Estimating Bycatch Mortality for Marine Mammals: Concepts and Best Practices

• DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2021.752356
• Publication Date: 2021-12-10T07:53:59Z
• Authors: Jeffrey E. Moore; Dennis Heinemann; Tessa B. Francis; Philip S. Hammond; Kristy J. Long; André E. Punt; Randall R. Reeves; Maritza Sepúlveda; Guðjón Már Sigurð...; Margaret C. Siple; Gísli A. Víkingsson; Paul R. Wade; Rob Williams; Alexandre N. Zerbini
• Keywords: Bycatch; Marine mammal; Limiting

Fisheries bycatch is the greatest current source of human-caused deaths marine mammals worldwide, with severe impacts on health and viability many populations. Recent regulations enacted in United States under Fish Product Import Provisions its Marine Mammal Protection Act require nations fisheries exporting fish products to (hereafter, “export fisheries”) have or establish mammal protection standards that are comparable effectiveness for commercial fisheries. In cases, this will estimating those Bycatch estimation conceptually straightforward but can be difficult practice, especially if resources (funding) limiting consisting many, small vessels geographically-dispersed landing sites. This paper describes best practices mortality, which an important ingredient assessment mitigation. We discuss a general estimator how obtain requisite bycatch-rate fisheries-effort data. Scientific observer programs provide most robust estimates consequently discussed at length, including characteristics such as study design, data collection, statistical analysis, common sources bias. also alternative approaches types, based self-reporting electronic vessel-monitoring systems. guide intended useful managers scientists countries having establishing aimed managing bycatch, conducting first-time assessments