabirds by Japanese longline fishing vessels in the Australian Fishing Zone from April 1992 to March 1995. Emu 97, 150–167. Google Scholar
McCracken M.L., 2001, Estimation of albatross take in the Hawaiian longline fisheries. Administrative Report H-01-03, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Honolulu Laboratory.
Melvin E.F., Parrish J.K., Dietrich K.S., Hamel O.S., 2001, Solutions to seabirds bycatch in Alaska’s demersal longline fisheries. Project A/FP-7, WSG-AS 01-01, Washington Sea Grant.
Ramos, R., Militão, T., González-Solís, J., Ruiz, J., 2009, Moulting strategies of a long-distance migratory seabird, the Mediterranean Cory’s shearwater Calonectris diomedea diomedea . Ibis 151, 151–159. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sokal R.R., Rohlf F.J., 1995, Biometry. 3rd edition. W.H. Freeman & Co, New York.
Valeiras, J., Camiñas, J.A., 2003, The incidental capture of seabirds by Spanish drifting longline fisheries in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Sci. Mar. 67, 65–68. Google Scholar
Weimerskirch, H., Capdeville, D., Duhamel, G., 2000, Factors affecting the number and mortality of seabirds attending trawlers and longliners in the Kerguelen area. Polar Biol. 23, 236–249. CrossRefGoogle Scholar