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A quantification of interactions between cetaceans and fishers was conducted in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. A large database of captains logbooks, 1980-2011, was analyzed along with scientific observer observations recorded between 1995 and 2011. The main areas of high co-occurrence between cetaceans and fisheries was shown to exist east of the Seychelles from December to March, the Mozambique Channel between April and May, and in offshore waster of Gabon between April and September. Cetacean-associated fishing sets occurred in 3% of sets in both oceans and 0.62% of sets has encircled cetaceans. Survival rates for encircled cetaceans appear to be high. This suggests setting nets close to cetaceans has a low immediate impact to the individual species.

A summary study of acoustic methods used to reduce or eliminate marine mammal entanglements was conducted. The authors found little evidence on the effectiveness of the use of sound to reduce or eliminate marine mammal incidental capture. Substantial decreases in cetacean bycatch, due to the use of passive methods such as increasing fishing net reflectivity, were not evident through comparisons of catch rates in commercial fisheries or from observational deterrence studies. Net alarms have been shown to greatly reduce whale entrapment in Canadian fish traps but similar success has not been shown in reducing small cetacean bycatch in many gillnet fisheries. Few controlled studies on the use of sound to reduce or eliminate marine mammal interactions have been conducted. There is a need to additional basic research on echolocation behavior and behavioral interactions between marine mammals and fisheries.

This is a compendium of various studies evaluating potential deterrents to large whale entanglements.

This supplement to a 2002 compendium of U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) large whale entanglement prevention research includes newer studies, including evaluation of a time tension line cutter, and studies on neutrally buoyant groundline, load cell field work on gillnets, and recycling of polypropylene rope.

This supplement to a 2002 compendium of U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) large whale entanglement prevention research has newer studies, including investigation of Seasonal Area Management (SAM) gillnet gear, gillnet weak links and anchoring systems, evaluation of gillnet weak links, and a pilot study of options for reducing vertical line entanglements.

This supplement to a 2002 compendium of U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) large whale entanglement prevention research provides an overview of recent National Marine Fisheries Service gear research and testing of the time tension line cutter.

This report describes a buoyless lobster trap that has an acoustic trigger mechanism. An existing lobster trap would contain all the components except for the transmitter, which consisted of a prototype developed using a Hummingbird Fish Finder.

The purpose of this project was to determine ways to enhance the performance of sinking groundline, involving three approaches: (1) Reviewing previous research and lobstermen’s experience with sinking groundlines; (2) Recording directly from lobster (Homarus americanus) fishermen of the Gulf of Maine (United States) the practical challenges they encountered in converting to sinking groundline; (3) Producing visual observations of actively fished sinking groundline to gain insights into chafing and how it might be reduced. The outputs include recommendations from lobster fishermen in New England on mitigating the negative effects of using sinking groundline, and an identification of research priorities.