Journal
MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
Volume 64, Issue 3, Pages 237-248Publisher
CSIRO PUBLISHING
DOI: 10.1071/MF12312
Keywords
fishery-top predator interactions; pair-trawl coastal fisheries; marine top predators; South America
Funding
- Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata
- Conservation, Recreation and Education Opportunities (USA)
- Idea Wild (USA)
- National Agency for the Promotion of Science and Technology [PICT 2008-0590]
- National Research Council of Argentina [PIP 00070]
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Seabird and marine-mammal attendance and by-catch in mid-water and bottom otter semi-industrial coastal pair-trawl fisheries were assessed for the first time in northern Argentina. Observers were placed onboard trawlers between autumn 2007 and autumn 2008. Fifteen marine top-predator species were associated with the vessels. The most abundant and frequent seabirds (trawl fisheries combined) were the kelp gull, Larus dominicanus (similar to 70% of total birds and >96% occurrence), and the Olrog's gull, L. atlanticus (similar to 12% and >50%, respectively). Other seabird taxa such as Procellariiforms and Sphenisciforms, among others, were represented in very low numbers. The only mammal species recorded was the South American sea lion, Otaria flavescens (1% and 2%, respectively). Analysis of environmental and operational variability affecting the abundance of gulls indicated a significant increase in abundance with fishing depth, time of day, seasonality, wind intensity and wind direction. Incidental mortality of top predators was low and comprised only Magellanic penguins, Spheniscus magellanicus, in the mid-water gear. The results of the present study showed that the semi-industrial trawl fisheries operating in coastal waters in northern Argentina may a have a relatively minor impact on marine top-predator populations, at least in terms of incidental capture.
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