Abstract
Bycatch of protected species in commercial fishing operations is a primary concern to fishery managers because it threatens the conservation, protection, and recovery of fragile species, such as the Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus). One potential solution to reduce the risk associated with commercial fishing operations is to design commercial fishing gear that is more selective in terms of interactions between Atlantic sturgeon and commercial fisheries. Given this conservation and management need, the overarching goal was to reduce Atlantic sturgeon fishery interactions and maintain southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) catch in North Carolina. The specific objectives of this study were to design and evaluate the effectiveness of a modified gillnet. Overall, the results proved that lowering the profile and amount of webbing had a beneficial impact at reducing Atlantic sturgeon incidental encounters and bycatch. The modified gillnet reduced bycatch and Atlantic sturgeon encounters by 39.6% and 60.9%, respectively. Our design entangled 51.6% fewer southern flounder, which corresponded to a 48.9% reduction in total weight; the modified gear entangled slightly larger southern flounder than the control gear. Our findings showed the number of Atlantic sturgeon encounters was positively associated with mean water depth, with more Atlantic sturgeon encountered in deeper (5.1–6.3 m) than shallower waters; 75% were encountered at depths between 4.6 and 6.1 m. Most southern flounder (n = 518, 39.7%) were taken at a water depth between 3.76 and 5.0 m. This observation suggests that southern flounder prefer slightly shallower waters than Atlantic sturgeon.
Highlights
Bycatch in commercial fishing operations is one of the biggest challenges for fisheries managers tasked with conserving, protecting, and sustaining marine resources (Read & Rosenberg, 2002; Harrington, Ransom & Rosenberg, 2005; Read, Drinker & Northridge, 2005)
Protected species interactions in commercial fisheries are a major problem in the United States, especially Atlantic sturgeon fishery interactions
Our study proved that reducing the profile and amount of monofilament webbing material (
Summary
Bycatch in commercial fishing operations is one of the biggest challenges for fisheries managers tasked with conserving, protecting, and sustaining marine resources (Read & Rosenberg, 2002; Harrington, Ransom & Rosenberg, 2005; Read, Drinker & Northridge, 2005). Bycatch can include marine animals protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) or Migratory Bird Act. The survival rate of some discarded species (e.g., blacktip shark [Carcharhinus limbatus] and bonnethead [Sphyrna tiburo]) has been investigated (Hueter et al, 2006), but little is known about the survival of most protected species incidentally captured in fishing gears.
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