Garrison: Interactions between marine mammals and pelagic longline fishing gear 



417 



Marine mammal bycatch in longline gear is driven to 

 a large extent by the overlap of marine mammal and 

 pelagic fish habitat with the area of longline fishery 

 operations. In addition, this analysis demonstrates that 

 longer mainlines had a significantly higher bycatch rate 

 than shorter mainlines. Reducing mainline lengths be- 

 low 20 nautical miles, particularly within the seasons 

 and areas where interactions occur, has the potential 

 to reduce the rate of interactions and the impact of 

 the longline fishery on pilot whale and Risso's dolphin 

 populations. This management option, along with a 

 suite of other measures, is currently being considered 

 by NMFS within the framework of the Pelagic Longline 

 Take Reduction plan. 



Acknowledgments 



I am indebted to the diligent efforts of the observers 

 who have participated in the Pelagic Longline Observer 

 Program throughout its history. C. Brown, D. Aber- 

 crombie, L. Beerkircher, and D. Lee of the National 

 Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science 

 Center provided invaluable assistance. The analytical 

 approach was developed in cooperation with members of 

 the Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Team who made 

 many useful suggestions and provided insights into the 

 operation of the fishery. I would like to recognize the 

 late N. Beideman, commercial fisherman and head of 

 the Blue Water Fisherman's Association, for his contri- 

 butions to the conservation of protected species during 

 pelagic longline fishing operations. This work is a con- 

 tribution of the Protected Species and Biodiversity 

 Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National 

 Marine Fisheries Service. 



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