The effect of pingers on cetaceans bycatch and target catch in the turbot gillnets in Bulgarian Black Sea

Abstract

The present study is the first experiment to determine whether acoustic deterrent devices (pingers) reduce cetaceans’ bycatch in the turbot gillnets and catch rates of the target fish in the Bulgarian Black Sea territorial waters. During the study period 2017–2019, 12.4 km of turbot gillnets were included in the experiment. They were equipped with 10 kHz Porpoise Pingers “Future Oceans”. Observations were carried out on regular bases on active (with pingers) and on control nets (without pingers). The results showed that the pingers used were very effective in reducing cetaceans bycatch in turbot gillnets without affecting the target catch.

Keywords

• cetaceans
• pingers
• gillnets