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Bycatches and non-tuna catches in the tropical tuna purse seine fisheries of the world

Year of publication 2013

Pages 249

Author Fisheries and Aquaculture Management Division

Product type Book (series)

ISBN 9789251072417

Series title FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Papers

Series number 2070-7010 - T568

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) This report provides a review of our knowledge of the bycatches, defined as discarded dead, from the tropical tuna purse seine fisheries of the world. The major fishing grounds involved (eastern and western Pacific, eastern Atlantic, and western Indian Oceans) share the gear, the ways of fishing, and the structure of the pelagic communities. Because of that, the species taken in association with tuna schools tend to be the same in all regions. After describing the gear and fishing operations, it discusses the reasons why bycatches happen, and explores the options to mitigate them. The types of sets used to capture tunas and the detection methods used to locate the schools are a major factor to determine which are the catches and the bycatches. The main bycatches are tunas, sharks and rays, pelagic bony fishes, billfishes, and sea turtles. The total discard amount to one to five percent of the total tonnage captured, and tunas of the species targeted amount to over 90–95°percent of thos e bycatches. The silky shark is the most common shark species by far, followed by the oceanic whitetip sharks. Marlins and sailfishes are also taken but in reduced numbers. Olive ridley sea turtles are the most common turtle captured, but the majority of them are released alive and unharmed. Rainbow runners, mahi-mahis, wahoos and amberjack yellowtail are the major pelagic bony fishes taken with the tunas. They are being retained in increasing numbers for utilization. Besides discussing problem s of estimation, the report presents most of the ideas proposed or in different stages of testing, to mitigate those bycatches, including ways to avoid the captures, or to release the individuals from the net or from the deck. Finally, the known or potential ecological impacts of the rapidly increasing fishery on fish aggregating devices (FADs) are reviewed, emphasizing some of the uncertainties that still prevail.

Cite this content as:

Hall, M.; Roman, M. 2013. Bycatch and non-tuna catch in the tropical tuna purse seine fisheries of the world. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper No. 568. Rome, FAO. 249 pp.

Language English

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