Caterina Dimitriadis

Incidental Capture of Franciscana Dolphins in Artisanal and Trawling Fisheries in Uruguay

Town/RegionCountryCategoriesDate
UruguayCentral and Latin America, Cetaceans, Fish, Fisheries, Mammals17 Jan 2004

The Rio Grande do Sul/Uruguay franciscana subpopulation is considered to have declined over 30% since the 60s (vulnerable in the IUCN Red List). Proper assessment of the species’ interaction with fisheries requires long-term surveys. Since the monitoring of Uruguayan artisanal fisheries has been undertaken last year, after a 10-year information gap, it becomes necessary to continue it. Additionally, the species is known to get caught by trawlers, but this kind of interaction has not been evaluated along its entire distribution yet.

The aim of this proposal is to quantify the incidental capture of franciscanas in the artisanal fisheries which showed greatest interaction between June 2004 and May 2005 along the Uruguayan coast. It is also intended to start systematic records on the species’ incidental capture by the coastal bottom trawl fishery operating in the Common Argentinean – Uruguayan Fishing Area.

Hence, our objectives are:

-To evaluate and quantify incidental mortality of franciscanas in artisanal fisheries (where most incidental captures were recorded from June 2004 to May 2005) and bottom trawl fishery on part of the Uruguayan coast.

-To obtain biological data from caught and stranded individuals. To reinforce work with fishermen and coastal local communities, generating consciousness of the problems involved and the importance of the study.

-To integrate the obtained information regionally, and coordinate efforts for the conservation of the species.

The study will contribute to evaluate the mortality of franciscanas in artisanal gillnets and, for the first time, the interaction of the species with trawl fishing. Fishermen will be informed of the problems related to the franciscana incidental capture, with the aim of achieving coordinated work so as to maximize conservation efforts. Besides, this project will generate the raw material to continue developing other valuable studies related to the biology of the species (such as genetic population structure, food habits, reproduction, parasite and contaminant loads). This information will allow us to coordinate sustainable studies with regional working groups and it will be useful as a tool to implement future conservation measures.

2nd RSG Grant Awarded

Franciscana dolphin, Pontoporia blainvillei is an endemic species to the Atlantic Southwestern which has been listed as an endangered migratory species due to the continued incidental capture in fish-nets of artisanal fisheries all along its distribution (Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay). The Rio Grande do Sul/Uruguay population has suffered declines of more than 30% since the 60s. Consequently, this population was recently categorized as “Vulnerable” in the IUCN Red List. The first systematic records of mortality started in Uruguay in 1974 and continued until 1994. Since then, there hasn’t been any monitoring programme of Uruguayan artisanal fisheries and their interaction with the species. Lack of information for over 10 years clearly shows the need to collect data on franciscana mortality in our country.

General:

•Evaluate incidental mortality of franciscana in artisanal fish-nets on the river Río de la Plata and the Uruguayan Atlantic coast.
•Integrate the obtained information in a regional manner, and coordinate efforts for the conservation of the species.
Specific:

•Determine the characteristics of each artisanal fishery
•Determine the level of interaction of the franciscana with each of the fisheries.
•Obtain biological data from caught and stranded individuals.
•Inform fishermen as well as coastal local communities and generate consciousness of the problems involved and the importance of the study.

RSG Booster Grant Awarded

Read about caterina's latest project http://www.ruffordsmallgrants.org/rsg/projects/caterina_dimitriadis


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