Bycatch, or the incidental capture of marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles and elasmobranchs is the most significant threat to these species at the global level. The magnitude of bycatch is overlooked in many regions around the world, particularly in developing countries, and almost no actions are taken to mitigate bycatch in most fisheries.
The Project
We work in East Africa and Pakistan to assess marine mammal, sea turtle and elasmobranch in small-scale and semi-industrial gillnet fisheries. Over the last years and in collaboration with our numerous collaborators, we have worked to identify potential mitigation measures to reduce bycatch.
The Impact
Our projects to assess and mitigate bycatch have generated encouraging results, and with our collaborators, we have identified several low-cost methods to reduce bycatch, particularly of cetaceans, in gillnets which could have a major impact on the conservation of these species in the long-term.
For more information on this project contact Dr. Jeremy Kiszka.