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Displaying 1 - 10 of 51
Location Gear Catch Technique Bycatch species Type Results

Canada

N/A
Acoustic deterrent devices
Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Field study in the wild
Summary:

Acoustic Harassment Devices (AHDs) were shown to exclude harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) from bays in British Columbia, Canada. 

Effect on Bycatch: No porpoises were sighted within 200 m of AHD
Reference:
Olesiuk, P., L.M. Nichol, M.J. Snowden, and J.K.B. Ford., 2002 , Effect of the sound generated by an acoustic harassment device on the relative abundance and distribution of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in Retreat Passage, British Columbia

Washington State (U.S.)

Gillnets and Entangling Nets
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and sturgeon (Acipenser sp.)
Acoustic deterrent devices
Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise), Pinnipeds, Phoca vitulina (Harbor seal) Field study in the wild
Summary:

Pingers do not reduce bycatch of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) in the salmon and sturgeon gillnet fisheries in northern Washington state (U.S.) but do reduce bycatch of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Pingers did not affect catch of target species, Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and sturgeon (Acipenser sp.).

Effect on Bycatch: Did not reduce seal bycatch; Reduced harbor porpoise bycatch
Reference:
Gearin, P.J., Gosho, M.E., Laake, J.L., Cooke, L., Delong, R.L. & Hughes, K.M., 2000 , Experimental testing of acoustic alarms (pingers) to reduce bycatch of harbor porpoise, Phocoena phocoena, in the state of Washington

Washington State

Gillnets and Entangling Nets
Salmon & sturgeon
Acoustic deterrent devices
Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Field study in the wild
Summary:

Pingers do not reduce bycatch of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) in the salmon and sturgeon gillnet fisheries in northern Washington state (U.S.) but do reduce bycatch of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Pingers did not affect catch of target species, Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and sturgeon (Acipenser sp.).

Effect on Bycatch: Reduced harbor porpoise bycatch
Reference:
Gearin, P.J., Gosho, M.E., Laake, J.L., Cooke, L., Delong, R.L. & Hughes, K.M., 2000 , Experimental testing of acoustic alarms (pingers) to reduce bycatch of harbor porpoise, Phocoena phocoena, in the state of Washington

Canada

Gillnets and Entangling Nets
Herring (Culepa harengus)
Acoustic deterrent devices
Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Field study in the wild
Summary:

Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) avoided an area around a non-lethal, experimental gillnet equipped with a pinger in British Columbia, Canada. In a separate experiment with gillnets in the Baltic Sea, pingers did not affect the catch of targeted herring (Clupea harengus).

Effect on Bycatch: Harbor porpoise avoided area
Reference:
Culik, B.M., Koschinski, S., Tregenza, N. & Ellis, G.M., 2001 , Reactions of harbor porpoises Phocoena phocoena and herring Clupea harengus to acoustic alarms

Canada

Gillnets and Entangling Nets
N/A
Acoustic deterrent devices
Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Field study in the wild
Summary:

Three different device types were mounted on floatline to test their potential for reducing harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) bycatch. The devices were two passive reflectors (target strength ranging from -38 dB to -24 dB) and a 2.9 kHz pinger. Behavioral responses of 355 harbor porpoise groups were monitored. 92.4% of the groups avoided the pinger equipped floatline, while only half the groups avoided the reflectors and control, empty, floatline.  

Effect on Bycatch: 92.4% of porpoise groups avoided pinger equipped floatlines
Reference:
Koschinski, S. & Culik, B., 1997 , Deterring harbour porpoise from gillnets: observed reactions to passive reflectors and pingers

Canada

Gillnets and Entangling Nets
N/A
Acoustic deterrent devices

Passive acoustic deterrents
Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Field study in the wild
Summary:

Three different device types were mounted on floatline to test their potential for reducing harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) bycatch. The devices were two passive reflectors (target strength ranging from -38 dB to -24 dB) and a 2.9 kHz pinger. Behavioral responses of 355 harbor porpoise groups were monitored. 92.4% of the groups avoided the pinger equipped floatline, while only half the groups avoided the reflectors and control, empty, floatline.  

Effect on Bycatch: Did not significantly reduce interactions with gear
Reference:
Koschinski, S. & Culik, B., 1997 , Deterring harbour porpoise from gillnets: observed reactions to passive reflectors and pingers

United States

Gillnets and Entangling Nets
Multiple species
Acoustic deterrent devices
Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Field study in the wild
Summary:

Acoustic alarms reduce bycatch of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the Gulf of Maine (United States) sink gillnet fishery. Gillnets with and without acoustic alarms caught similar quantities of target species, cod (Gadus morhua) and pollock (Pollachius virens). Acoustic alarms did not affect catch of bycaught silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis), but Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) was caught less frequently in experimental nets with alarms. Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) depredated fish caught in both nets with and without acoustic alarms.

Effect on Bycatch: Reduced harbor porpoise bycatch
Reference:
Kraus, S.D., A.J. Read, A. Solow, K. Baldwin, T. Spradlin, E. Anderson and J. Williamson., 1997 , Acoustic alarms reduce porpoise mortality

Gulf of Maine, United States

Gillnets and Entangling Nets
Groundfish
Acoustic deterrent devices
Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Field study in the wild
Summary:

Gillnets equipped with acoustic pingers caught only one harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) compared to 42 caught in control nets off of New Hampshire, USA. Alarms sounds are above groundfish hearing and are not expected to affect fish catch.

Effect on Bycatch: Gillnets with pingers caught fewer porpoise
Reference:
Lien, J., C. Hood, D. Pittman, P. Ruel, D. Borggaard, C. Chisholm, L. Wiesner, T. Mahon, and D. Mitchell, 1995 , Field tests of acoustic devices on groundfish gillnets: assessment of effectiveness in reducing harbour porpoise by-catch

Canada

Gillnets and Entangling Nets
Multiple species
Metal oxide/barium sulfate nets
Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise), Seabirds, Puffinus gravis (Greater shearwater) Field study in the wild
Summary:

Metal oxide nets containing barium sulphate (that increased their acoustic reflectivity and probably also their stiffness) reduced the bycatch of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in an eastern Canada demersal gillnet fishery. No difference in catch of commercial fish species, including cod (Gadus morhua), pollock (Pollachius virens), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), and spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), was observed between the nylon and barium sulphate nets. Metal oxide nets reduced the bycatch of greater shearwater (Puffinus gravis) in an eastern Canada demersal gillnet fishery, probably by increasing the visibility of the blue-dyed nets to the birds.

Effect on Bycatch: Reduced harbor porpoise bycatch
Reference:
Trippel, E.A., N.L. Holy, D.L. Palka, T.D. Shepherd, G.D. Melvin, and J.M. Terhune, 2003 , Nylon barium sulphate gillnet reduces porpoise and seabird mortality

NA

Gillnets and Entangling Nets
NA
Metal oxide/barium sulfate nets
Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise), Tursiops truncatus (Bottlenose dolphin) Study in the lab
Summary:

Metal oxide nets made from barium sulphate increased the detectability of gillnets by marine mammals when compared to nylon nets when approached at angles of incidence greater than normal incidence but less than 40 degrees. Hypothesized detection ranges indicate bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) should be able to detect metal oxide nets in time to avoid entanglement, but harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) may not be able to detect either net in time to avoid contact.

Effect on Bycatch: Increased detectability
Reference:
Mooney, T.A., P.E. Nachtigall, and W.W.L. Au, 2004 , Target strength of a nylon monofilament and an acoustically enhanced gillnet: predictions of biosonar detection ranges

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