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Interaction between bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and trammel nets in the Archipelago de La Maddalena, Italy

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Abstract

Interactions between bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and fisheries are an increasing problem in the Mediterranean and effective management measures are needed. In order to assess the impact of dolphin interactions on artisanal trammel nets, we examine 354 fishing operations performed in waters of the Archipelago de La Maddalena (Italy). We evaluate whether interactions were related to the species composition of the catch and, using the local commercial value of the target species, we assess whether there was a real economic loss for fishermen. Bayesian models and partial correspondence analysis were used to determine the extent to which dolphin interactions and habitat differences contributed to variation in the species composition of catches. CPUE for fishing operations with no dolphin interactions was significantly higher than that for operations with dolphin interactions, although clearly this does not confirm a direct causal link, and associated economic loss was estimated to be non-significant. Geographic location, season, depth of seabed, moon phase, and mesh size were all important factors affecting the amount and species composition of the catch. Our results suggest that it is likely that these differences in species composition are due to a mixture of habitat and dolphin-induced effects.

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Acknowledgments

This study was part of the “Tursiops Project” of the Dolphin Research Centre of Caprera, La Maddalena. Financial and logistic support was provided by the Centro Turistico Studentesco and by the National Park of the Archipelago di La Maddalena. Our thanks go also to the numerous volunteers of the Caprera Dolphin Reasearch Center and especially to Marco Ferraro and Mirko Ugo, whose assistance during field observation and skills as a boat driver were invaluable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR EME 212 (IRD/Ifremer/Université Montpellier 2) Centre de Recherche Halieutique Méditerranéenne et Tropicale, Avenue Jean Monnet, B.P. 171, 34203, Sète Cedex, France

    M. Grazia Pennino

  2. Dipartimento di Biologia Animale Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Sassari, Sassari, Italy

    A. Rotta

  3. Oceanlab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Main Street, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, AB41 6AA, UK

    Graham J. Pierce & José M. Bellido

  4. CESAM & Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    Graham J. Pierce

  5. Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Murcia, Murcia, Spain

    José M. Bellido

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  1. M. Grazia Pennino
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  2. A. Rotta
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  3. Graham J. Pierce
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Correspondence to M. Grazia Pennino.

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Pennino, M.G., Rotta, A., Pierce, G.J. et al. Interaction between bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and trammel nets in the Archipelago de La Maddalena, Italy. Hydrobiologia 747, 69–82 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-2127-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-2127-7

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