Preliminary estimates of the abundance and fidelity of dolphins associating with a demersal trawl fishery

S.J. Allen; K.H. Pollock; P.J. Bouchet; H.T. Kobryn; D.B. McElligott; K.E. Nicholson; J.N. Smith; N.R. Loneragan

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-05189-0

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Preliminary estimates of the abundance and fidelity of dolphins associating with a demersal trawl fishery

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Preliminary estimates of the abundance and fidelity of dolphins associating with a demersal trawl fishery

S.J. Allen, K.H. Pollock, P.J. Bouchet, H.T. Kobryn, D.B. McElligott, K.E. Nicholson, J.N. Smith and N.R. Loneragan

Scientific Reports, Vol.7(1), Article number: 4995

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-05189-0

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Abstract

The incidental capture of wildlife in fishing gear presents a global conservation challenge. As a baseline to inform assessments of the impact of bycatch on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) interacting with an Australian trawl fishery, we conducted an aerial survey to estimate dolphin abundance across the fishery. Concurrently, we carried out boat-based dolphin photo-identification to assess short-term fidelity to foraging around trawlers, and used photographic and genetic data to infer longer-term fidelity to the fishery. We estimated abundance at ≈ 2,300 dolphins (95% CI = 1,247-4,214) over the ≈ 25,880-km2 fishery. Mark-recapture estimates yielded 226 (SE = 38.5) dolphins associating with one trawler and some individuals photographed up to seven times over 12 capture periods. Moreover, photographic and genetic re-sampling over three years confirmed that some individuals show long-term fidelity to trawler-associated foraging. Our study presents the first abundance estimate for any Australian pelagic dolphin community and documents individuals associating with trawlers over days, months and years. Without trend data or correction factors for dolphin availability, the impact of bycatch on this dolphin population's conservation status remains unknown. These results should be taken into account by management agencies assessing the impact of fisheries-related mortality on this protected species.

Details

Title: Preliminary estimates of the abundance and fidelity of dolphins associating with a demersal trawl fishery
Authors/Creators: S.J. Allen (Author/Creator) - University of Zurich
K.H. Pollock (Author/Creator) - North Carolina State University
P.J. Bouchet (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
H.T. Kobryn (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
D.B. McElligott (Author/Creator) - Daithi O’Murchu Marine Research Station
K.E. Nicholson (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
J.N. Smith (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
N.R. Loneragan (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
Publication Details: Scientific Reports, Vol.7(1), Article number: 4995
Publisher: Nature
Identifiers: 991005544111707891
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.35 Zoology & Animal Ecology; 3.35.796 Marine Mammal Ecology
Web Of Science research areas: Ecology
ESI research areas: Environment/Ecology