Assessment of the bycatch level for the Black Sea harbour porpoise in the light of new data on population abundance

Authors
Popov, D., Meshkova, G., Vishnyakova, K., Ivanchikova, J., Paiu, M., Timofte, C., Amaha Öztürk, A., Tonay, A.M., Dede, A., Panayotova, M. and Düzgüneş, E.
Year
Journal/Publisher Name
10
Page #s
14
Contact information
Dimitar Popov, Green Balkans NGO, Bulgaria- dpopov@greenbalkans.org
Summary

This study investigated harbor porpoise bycatch in bottom gillnets and trammel nets targeting turbot (Scophthalmus spp.) in the Black Sea between 2019-2021 via independent observers, questionnaires and stranding data. Cetaceans were caught on 55% of trips, and most were harbour porpoises. The study confirmed that bycatch is the most serious and immediate threat to the Black Sea harbour porpoises, with as many as 16,200 individuals caught annually. 

Link
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Pavel-Goldin/publication/369357036_Assessm…

Field Studies

Assessment of the bycatch level for the Black Sea harbour porpoise in the light of new data on population abundance

Study Type
Field study in the wild
Location
Black Sea
Target catch
turbot (Scophthalmus spp)
Effect on bycatch species
Bycatch rates showed seasonal variation with marked increase in summer, compared to spring. Total annual bycatch of harbour seals in Black Sea estimated to be between 11,826 and 16 200 individuals.
Effect on target catch
not measured
Bycatch species
Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise)
Fishing Gear
Gillnets