First trials of commercially available pingers for cetacean bycatch reduction in Icelandic bottom set gillnet fishery

Authors
Jusufovski, D. and Sigurðsson, G.M.
Year
Journal/Publisher Name
Fisheries Research
Volume (Issue #)
294(107670)
Contact information
dunja.jusufovski@hafogvatn.is
Summary

Three types of acoustic deterrent devices were tested in the Icelandic cod gillnet fishery:  Fishtek Banana pingers, Porpoise ALert devices (PAL), and wideband PAL (wPAL) with a modified pinger signal (PAL device emitting a wideband pinger signal with a frequency range of 20 – 160 kHz and signal duration of 0.3 s (every 4–30 s) with the same source level at 145 db and maximum depth (320 m)). Banana pingers and PALs did not demonstrate any reduction of bycatch of marine mammals, while the wPAL-equipped nets had no bycatch during the trial. Fish catch and overall commercial value was significantly reduced in gillnets equipped with banana pingers and PALs.  

Link
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165783626000238

Field Studies

First trials of commercially available pingers for cetacean bycatch reduction in Icelandic bottom set gillnet fishery

Study Type
Field study in the wild
Location
Iceland
Target catch
Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)
Effect on bycatch species
Use of banana pingers and porpoise alert devices (PALs) had roughly the same rates of bycatch as the control, while wideband PALs did not record any marine mammal bycatch (control = 14 marine mammals).
Effect on target catch
In comparison to the control, cod catch was reduced by 38.44% in trials using a banana pinger, and by 15.49% in the PAL trials, and was similar to the control in the wPAL trial.
Bycatch species
Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters)
Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise)
Reduction technique
Acoustic deterrent devices
Fishing Gear
Gillnets