Shark Depredation and Unwanted Bycatch in Pelagic Longline

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Shark Depredation and Unwanted Bycatch in Pelagic Longline Fisheries Fig. A6.3. Peru export quantity of shark products, 1976-2004 (FAO, 2006) Fig. A6.4. Peru export value of shark products, 1976-2004 (FAO, 2006). 106
Peru Artisanal Mahimahi And Shark Longline Fishery The catch of rays with pelagic longlines is small. Species from the genus Milyobatis spp. (eagle ray) and other species such as skates from the genus Psammobatis spp. are captured but have no significant commercial value and are usually discarded. A6.6. Shark Market and Implications for the Management Framework The shortage of traditional bony fish (Vannuccini, 1999), the reintroduction of the longline as a fishing method (Reyes, 1989, Castejon pers comm.), and the market for shark fins as ‘added value’ to the commerce of the sharks, have combined to promote the development of a targeted shark fishery by Peru’s artisanal longline fishermen. During the 1990’s, at least 70% of shark production went to the domestic market as fresh chilled product (Vanuccini, 1999). Exports of shark fins have increased from $2.5 million in 1995, to approximately $7.5 million in 2000 (PROMPEX Peru, 2006). The main markets for Peruvian shark fins are Hong Kong and Japan (Table A6.8) 1 . Still, the domestic market for fresh meat drives the industry more than the fin price. The higher trading price for fresh-chilled meat compared with other products demonstrates that the domestic market absorbs most of the shark landings. Inland towns also offer a market for dried, salted shark meat (Vannuccini, 1999). The export market for frozen shark meat has grown. From 2000 to 2005 exports of shark meat tripled (Table A6.9). During this same period, however, revenue from these exports only increased by 150%. In the 1990’s shark meat was exported mainly to Spain (Vanuccini, 1999). More recently, the main export markets include Uruguay, Spain, Brazil and Colombia (see table 9; PROMPEX Peru, 2006). No information is available on the shark species exported. The local market price for shark fins in Peru is around $10/kilo fresh. The price for meat is about $0.9 to $1.85 per kilogram (Ilo fish market, May 2006). While shark fins have a higher value per kilogram than shark meat in the international market (Catarci, 2004), on an individual animal basis more money is earned by a fishing trip from the meat than the fins. A6.7. Economic, Social and Ecological Effects, Including Effects on Fishing Practices, from Regulations Governing Shark Interactions From the forty-two fishermen interviewed, 16 were based in Paita, 10 in Salaverry and 16 in Ilo. Almost all (93%) interviewed fishermen report that they always retain sharks during the mahi mahi season. Regularly, blue and mako sharks are caught and the whole body and fins are retained. The whole crew and boat owner receive the revenue from the sale of fins and meat. In some cases, this money is used to cover expenses such as gas and food. Meat of blue sharks is sold for approximately $0.5-1.3/kilo and makos for $0.9-2.8/kilo. Revenue from fins ranges up to $16 per kilo. Mako fins are more valuable than those from blue sharks. Only three (7%) respondents replied that income from sharks has changed over the years. Two replied that in the past revenue from fins was retained by the owner only. One respondent indicated that revenue from sharks in the past was not as much as currently. Revenue from the sale of jaws is retained by the members of the crew that clean them. One fisherman reported earning $2-30 for selling jaws for decoration or for artisanal crafts. Other shark parts such as the “verija” (pelvic fins) are given to the fishmongers as payment for services. These products are later commercialized. Regulations on minimum size of capture for sharks are not taken into consideration by most fishermen mainly because there is no enforcement by the government and because fishermen are not aware of them. Those fishermen (4.8%) who reported that they were aware of the regulations stated that they still retain sharks under minimum size of capture. For most of the fishermen interviewed, revenue from catching sharks exceeds the costs associated with shark depredation and loss and damage to gear (average damage cost estimate per mahi mahi set was $11). Most fishermen reported changing their fishing methods and gear during the mahi mahi season. These changes included using nylon monofilament leaders, using giant squid for bait, setting hooks shallower than during shark season and fishing in areas closer to shore. These gear changes reduce shark captures, but the purpose of the gear changes is to optimize mahi catch, and not to reduce shark catch. Fishing for mahi mahi during summer is more profitable because fishing areas are closer to shore and the amounts of mahi mahi are considerable higher than during the shark season. As a result, fishing trips are shorter and expenses (food and gas) are reduced. A6.8. Practices to Deal with Caught Sharks and Costs from Shark Depredation and Gear Damage Most longline vessels use an 80-100 cm nylon monofilament at the end of the branch line, located between the baited hook and a weighted or non-weighted swivel. Some fishermen use a mix of wire leaders and nylon monofilament depending on the time of year. Wire leaders are often used during shark season or toward the end of mahi mahi season when there is a higher chance of catching sharks. As a result, respondents reported that about three quarters (82%) of sharks that bite baited hooks in mahi mahi gear bite through the monofilament line and are not retained on the line to be hauled to the vessel. Some respondents were not sure whether gear loss was due to sharks or manta rays. Ninety-two percent of respondents stated that during the mahi mahi season, vessels catch an average of 2.1 sharks on a typical set. 1 All prices are given in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. 107
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Shark Depredation and Unwanted Byca
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Contents Summary and Conclusions 1
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Contents Appendix 3. Fiji Pelagic L
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Contents Appendix 8. USA Hawaii Lon
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Chapter 1 Introduction and Methods
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Introduction and Methods 1.2. Metho
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Fishing Gear and Operational Charac
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Fishing Gear and Operational Charac
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Shark Catch Rates and Disposition T
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Chapter 4 National and Internationa
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National and International Measures
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Economic, Practical, Ecological and
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Economic, Practical, Ecological and
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Chapter 6 Industry Attitudes and Pr
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Industry Attitudes and Practices Lo
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Industry Attitudes and Practices Fi
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Chapter 7 Potential of Deterrents,
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Potential of Deterrents, Hotspot Av
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References Campana, S.E., L. Marks,
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References Neves dos Santos, M., Ga
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Page 99 and 100: Appendix 5 Japan Pelagic Longline F
Page 101 and 102: Japan Pelagic Longline Fisheries Fi
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Page 105 and 106: Japan Pelagic Longline Fisheries Ta
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Page 109 and 110: Japan Pelagic Longline Fisheries ta
Page 111 and 112: Japan Pelagic Longline Fisheries In
Page 113 and 114: Japan Pelagic Longline Fisheries A5
Page 115 and 116: Appendix 6 Peru Artisanal Mahimahi
Page 117 and 118: Peru Artisanal Mahimahi And Shark L
Page 119: Peru Artisanal Mahimahi And Shark L
Page 127 and 128: Appendix 7 South Africa Pelagic Lon
Page 129 and 130: South Africa Pelagic Longline Tuna
Page 135 and 136: Appendix 8 USA Hawaii-based Pelagic
Page 137 and 138: USA Hawaii-based Pelagic Longline S
Page 147 and 148: Appendix 9 USA Atlantic, Gulf of Me
Page 149 and 150: USA Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Ca
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Shark Depredation and Unwanted Bycatch in Pelagic Longline

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