Reducing Impacts to Dolphins from Hook-and-Line Gear and Provisioning through Fishery Surveys, Social Science, and Collaboration
Implementing Organization
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$1,700,000
Known Leveraged Funding
$0
Funding Organization
Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees (NRDA)
Funding Program
Natural Resource Damage Assessment NRDA
Details
Project Category
Environmental
Project Actions
Species Restoration
Targeted Resources
Marine Mammals
Project Description
This project will reduce interactions between dolphins and hook-and-line fishing gear and fishing practices, and reduce illegal feeding activities, both of which can harm or kill dolphins. Dolphins interact with recreational hook-and-line anglers by taking bait and fish off hooks, consuming discarded fish or bait, and being fed by anglers, all of which can lead to entanglement in and ingestion of fishing gear, vessel strikes, and intentional harm from frustrated fishermen. The project will accomplish the goal of reducing negative interactions through two phases. Phase 1 funding is approved in the Region-wide Trustee Implementation Group (RW TIG) Restoration Plan/ Environmental Assessment 1. Phase 1 will conduct three primary activities. First, the project will review baseline conditions, which will entail analysis of the existing marine mammal stranding database, along with a literature review and targeted meetings with subject matter experts. This analysis will characterize the frequency of and the factors affecting hook-and-line interactions between bottlenose dolphins and recreational fishing practices. Second, the project will use systematic surveys to characterize the region’s recreational fisheries, including hook-and-line anglers fishing from piers and vessels (private and for-hire) to determine the frequency and geographic extent of dolphin interactions. Additionally, human dimensions studies will be conducted across the five Gulf of Mexico states to determine angler (private and for-hire) attitudes towards dolphins, their likelihood to take various actions, and that could be taken to reduce hook-and-line related dolphin ...click on "More Info" link below
Contact
Elizabeth Fetherston(727) 551-5796
Elizabeth.fetherston@noaa.gov
Project Website
None
For official trustee information regarding the Deepwater Horizon NRDA, including information regarding the NRDA process and the status of projects, see https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/