INTERACTION BETWEEN MAGELLANIC PENGUINS AND SHRIMP FISHERIES IN PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA

GANDINI, P., FRERE, E., PETOVELLO, A. & CEDROLA P.

THE CONDOR

COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL SOC

Año: 1999 vol. 101 p. 783 - 789

0010-5422

We analyzed the effect of the shrimp fishery on Magellanic Penguins (Sphen- iscus magellunicus) in two ways: (1) we determined whether penguins were incidentally killed and the magnitude of incidental take, and (2) estimated the overlap between penguin diet and fish by-catch of the shrimp fishery (total capture excluding shrimp and seabirds). We worked with the fishing fleet operating at Golfo San Jorge with onboard observers over 200 days in 1995-1997, sampling fishery by-catch and entangled birds. Penguins were affected during the austral summer. Estimations of mortality rates showed 0.33% of the breeding population at Golfo San Jorge is incidentally killed by the shrimp fishery every summer. By-catch in shrimp fishery nets was composed of species important as penguin prey (anchovy and hake) in higher proportions during summer. The daily by-catch of these species was higher than the total calculated daily intake for all penguins breeding in the Golfo San Jorge. This could have a significant effect on birds. We recommend that an observer program be implemented to monitor seabird mortality and that fishing gear should be improved to reduce the indirect effect of the fish by-catch on penguins.analyzed the effect of the shrimp fishery on Magellanic Penguins (Sphen- iscus magellunicus) in two ways: (1) we determined whether penguins were incidentally killed and the magnitude of incidental take, and (2) estimated the overlap between penguin diet and fish by-catch of the shrimp fishery (total capture excluding shrimp and seabirds). We worked with the fishing fleet operating at Golfo San Jorge with onboard observers over 200 days in 1995-1997, sampling fishery by-catch and entangled birds. Penguins were affected during the austral summer. Estimations of mortality rates showed 0.33% of the breeding population at Golfo San Jorge is incidentally killed by the shrimp fishery every summer. By-catch in shrimp fishery nets was composed of species important as penguin prey (anchovy and hake) in higher proportions during summer. The daily by-catch of these species was higher than the total calculated daily intake for all penguins breeding in the Golfo San Jorge. This could have a significant effect on birds. We recommend that an observer program be implemented to monitor seabird mortality and that fishing gear should be improved to reduce the indirect effect of the fish by-catch on penguins.in two ways: (1) we determined whether penguins were incidentally killed and the magnitude of incidental take, and (2) estimated the overlap between penguin diet and fish by-catch of the shrimp fishery (total capture excluding shrimp and seabirds). We worked with the fishing fleet operating at Golfo San Jorge with onboard observers over 200 days in 1995-1997, sampling fishery by-catch and entangled birds. Penguins were affected during the austral summer. Estimations of mortality rates showed 0.33% of the breeding population at Golfo San Jorge is incidentally killed by the shrimp fishery every summer. By-catch in shrimp fishery nets was composed of species important as penguin prey (anchovy and hake) in higher proportions during summer. The daily by-catch of these species was higher than the total calculated daily intake for all penguins breeding in the Golfo San Jorge. This could have a significant effect on birds. We recommend that an observer program be implemented to monitor seabird mortality and that fishing gear should be improved to reduce the indirect effect of the fish by-catch on penguins.