G’day MarMamers, We’re very pleased to announce the online publication of the following paper in Marine Mammal Science:
Jaiteh VF, Allen SJ, Meeuwig JJ & Loneragan NR 2012. Subsurface behaviour of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) interacting with fish trawl nets in north-western Australia. Marine Mammal Science DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2012.00620.x Abstract Most studies of delphinid-trawler interactions have documented the surface behavior of dolphins feeding on discarded bycatch, but not their subsurface behavior around demersal trawl gear. Using video cameras mounted inside trawl nets, we recorded the subsurface behavior of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in a demersal fish trawl fishery in northwestern Australia. Footage from 36 trawls across the fishery was analyzed to determine the extent of dolphin-gear interactions and the behavior of dolphins inside the nets. Interaction rates were high, with dolphins present inside and outside the nets during 29 and 34 trawls, respectively, and for up to 99% of the trawl duration. The proportion of foraging behaviors exhibited inside the nets was higher than the proportions of traveling and socializing behaviors. Twenty-nine individuals were identified inside the net, seven of which returned repeatedly within and between trawls and fishing trips, but were observed primarily in the same localized areas in which they were first recorded. Our results suggest that entering trawl nets may be a frequently occurring, yet specialized behavior exhibited by a small subset of trawler-associated dolphins. We propose that gear modifications, not spatial or temporal adjustments to fishing effort, have the greatest potential to reduce dolphin bycatch. Key words: bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, underwater video observation, protected species, bycatch reduction. If you’d like a copy of the PDF, please email Vanessa (vanessa.jai...@hotmail.com) or me (s.al...@murdoch.edu.au). Kind regards, Simon and Vanessa Simon Allen, Research Fellow Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit Centre for Fish, Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems Research School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Murdoch University 90 South St, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150 ( (61-8) 9360 2823 Ê (61-8) 9360 6303 À (61-0) 416 083 653 * s.al...@murdoch.edu.au ý http://mucru.org/group-members/simon-allen/ <http://www.mucru.org/> <http://www.facebook.com/MUCRU>
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