Bycatch News
We have known for years that whales, especially minke whales, get caught in fishing Korean fishing nets.
Post-Doc Opportunity
The Marine Institute Galway Ireland is recruiting a *Post Doctoral
Researcher to work on bycatch issues relating to ETP species (including
marine mammals), *as part a large European project.
Position is for 48 months. Closing date is the 2nd of May.
The role will involve developing a modelling framework to design monitoring
programmes, estimating bycatch probability, bycatch rates, and total
bycatch for marine mammal and other species; using outcomes of mitigation
trials to assess the effect of mitigation measures for ETP species
including marine mammals; and developing a decision support simulation
system for bycatch management and mitigation interventions.
The Post-Doctoral Researcher will work closely with the Marine Institute?s
CIBBRiNA project lead, as well as with colleagues in the Technical
University of Denmark (DTU Aqua), to deliver research for the CIBBRiNA
project. The CIBBRiNA project (Coordinated Development and Implementation
of Best Practice in Bycatch Reduction in the North Atlantic region) aims to
improve knowledge and understanding to minimise and where possible
eliminate incidental bycatch of species, including marine mammals, in
fisheries which have high risk of bycatch of protected, endangered and
threatened species (PETS), in European waters.
*Educational and Professional Requirements:*
? A relevant PhD in fisheries science, marine science, statistical
ecology or a related field.
? An understanding of issues related to bycatch in European fisheries.
? Demonstrated experience of working in the arena of fisheries and/or
marine ecosystem modelling or similar.
? Demonstrated skills in data analysis linked to marine
ecological/fisheries science, with particular experience in statistical
modelling.
? Strong data handling and data manipulation skills (e.g., experience
developing pipelines to handle complex relational data).
? Experienced in hierarchical statistical modelling (ideally implemented
in R) and a good grasp of statistical inference from multi-scale
longitudinal data.
? Ability to work with and effectively communicate with scientists, the
fishing industry and other relevant stakeholders.
? Proven Scientific Report and peer reviewed paper writing skills.
? Proven ability to produce reproducible code.
Please read a detailed job description here:
https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marine.ie%2Fsite-area%2Fworking-us%2Fpostdoctoral-researcher-%25E2%2580%2593-life-cibbrina-project-catch-pet-species&data=05%7C02%7CTimothy.Werner%40umb.edu%7Cb33df8dbaf79492c24c908dd82a08fba%7Cb97188711ee94425953c1ace1373eb38%7C0%7C0%7C638810348335989566%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=9Sle5T5hBtIzkAqwF4Yqf1PaXYlm4z1lQl7auXF0E8A%3D&reserved=0
If you have any questions please contact Dr Ailbhe Kavanagh (
ailbhe.kavanagh@marine.ie)
Kind Regards / Le gach dea-mh?in
Dr Ailbhe Kavanagh
New England doesn’t show much in the spring on land. For me the arrival of spring is when Critically Endangered North Atlantic right whales appear off of Cape Cod, after hanging out south before migrating northward where most spend their summer. And, alas, we have the news in the attached You Tube link on yet another entanglement in fishing gear. If you eat lobster or crab learn where it’s from! Let your stores and restaurants know why you want to know. Gradually we can make a difference before the 350 individuals that remain succumb and go extinct from excessive boat strikes and these entanglements. In the meantime I also am working with colleagues on building markets for the most sustainably caught lobster and crab off New England. Although we got the feds to agree on a implementing regulations that would keep our fishermen on the water while making it safer for whales, a small but strong group of lobster fishermen complained to Congress, and got them to delay their implementation for a species with little time left. Please educate your family and friends too but avoid sounding preachy. Together we can do this.
In recent years, whale entanglements have grown in number in the southern portion of the Dungeness crab fishery, and earlier in the season. The Government of California plans to implement closures as a way to mitigate the problem.
See: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Inseason
Sharks among the most endangered groups of animals from bycatch. A new study examined the impacts of retention bans on shark populations. It concluded that in some cases they can be beneficial, but avoiding bycatch in the first place is of paramount importance such as making modifications to fishing gear and practices.
Article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/faf.12892
A journalist summarizes the status of legislation in Europe and North America intended to reduce bycatch.
See: https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/07/us/harriet-tubman-underground-railroad-national-parks-service/index.html
Mexican authorities physically removed gillnets used in the illegal fishery for critically endangered totoaba. These nets are also responsible for causing the bycatch of the critically endangered vaquita porpoise, of which only an estimated 10 individuals remain.
See https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/environment-sustainability/mexico-law-enforcement-remove-illegal-gillnets-rescue-surviving-totoaba?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_content=newsletter&mkt_tok=NzU2LUZXSi0wNjEAAAGZlqd24s_tjC32w0yoGEFGQ9c8osaDC-uQWeeHoc7R2rQ4_TkKb5NArexd5YspznuTJc4hRwxFUswfOdOWkDeHxeN9nm3wzQ7TISGztLXL2qYb_lYqMw
China, the country with the world's greatest number of consumers idwntifies promise of seafood certification. Information from their report : https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/chinese-consumer-preferences-report-shows-opportunity-for-certification-schemes-to-make-inroads?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_content=newsletter&mkt_tok=NzU2LUZXSi0wNjEAAAGZdiEEGYQBHrJ03v0GqqWDCYsKwsM8VcoFPWeKKr7zYDO6qhGa-Xxxm0SLdRr2Q_vBgYvOzx4h0MmgRFOSQOvtlDRI2n64HKFd8PuJBaB1iKslV_GItQ
The European Cetacean Society has released the proceedings of a workshop entitled: "Use of pathology to better inform the welfare impact assessment of bycatch and entanglements". Click on this link to read and download the report: https://www.europeancetaceansociety.eu/63