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Bycatch News
Minke whales being killed by creel lines
(Added: 29 July 2010)
A new report just published has found that half of all minke whale stranding deaths in Scotland (UK) are caused by miles of creel lines laid around the coastline, used to catch lobsters and crabs. The areas with the highest risk of entanglement were found to be around the central Hebrides, Fife and Angus. Many of the whales killed showed signs of previous injuries caused by entanglement. Minkes are the most common whale in the waters around Scotland and are the second smallest type of baleen whale.
Preventing whale bycatch
(Added: 22 July 2010)
Fishermen who use longlines to catch various fish off Hawaii have been advised to use a different kind of hook so they don't accidentally severely injure or kill false killer whales.
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Discarded fishing line removed from dolphin
(Added: 17 March 2010)
Discarded fishing line was recently removed from a bottlenose dolphin after the mammal was observed swimming in the Indian River Lagoon (Florida) with the line cutting into its dorsal fin, the second time in 18 months that this particular dolphin nicknamed "Rio" had been freed of fishing line. He has now been fitted with a radio tag so that his movements can be tracked in case he gets into trouble again.
Commercial fishing endangers dolphins
(Added: 08 February 2010)
A recent study has confirmed commercial fishing is endangering common dolphin populations in the Mediterranean. The culprit is bottom trawling - the main type of commercial fishing in Israel and targets codfish, red mullet and sole.
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Warning whales to shark nets
(Added: 19 January 2010)
New acoustic alarms designed to warn whales about shark nets could be fitted on Australia's Gold Coast by mid-year in time for the whale migration. The pingers have been developed with a stronger frequency known to be audible to whales and differ from existing models in that they give off a louder noise at a lower pitch for a longer time and over a greater distance. Gold Coast's shark nets kill many whales, dolphins and turtles every year.
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