The impact of bottom trawling fisheries on marine mammals - A review

Munneke, Merlijn (2024) The impact of bottom trawling fisheries on marine mammals - A review. Bachelor's Thesis, Biology.

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Abstract

Bottom trawling is an important way of industrial scale fishing, being responsible for a large part of total fishery landings. However, it is also a very damaging way of fishing. One group of animals on which the effects of bottom trawling has not been studied very extensively, is marine mammals. To research these effects, the following research question is answered: “In what ways are marine mammals affected by bottom trawling fisheries?” Marine mammal bycatch in bottom trawling nets is a threat to populations, and solutions to lessen marine mammal bycatch often do not help and can even be harmful, so should be considered carefully. Noise pollution from bottom trawling can damage marine mammal auditory systems and change their behaviour and vocalisation. Target species overlap between bottom trawling fisheries and marine mammals is highest with marine mammals preying on benthic species, and bycatch influences prey abundance for other marine mammals. Behavioural effects happen due to exposure to noise, causing cetaceans to change vocalisations. Marine mammals also change their feeding behaviour and even social structures and behaviours when in proximity to trawlers. It is clear that marine mammals are impacted in different ways by bottom trawling fisheries. Seemingly foremost of these impacts is the behavioural impact, but also one of the less researched impacts. Future research should focus more on the behavioural impact of bottom trawling fisheries on marine mammals.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Meij, S.E.T. van der
Degree programme:	Biology
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	13 Jun 2024 12:32
Last Modified:	13 Jun 2024 12:32
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/32549

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