Shark Depredation and Unwanted Bycatch in Pelagic Longline

Shark Depredation and Unwanted Bycatch in Pelagic Longline Fisheries
a high shark catch rate. Over half of respondents (57%) replied that
a combination of different factors result in a high shark catch rate.
The majority of these respondents (63%) did not specify these factors.
While 17% replied that altering fishing position and setting their gear
deeper will increase shark CPUE, 13% of respondents mentioned
that time of month was also an important factor along with altering
fishing position. One respondent considered the important factors
affecting shark CPUE to be time of the month together with setting
gear deeper. Another respondent mentioned a combination of three
factors (altering fishing position, setting gear deeper, and time of the
month) as the most important parameters affecting shark CPUE.
Respondents based their answer on their fishing practices during the
shark season.
A6.14. Incentives and Attitudes on Reducing Shark
Bycatch and Depredation
Almost three quarters (71%) of respondents indicated that they are not
interested in reducing shark bycatch. Over half (62%) of respondents
noted that they are interested in reducing shark depredation. The
most common reason mentioned for not wanting to reduce shark
interactions was because of the high value for sharks. Only a few
respondents replied they would not mind avoiding shark interactions.
This was due to the lower prices paid for sharks during mahi mahi
season. Loss of gear and time spent repairing gear were mentioned as
the main reasons why respondents would be interested in reducing
shark depredation. Among the reasons why some respondents (12%)
were not interested in reducing shark depredation were: (i) loss of
gear expenses are already taken in account for every trip and are paid
by owner, and (ii) catching sharks is profitable.
Over a third (40%) of respondents believes that, in the absence of
restrictions on finning, shark bycatch during mahi mahi season
would lead to declines in shark populations. Another third (36%) of
respondents believe it would not lead to a decline, while the remaining
respondents did not know. Reasons provided by those who believe
bycatch during mahi mahi season would mean the decline of shark
population were: (i) summer acts as a temporal reduction in shark
capture, which aids population growth, and (ii) because people do
not respect minimum capture sizes. Given that shark captures are
not as high as they used to be, fishermen now tend to retain every
shark that gets hooked. Those respondents who believe shark bycatch
during the summer would not lead to a decline in shark populations
stated that there are not many shark interactions during mahi mahi
season to impact populations and that the main reason for shark
population declines is interactions with industrial fisheries and the
finning they perform.
About 62% of respondents stated that their general feelings about
sharks are that they are economically important. For them, sharks
primarily mean revenue and livelihood. One respondent mentioned
that shark work is very hard during shark season and they should
be better compensated. Only five (12%) respondents stated that
sharks should be under a sustainable management program. These
respondents believe that shark populations have declined within the
past years, and penalties, bans, and more controls over minimum
size limits should be enforced for conservation purposes.
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