Proceedings of the Untangled symposium: - WSPA

Annex 4Submitted abstracts accompanyingposter presentationsresponse to these entanglements cases as they pose acomplex logistical and safety planning process in orderto successfully carry out the disentanglement of theseanimals followed up with a prevention mechanism formarine debris.Whale Shark Conservation Project along the GujaratCoast of IndiaManoj Matwal, Prof. B.C. Choudhary, Dr. Rahul KaulWildlife Trust of IndiaB-13 Sector 8 , Noida 201301, Uttar Pradesh, Indiamanojmatwal@gmail.comThe Whale Shark Conservation Project in India is aninitiative of the Wildlife Trust of India in collaboration withthe Gujarat Forest and Wildlife Department supported bythe corporate Tata Chemicals. In the largest congregatingcoast of Gujarat the whale sharks were a victim ofnon-targeted incidental catch in the marine fisheriesand a targeted export oriented hunting. Placement ofthe species under Wildlife Protection Act of India, anda fisherman targeted Awareness Campaign broughtthe hunting level to zero. Implementing a net damagecompensation scheme based on a rescue programfrom December 2006, a total of 306 whale sharks hasbeen rescued till March 2012.The research experienceand lessons during these rescue operations includesunderstanding the physiological requirements such asram ventilation osmoregulation and stress factors ofthe species. Based on this a new self-documented andrescue protocol has been developed to minimize thedelay in rescues, giving better chances of survival toWhale sharks.Lack of scientific information, and some resilience fromthe authorities came as a hurdle but continuous effortsby a dedicated team managed to turn the situation infavor of whale shark. Such kind of marine related rescueprograms should be conducted under proper scientificknowledge, timely reviewed by the experts.Welfare aspects of marine mammal entanglementin fishing gearMichael MooreBiology Department, Woods Hole OceanographicInstitutionWoods Hole, MA 02543, USAmmoore@whoi.eduOn the eastern seaboard of the United States andCanada, large whales, dolphins, porpoises and seals allget entangled in fishing gear. An annual average of 2773whales, dolphins and seals died in fishing gear in the NWAtlantic waters of the United States for the period 2005to 2009. Our goal has been to document the extent andnature of the problem from a welfare perspective. Theprimary marine mammal entanglement scenario involvesactively fished gear. Where such gear is torn away bythe power of the animal, or the entangled animal is cutout from the gear by the fisher it could be defined at thatpoint as debris. Such material includes: rope, traps andfloats from fixed trap fisheries, especially lobster gear,gillnet and its associated ropes and floats, monofilamentand braided hook and line fishing gear, and mobile trawlgear. Such materials can also all entangle after beingdiscarded as primary debris. Harm inflicted can include:asphyxiation through subsurface entrapment; or if theanimal can surface, it can remain anchored in place;or if it is cut free, or can break away, the result may bechronic entanglement, with resultant laceration, incision,constriction, feeding impairment, increased drag, loss ofbody condition, bony proliferation, infection and ultimatedeath. Time from first entanglement to death can rangefrom minutes to years. Symptoms likely include acutedistress in cases that cannot surface and thereforedrown at some time after the normal dive duration,which ranges from minutes to more than an hour inthe case of some whales. Chronic cases presumablysuffer from severe and chronic pain, similar to thatseen in compartment syndrome in terrestrial mammals.Diagnosis of acute drowning entanglement oftendepends on subtle surface markings formthe gear, airway froth and systemic congestion,suggestive of a terminal struggle. Chronic entanglementcases often show resultant wounds and emaciation.Management attempts to prevent these entanglementsinclude seasonal closures, gear modification, such asweak links and sinking groundlines, and acoustic deviceson gillnets. Efforts to ameliorate the effects post facto58