Field Experiments Show That Acoustic Pingers Reduce Marine Mammal Bycatch in the California Drift Gill Net Fishery

Pingers reduce bycatch of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the California drift gillnet fishery for swordfish and sharks. Catch of target fish species (broadbill swordfish, common thresher shark, and shortfin mako shark) and non-target species were not affected by pinger use.