Article
Fisheries
Isabella Maria Friederike Kratzer, Mollie Elizabeth Brooks, Sabri Bilgin, Suleyman Ozdemir, Lotte Kindt-Larsen, Finn Larsen, Daniel Stepputtis
Summary: This study demonstrates the feasibility of using a modified gillnet with small acrylic glass spheres to reduce bycatch of harbor porpoises in a commercial fishery. The focus of pilot experiments was on gear handling and identifying requirements for a full-scale trial, with promising results shown for reducing bycatch of endangered echolocating marine mammals and no negative impact on catch efficiency of vulnerable bottom-dwelling species.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yusuf C. El-Khaled, Carlos M. Duarte, Raquel S. Peixoto
Summary: Bycatch poses a major global threat to marine megafauna, and even small-scale fishing fleets that use gillnets are not exempt. This study provides the first evidence that hawksbill turtles feed on trapped fish in gillnets, suggesting that the presence of potential prey trapped in the nets may attract carnivorous sea turtles, increasing the likelihood of bycatch. This calls for technological and management solutions to address this overlooked depredating behavior.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dimitar Popov, Galina Meshkova, Karina Vishnyakova, Julia Ivanchikova, Marian Paiu, Costin Timofte, Ayaka Amaha Ozturk, Arda M. Tonay, Ayhan Dede, Marina Panayotova, Ertug Duzgunes, Pavel Gol'din
Summary: Bycatch in fishing gear, particularly bottom gillnets and trammel nets, is causing a significant decline in the Black Sea harbour porpoise population. A study conducted from 2019 to 2021 estimated that the annual bycatch of harbour porpoises in the Black Sea ranges from 11,826 to 16,200 individuals. This poses a serious threat to the long-term survival of the population and immediate measures are needed to reduce the bycatch.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Valentina Satta, Angela Pira, Santino Cherchi, Sergio Nissardi, Andrea Rotta, Monica Pirastru, Paolo Mereu, Marco Zedda, Luisa Bogliolo, Salvatore Naitana, Giovanni Giuseppe Leoni
Summary: Bycatch, a major threat to the Mediterranean Shag population, has caused a skewed sex ratio in both the adult population and the offspring. Higher rates of male shags being caught in fishing nets contribute to the imbalanced sex ratio. The adaptive adjustment of sex by female shags is an important mechanism for restoring the sex ratio in the population, as supported by the Sex Allocation Theory.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dennis Brennecke, Magnus Wahlberg, Anita Gilles, Ursula Siebert
Summary: The harbor porpoise in the Baltic Sea is affected mainly by bycatch in static fishing gear, with significant differences in bycatch due to seasonality and region, higher rates in juveniles, and more during a full moon. Understanding these factors can help strengthen conservation efforts for Baltic harbor porpoises.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Saki Maeda, Kenji Sakurai, Tomonari Akamatsu, Ayaka Matsuda, Orio Yamamura, Mari Kobayashi, Takashi Fritz Matsuishi
Summary: By studying the wild harbour porpoises' behavior around a gillnet in a commercial fishing ground, it was found that although they frequently appeared around the net, bycatch incidents were rare. The porpoises mainly foraged in the bottom layer of the water column, with a higher frequency of appearance on the day of a bycatch incident.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Sabina Berezowska, Andreas Schmid, Tereza Losmanova, Mafalda Trippel, Annika Blank, Yara Banz, Stephan M. Jakob, Rupert Langer
Summary: Postmortem investigations have highlighted the importance of examining pulmonary findings, including inflammatory and neoplastic lesions. Acute pneumonia plays a significant role in discrepancies between clinical and postmortem diagnoses, with some cases going undiagnosed clinically.
Article
Ecology
Janneke M. Ransijn, Philip S. Hammond, Mardik F. Leopold, Signe Sveegaard, Sophie C. Smout
Summary: This study established a model to describe the relationship between consumption by harbor porpoises and the availability of multiple prey species, showing a preference for sandeels and confirming prey switching behavior. Variations in estimating the foraging range of harbor porpoises did not alter the overall pattern of the results or conclusions. Integrating datasets on prey consumption, predator foraging distribution, and prey availability provides a methodological framework for fitting multi-species functional responses for other predators.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Review
Fisheries
Saly N. Thomas, K. M. Sandhya, Leela Edwin
Summary: Gillnets are important for fishermen's livelihood, but there is serious concern worldwide about the incidental catch of marine mammals and turtles. There is limited research on this issue in Indian waters. This article provides an introduction to gillnets in India, discusses their environmental impacts, reviews the incidental catch of marine mammals and turtles, and identifies mitigation measures and knowledge gaps. It suggests regular monitoring of the fishery, regulation of gillnet fishing effort, and continued research to ensure responsible gillnet fishing.
FISHERY TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jorge Oros, Maria Camacho, Pascual Calabuig, Cristian Rial-Berriel, Natalia Montesdeoca, Soraya Deniz, Octavio P. Luzardo
Summary: Postmortem studies on leatherback sea turtles are rare due to their pelagic life history. This study in the Canary Islands, Spain, describes the pathological findings and causes of mortality of 13 leatherback turtles stranded from 1998 to 2017. The turtles possibly died due to anthropogenic causes with higher hepatic concentrations of Se, As, and Cd, and exposure to REE-ME was reported for the first time. Organic contaminant hepatic concentrations were generally low or undetectable.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Nazli Kasapoglu, Ertug Duzgunes
Summary: Bycatch rates were determined for experimental-designed bottom trawl, red mullet gillnet and whiting gillnet in the Black Sea off the coast of Turkey. The study found that the bycatch rates were relatively high, with some endangered species and some below the minimum landing size. If measures are not taken to reduce bycatch, there could be potential impacts on the aquatic living resources in the near future.
ACTA ZOOLOGICA BULGARICA
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francoise D. Lima, Hugo Parra, Rita B. Alves, Marco A. R. Santos, Karen A. Bjorndal, Alan B. Bolten, Frederic Vandeperre
Summary: This study aimed to verify the effectiveness of using circle hooks in the Azorean longline fishing fleet. The results showed that circle hooks can reduce bycatch of loggerhead sea turtles and injuries caused by deep hooking, but the effects on blue shark and swordfish varied.
Editorial Material
Fisheries
Brendan J. Runde, Paul J. Rudershausen, Nathan M. Bacheler, Ryan M. Tharp, Jeffrey A. Buckel
Summary: Data analysis of over 1200 releases of reef fishes near North Carolina revealed no evidence of predation, providing support for strengthening education and outreach efforts.
NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Emily P. Bond, Michael C. James
Summary: This study analyzed the movements of 4 leatherback turtles equipped with satellite tags following incidental capture in fixed gear fisheries in Nova Scotia, Canada, and presented results from previous tracking of 15 leatherbacks tagged in the Atlantic Ocean. It was found that, on average, leatherbacks survive entanglement events without apparent long-term effects if they are carefully and completely released from fishing gear.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Adrian Gonzalez, Leslie Mabon, Abhishek Agarwal
Summary: While Scotland and the wider UK have shown progress in offshore carbon capture and storage, there is a growing divergence in opinions on the necessity of CCS for achieving climate change targets, with oil and gas operators more optimistic than civil society and NGOs. This could pose a challenge to the deployment of offshore CCS, as operators' expertise may be needed for CO2 storage but public opinion is important for shaping policy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GREENHOUSE GAS CONTROL
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Maria Morell, A. Wayne Vogl, Lonneke L. IJsseldijk, Marina Piscitelli-Doshkov, Ling Tong, Sonja Ostertag, Marisa Ferreira, Natalia Fraija-Fernandez, Kathleen M. Colegrove, Jean-Luc Puel, Stephen A. Raverty, Robert E. Shadwick
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
Cassandra D. Girdlestone, Jodie Ng, Manfred Koessl, Adrien Caplot, Robert E. Shadwick, Maria Morell
JARO-JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH IN OTOLARYNGOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Achmad Sahri, Putu Liza Kusuma Mustika, Purwanto Purwanto, Albertinka J. Murk, Meike Scheidat
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Maria Morell, Lonneke L. IJsseldijk, Marina Piscitelli-Doshkov, Sonja Ostertag, Vanessa Estrade, Martin Haulena, Paul Doshkov, Jerome Bourien, Stephen A. Raverty, Ursula Siebert, Jean-Luc Puel, Robert E. Shadwick
Summary: The apex of the cochlear spiral in the inner ear encodes for low-frequency sounds and the arrangement of sensory hair cells in this region can vary greatly in mammals. By using scanning electron microscopy and immunofluorescence, it was found that the number of rows of supporting Deiters' cells can be a good indicator to distinguish between normal and pathological features in the organ of Corti of the apex.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ursula Siebert, Julian Sturznickel, Tobias Schaffeld, Ralf Oheim, Tim Rolvien, Ellen Prenger-Berninghoff, Peter Wohlsein, Jan Lakemeyer, Simon Rohner, Luca Aroha Schick, Stephanie Gross, Dominik Nachtsheim, Christa Ewers, Paul Becher, Michael Amling, Maria Morell
Summary: Harbour porpoises are facing pressure from increasing human activities, including detonation of wartime ammunition. A study found evidence of blast injuries in porpoises following the clearance of WWII mines. The data highlights the importance of systematic investigations into the effects of blast and acoustic trauma in these marine mammals.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Janneke M. Ransijn, Philip S. Hammond, Mardik F. Leopold, Signe Sveegaard, Sophie C. Smout
Summary: This study established a model to describe the relationship between consumption by harbor porpoises and the availability of multiple prey species, showing a preference for sandeels and confirming prey switching behavior. Variations in estimating the foraging range of harbor porpoises did not alter the overall pattern of the results or conclusions. Integrating datasets on prey consumption, predator foraging distribution, and prey availability provides a methodological framework for fitting multi-species functional responses for other predators.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Philip M. Riekenberg, Jaime Camalich, Elisabeth Svensson, Lonneke L. IJsseldijk, Sophie M. J. M. Brasseur, Rob Witbaard, Mardik F. Leopold, Elisa Bravo Rebolledo, Jack J. Middelburg, Marcel T. J. van der Meer, Jaap S. Sinninghe Damste, Stefan Schouten
Summary: Analysis of delta N-15 values of amino acids in baleen plates provides novel insights on trophic position, metabolic state, and migration patterns of mysticete whales. This study reveals regional separation in isotopic niche areas, suggesting specific resource use during migration and physiological changes due to fasting. Simultaneous resolution of trophic level and physiological changes allows for identification of regional migrations in mysticetes.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Maria Morell, Lonneke L. IJsseldijk, Alinda J. Berends, Andrea Groene, Ursula Siebert, Stephen A. Raverty, Robert E. Shadwick, Marja J. L. Kik
Summary: Evidence of noise-induced hearing loss and demonstration of T. gondii cysts in the brain of a free-ranging harbour porpoise from the North Sea were identified for the first time in this study.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Maria Morell, Laura Rojas, Martin Haulena, Bjoern Busse, Ursula Siebert, Robert E. Shadwick, Stephen A. Raverty
Summary: This study reports for the first time the selective inner hair cell loss in a marine mammal neonate, indicating a possible congenital hearing issue. Baseline knowledge on malformations in the inner ear of pinnipeds is essential to differentiate between congenital and acquired abnormalities.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lonneke L. IJsseldijk, Mardik F. Leopold, Lineke Begeman, Marja J. L. Kik, Lidewij Wiersma, Maria Morell, Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo, Thierry Jauniaux, Hans Heesterbeek, Andrea Grone
Summary: This study describes the pathological findings and causes of death in harbor porpoises stranded between 2008 and 2019. The results show that anthropogenic activities, such as bycatch and ship collisions, are significant threats to the porpoises. Non-direct human-induced threats, such as infectious diseases and gray seal attacks, also contribute to their mortality. Understanding these threats is crucial for the conservation management of this protected species.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Simon Rohner, Maria Morell, Peter Wohlsein, Julian Stuerznickel, Eva B. Reiter, Annika Jahnke, Ellen Prenger-Berninghoff, Christa Ewers, Grit Walther, Lotte C. Striewe, Antonio Virgilio Failla, Ursula Siebert
Summary: Detailed post-mortem investigations are necessary to understand the impact of underwater noise and stressors on the hearing of cetaceans. This study reports a case of a 12-year-old female porpoise with severe aspergillosis and unrelated hearing loss. Pathological findings included lung lesions, purulent meningoencephalitis, gastritis, and inner ear hair cell loss indicative of noise-induced hearing impairment.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Maria Morell, Stephen A. Raverty, Jason Mulsow, Martin Haulena, Lance Barrett-Lennard, Chad A. Nordstrom, Frederic Venail, Robert E. Shadwick
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2020)