Proceedings of the Untangled symposium: - WSPA

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Annex 4Submitted abstracts accompanyingposter presentationsLarge whale entanglement in marine debris:what do we know and what can be done?David MattilaTechnical adviser ‐ International Whaling Commission343 Bradford St., Provincetown, MA, USA 02657David.Mattila@IWC.intEntanglement in man-made ropes and net is consideredto be one of the single greatest human threats to manylarge whale populations. It has been estimated thatapproximately 308,000 whales, dolphins and porpoisesglobally die from entanglement in fishing gear each year(Read et al., 2006). How many more become entangledin derelict gear and marine debris is not known. However,it has been estimated that in some areas “ghost fishing”by derelict fishing gear may represent 30% of thetotal “catch” of the target species (Laist, D. W., 1996).Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that bycatch ofcetaceans by derelict gear may also approach 30% ofthat estimated for actively fished gear in some areas(Mattila and Lyman, 2006). In addition, derelict gear maydrift to other regions, joining other types of manmaderopes and net, creating an entanglement problem ina region with no known “high risk” active fishing (e.g.Central North Pacific). One of the ways to understandthe relative risk of large whale entanglement in derelictfishing gear and marine debris is to remove and fullydocument the gear on the whale, and then trace it backto its origin, if possible. A formal whale disentanglementnetwork was established in Hawaii in 2002, and itcurrently uses internationally recognized tools andtechniques to safely remove manmade materials fromlarge whales. The principles and guidelines used weredeveloped through consensus by representatives from allcurrent national whale disentanglement programs, andsubsequently endorsed by the 89 member countries ofthe International Whaling Commission. Gear removedfrom entangled whales in Hawaii using these techniques,has come from several sources, including gear fishedin Alaska (2,500 nm away) and marine debris. The IWCinitiative to expand this research and mitigation effortusing the strategy and curriculum developed by its expertadvisory panel is discussed.Entangled and fish-hooked seals, stranded in theNetherlands during the period 1985-2010D.W. van Liere, R. Hekman & N. OsingaSeal Rehabilitation and Research CentreHoofdstraat 94a, 9968 AG, Pieterburen, The Netherlandsdiederik@zeehondencreche.nlThe Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre Lenie ’tHart rehabilitates orphaned, sick or injured seals. Theseare mostly common seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals(Halichoerus grypus) stranded along the coast of theNetherlands. All cases, including dead stranded seals,are recorded in a database. The centre currently treats/rescues between 400 and 700 common seals and 50 to150 grey seals stranded per year.For the period 1985-2010, there were 54 entangledseals, of which 89% stranded in the last ten years (2001- 2010). Entanglements were recorded significantlymore often for grey seals (n=39) than for common seals(n=15). All entanglements were around the neck andhead. In some animals, other parts of the body, mostlythe front flippers, were also entangled. Traumatic injuriesof the skin or blubber layer, up to muscles (lacerationsand penetrating wounds), were common as a result ofnet entanglement. In most cases, secondary infectionsdeveloped as a result of wound contamination. Admittedseals manifested pain and stressed behavior. Usuallyentangled seals were in poor body condition whencaught. After removal of the net, the lesions werecleaned, and disinfected. The seals were given accessto a pool with salt water, and the lesion usually healedwithin several weeks. After healing of the wound, anindentation around the neck was still visible in mostcases. Seals were released once they had gainedsufficient weight.For 31 seals, the type of net could be identified: 18 weretrawl nets and 13 were gillnets. Trawl net mesh sizevaried between 10 and 20 cm. Weights varied between500 and 1500 gram, with the exception of one trawl netthat weighed 11 kilogram. Mesh size of the gillnets variedbetween 9 and 26 cm and weights were between 1-500gram. One of the gillnets had three filaments twistedtogether, all others were monofilament.54
Annex 4Submitted abstracts accompanyingposter presentationsOver the same period we also found 8 common and5 grey seals stranded with ingested fish hooks. Ofthese, 8 were dead already, 2 died soon after arrival atthe centre and 3 were successfully rehabilitated. Postmortem examination showed that death was caused byperforations of the oesophagus, stomach or intestines.One rehabilitated seal had hooks in the mouth that couldbe removed. Two rehabilitated seals had a hook in thestomach did not have perforations yet, and survived byfeeding the seal cotton wool. Cotton wool encapsulatedthe hook, preventing it from perforating the intestines.The cotton wool was defecated together with the hook.This procedure was also successful when applied to therescue of seals elsewhere.Cetacean entanglements and strandings in theBolivarian Republic of Venezuela, 2000-2012Jaime Bolaños-Jiménez 1 , Clemente Balladares 2 ,Luis Bermúdez-Villapol 3 , Leonardo Sánchez-Criollo 41Sociedad Ecológica Venezolana Vida Marina (Sea Vida)A.P. 162, Cagua, Estado Aragua, Venezuela, 2122bolanos.jimenez@gmail.com2Oficina Nacional de Diversidad Biológica, Ministerio delPoder Popular para el Ambiente, Caracas3Dirección Estadal Ambiental Nueva Esparta, Ministeriodel Poder Popular para el Ambiente (MINAMB), LaAsuncion, Isla de Margarita4Centro de Investigación de Cetáceos (CIC), CapítuloZulia, MaracaiboCetacean strandings are an important source ofinformation on mortality, threats, distribution and naturalhistory of these species. 368 cetacean strandings wererecorded in Venezuela between years 2000-2012. Datawere obtained from our field books, technical reports,local newspapers and social networks and integratedinto a single database for descriptive analysis. Here wepresent a review of mortality causes, with emphasisin entanglement in fishing gear. Causes of stranding/death include biological interactions (13,9%), ship strikes(3,3%), direct captures (3,3%), disease (2,2%), predation(1,9%), unknown (56,8%), other (1,9%). Evidencesof entanglement were obtained in 62 cases (16,8%).Species involved in entanglements were the Bryde’swhale (Balaenoptera edeni, 1,6%), common dolphin(Delphinus sp., 64,5%), Guiana dolphin (Sotaliaguianensis, 11,3%), common bottlenose dolphin(Tursiops truncatus, 3,2%), striped dolphin (Stenellacoeruleoalba, 1,6%), Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenellafrontalis, 1,6%) and unidentified dolphins (16,1%). Morethan 90% of the cases occurred in the States of NuevaEsparta (61,3%), Sucre (19,4%) and Zulia (12,9%).These areas represent the most important fisherygrounds in Venezuela and count on organized strandingresponse teams. As many strandings get unnoticed,these numbers might be an underestimation of currentcetacean deaths. As a first step, implementation ofscientific observer programs aboard artisanal fleetsare required in order to quantify the magnitude ofentanglements and propose mitigative measures.In the short-medium term, mitigation measures shouldbe discussed jointly by authorities, stakeholders andinterested parties.Behavioral impacts of disentanglement of aright whale under sedation and the energeticcost of entanglementJulie van der Hoop, Michael Moore, Andreas Fahlman,Alessandro Bocconcelli, Clay George, Katharine Jackson,Carolyn Miller, David Morin, Tom Pitchford, Teri Rowles,Jamison Smith, Barb ZoodsmaBiology Department, Woods HoleOceanographic Institution266 Woods Hole Rd, MS 50, Woods Hole,MA 02543, USAjvanderhoop@whoi.eduEntanglement in fishing gear is the leading causeof detected mortalities of large whales along theeastern coasts of Canada and the USA. Upon initialentanglement, a number of outcomes are possible:individuals may die anchored in gear, or may break free,either cleanly or carrying all or a portion of the entanglinggear. Large whales swimming entangled in fishing gearare often subject to emaciation through reduced mobilityand foraging ability, and energy budget depletion fromthe added drag of towing accessory gear for monthsor years. Disentanglement techniques have beenadapted to remove entangling gear from free-swimmingindividuals by adding buoys or floats to trailing gearto increase a whale’s drag through the water and slow55
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Proceedings of theUntangled symposi
Page 3: Contents1. Preface 52. Executive su
Page 6 and 7: 2Executive summaryThe issueMarine d
Page 8 and 9: 3Overview of the Untangled sessions
Page 10 and 11: 4Summary of problem and solutionwor
Page 12 and 13: 4Summary of problem and solutionwor
Page 15: Annex 1Untangled DeclarationWe are
Page 19 and 20: Annex 2Priority problems and soluti
Page 21 and 22: Annex 2Priority problems and soluti
Page 24 and 25: Table 1Communication exercise - key
Page 28 and 29: Annex 3Knowledge gapsProblem: A lac
Page 30: Annex 4Submitted abstracts accompan
Page 33 and 34: Annex 4Submitted abstracts accompan
Page 53: Annex 4Submitted abstracts accompan
Page 62: Annex 5Delegate contact detailsName
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