Depredation project | Mitigating dolphin depredation in Mediterranean fisheries – Joining efforts for strengthening cetacean conservation and sustainable fisheries
The project ‘Mitigating dolphin depredation in Mediterranean fisheries – Joining efforts for strengthening cetacean conservation and sustainable fisheries’ (also known as the Depredation Project) was launched in 2018 with the objective of deepening the understanding of and mitigating depredation by cetaceans – when they partially or completely remove catches from fishing gear – which is a growing cause for concern in several Mediterranean fisheries, where interactions mainly happen with bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and the socio-economic impacts of damaged fishing gears and lost catches create conflicts with fishers. The project focused on depredation in small pelagic purse seine fisheries in Morocco and Tunisia, and expanded its activities in 2020 to also cover select Italian, Maltese and Spanish small-scale fisheries in order to keep on improving knowledge and identify technical and management solutions to reduce the phenomenon.
The Depredation project was coordinated by the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic area (ACCOBAMS) and the GFCM, in collaboration with the Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre (SPA/RAC) of the UN Environment Mediterranean Action Plan and the Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) platform.
IMPLEMENTATION AREA: SCOPE: Monitor and reduce depredation by cetaceans in Mediterranean fisheries | DURATION: 2018 - 2022 |
FOCUS COUNTRIES: Italy · Malta · Morocco · Spain· Tunisia | |
OBJECTIVES
- Systematically assess the depredation caused by cetaceans in purse seine fisheries in the western and central Mediterranean
- Study the ecological and population dynamics of bottlenose dolphins in relation to fisheries and aquaculture activities
- Test different mitigation measures with the technical support of skilled experts and the close engagement of the fishing sector
- Raise awareness on the conservation of the marine environment, its species and habitats as well as the sustainability of fisheries among relevant stakeholders
RESULTS
- Developed the Dolphin depredation in Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries - Methodology for data collection, to ensure a standardized approach to monitor/assess depredation and support replicability in other sites when dealing with depredation phenomena
- Launched a monitoring programme in the regions of M’Diq and Al Hoceima (Morocco), in the Kelibia area (Tunisia) as well as in Andalucía (Spain), Sicily (Italy) and Malta, to gain knowledge on dolphin interactions with purse seine fisheries, through on-board observations and questionnaires at port
- Tested a new type of strengthened purse seine net, assessing its efficiency and depredation levels compared with a standard purse seine net (Morocco); and tested the efficiency of different acoustic deterrent devices in Italy, Malta, Spain and at a Tunisian fish farm where bottlenose dolphins interact with the cage nets
- Assessed the long-term sustainability of the small pelagic fisheries in the context of stock reduction and competition for the resource
- Published the Review on Depredation by Marine Mammals in Fishing Gears in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, establishing a baseline for depredation in the region and identifying existing gaps, an important basis for informing and prioritizing future efforts on depredation in the region
- Conducted photo-identification workshops and line transect surveys to train technical teams on at-sea techniques to study dolphin populations
- Organized exchange of experiences on the different mitigation techniques trialed
- Raised awareness to include the depredation issue in the actions and commitments (regional priorities, strategic objectives) of Mediterranean countries, ensuring long-term attention is given to the phenomenon and related solutions.
NATIONAL PARTNERS
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KEY CONTACTS
Pilar HERNANDEZ
Fishery officer
Paolo CARPENTIERI
Fishery resources monitoring specialist
With the financial support of :