Analysis of bycatch of whale shark by tuna purse seines in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean
LI Junyi, XIA Meng, DAI Xiaojie
1.College of Marine Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; 2.National Engineering Research Center for Oceanic Fisheries, Shanghai 201306, China; 3.Key Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201306, China
Abstract: In order to analyze the bycatch of whale sharks Rhincodontypus (Smith, 1828)in tuna purse seines, spatial distribution, interannual and seasonal variation and the effects of operation mode, time of setting net on bycatch of whale shark were analyzed based on the logbooks and observer data of the Chinese purse seine fleet operating in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean from 2016 to 2019. The results showed that 65 individuals of whale sharks were bycatched during the four years, and except three whale sharks died after bycatch, the rest whale sharks were released in a reasonable way. The bycatch of whale shark mainly was distributed in the exclusive economic zones of Papua New Guinea, Kiribati, and the Marshall Islands, without significant difference between free swimming school and fish aggregate devices on bycatch rates of whale shark (P>0.05). The two operation methods had no obvious influence on whale sharks bycatch, and whale sharks were easily bycatched only in spring instead of other seasons. The findings provide scientific analysis and reference suggestions for both sustainable development of tuna purse seines fisheries and whale shark conservation.
李俊谊, 夏萌, 戴小杰. 中西部太平洋金枪鱼围网误捕鲸鲨分析[J]. 大连海洋大学学报, 2021, 36(6): 1044-1049.
LI Junyi, XIA Meng, DAI Xiaojie. Analysis of bycatch of whale shark by tuna purse seines in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. Journal of Dalian Ocean University, 2021, 36(6): 1044-1049.