Acoustic detection of Franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) in Southern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

GISELA V GIARDINO; GIUSEPPA BUSCAINO; RICARDO O. BASTIDA; DIEGO RODRÍGUEZ

Curutiba

Workshop; Workshop on the Review of the Franciscana; 2022

Our main interest is to detect the acoustic presence of franciscana dolphins in an area free of fishing pressure and then compare it with the detections made in areas with active bycatch. To meet that objective, two acoustic detectors (FPODS) were first placed in Chapadmalal (Free fishing zone) and them in two artisanal fishing gillnets in Claromecó (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina). We found high frequency and narrow band (HFNB) click positive detection in both sites. These preliminary results confirm that passive acoustic is a good tool to asses’ franciscana presences in both scenarios. Moreover understanding the echolocation behavior around the nets would lead in design better mitigation tools in order to reduce bycatch.