The Spatial Distribution Dynamics of Shark Bycatch by the Longline Fishery in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean

Authors
Xia, S., Wang, J., Gao, X., Yang, Y. and Huang, H.
Year
Journal/Publisher Name
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Volume (Issue #)
13(2)
Page #s
17
Contact information
Jiaqi Wang, Shanghai Ocean University, China- jq-wang@shou.edu.cn
Xiaodi Gao, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, China- gaoxiaodi@ecsf.ac.cn
Summary

The authors analyzed data regarding the influences of environmental and spatial factors in shark bycatch in western and central Pacific longline fisheries from 2013-2021. Results suggest that several environmental factors, including oxygen concentration, sea surface temperature, and chlorophyll-a concentration, impact shark bycatch per unit effort (BPUE) for multiple shark species. Hotspots of bycatch were identified for bigeye thresher shark (Alopias superciliosus), longfin mako (Isurus paucus), silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis), oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus), blue shark (Prionace glauca) and shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus). All species exhibited annual variations in BPUE, and bycatch risk trended eastward toward equatorial waters, likely due to a higher concentration of fishing effort in those areas.