Ill 



• Gear Modification - condua gear field trials to evaluate gear design and strategy adjustments, 

 alternative gears, behavioral factors, which predispose cetaceans to entanglement and cnviron- 

 rocntal and ecological factors influencing entiapment-rclaicd behavior. 



• Gear Assessment - examine the technical, economic, ecological and social benefits and impans on 

 fishery resources relative to gillnets and other gear types that target groundfish. 



• Area Closures - evaluate the use of closed areas when harbor porpoise are known to be present. 



• Gillnet modification - undertake a scries of field trials to test the effects of various gillnet 

 modifications and operationa] strategies on fish catch and harbor porpoise take. 



• Perform tank tests of scaled gillnet nKxlels to suppon the field work. 



• Initiate research to assess the behavioral factors that predispose harbor porpoise to entanglement, 

 including those immediately prior to encounters with nets aixl escape responses. 



Biology 



Despite the considerable body of knowledge available on harbor porpoise, significant information 

 gaps exist which hinder efforts to assess fishery interactions. The HPWG supports the following 

 avenues of research: 



• Develop more accurate population estimates to detenninc the impaa of incidental catches of harbor 

 porpoise in the sink gillnet fishery. 



• Develop nxjre accurate estimates of the number of harbor porpoises killed in sink gillnets to assess 

 the impaa of these kills on the population. 



• Resolve uncertainties in the methods and data used to estimate total effort in the sink gillnet 

 fishery. 



• Conduct research on harbor porpoise abundance and bycatch in Canadian waters. 



• Initiate more studies on diet, reproduction and natural monality, in addition to stock structure and 

 the potential for population growth, to determine harbor porpoise capacity to withstand mortality 

 in the sink gillnet fishery. 



Information and Education 



Information and education efforts are key to resolving issues related to marine ma mm al/fisheTy 

 interactions. To arrive at equitable solutions the HPWG recommends: 



• The exchange of accurate information between scientists, fishermen, government agencies and 

 the general public. 



• Initiatives by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the fishing community to encourage 

 fishermen to seek practical soludons to these problems. 



• Coordination with Canadian efforts to address and/or assess harbor porpoise/couimcrcial fisheries 

 interacdons. 



• Development and dissemination of educational materials related to the incidental take of harbor 

 porpoise in commercial fishing operanons. 



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