IIMYC   23581
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES MARINAS Y COSTERAS
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Commercial trawl pelagic fisheries in Argentina: seabird attendance and interactions with the vessels
Autor/es:
PAZ, J.; COPELLO S.; SECO PON, J. P.; FAVERO, M.
Reunión:
Conferencia; II World Seabird Conference; 2015
Resumen:
Commercial fishing has been identified as one of the main threats affecting the survival of most seabird species around the globe. Although seabird mortality in Argentinean longline and demersal trawl fisheries has already been characterized and quantified, the interactions with pelagic trawl fisheries targeting anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) remains unknown. The goal of this study was to characterize the composition of seabird assemblages attending pelagic trawl vessels and to analyze their interactions with fishing activities. Data on seabird interaction and abundance were obtained by on-board observers during 2011-2013. From a total of 333 observations, there were over 45,000 seabirds identified (23 species). Procellariform followed by Charadriforms birds, were the more frequent and abundant groups. The Black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophris, mean ± SD = 46.7 ± 103.1 per haul; occurrence= 94%), the White-chinned petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis, 14.4 ± 38.8; 71%), shearwaters (Puffinus spp. and Ardenna spp, 37.7 ± 62.5; 86%) and the Kelp gull (Larus dominicanus, 22.4 ± 60.8; 64%) were the most frequent and abundant species in the flocks. Seabird-fishery interactions occurred in ca. 70% of the hauls (n= 267). The bulk of these (93%) included light contacts (with no apparent resulting injuries), while the remaining were heavy contacts with potential or confirmed harm. A total of 121 birds were bycaught, chiefly unidentified shearwaters (n= 58), Great shearwater (A. gravis, 43) and Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus, 12). Lower levels of mortality were recorded in Black-browed albatross and White-chinned petrel. The average mortality rate was 0.70 birds per haul, a value greateris larger than the one estimated for demersal trawlers operating in the same area. This study is relevantrelevance to the implementation of the Argentine National Plan of Action-Seabirds, as well as for the ongoing and also for the fishery certification process that is currently under way.