Fishing gear entanglement threatens recovery of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales

Authors
Knowlton, A.R., Clark, J.S., Hamilton, P.K., Kruas, S.D., Pettis, H.M., Rolland, R.M., Schick, R.S.
Year
Journal/Publisher Name
Conservation Science and Practice
Volume (Issue #)
4 (8)
Page #s
14
Contact information
Amy R. Knowlton
Center for Ocean Life, New England
Aquarium
Email: aknowlton@neaq.org


Robert S. Schick
Email: rss10@duke.edu
Summary

This summary study used hierarchical Bayesian modeling to quantify the relationship between entanglement injury/severity with North Atlantic right whale survival, reproduction and population health. Results show that entanglement negatively affects both reproductive and non-reproductive groups, compromises individual health even when gear is not present, reduces survival (especially in females), and reduces fecundity in females that do survive.