Shark Depredation and Unwanted Bycatch in Pelagic Longline
Shark Depredation and Unwanted Bycatch in Pelagic Longline
Shark Depredation and Unwanted Bycatch in Pelagic Longline
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Chile Artisanal Mahimahi <strong>and</strong> <strong>Shark</strong> Longl<strong>in</strong>e Fishery <strong>and</strong> Longl<strong>in</strong>e Swordfish Fishery<br />
Table A2.1. Catch of the ma<strong>in</strong> shark species <strong>in</strong> Chile, 1991-1996 (SERNAPESCA, 2006; Vanucc<strong>in</strong>i, 1999).<br />
Species 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996<br />
Rays 1,171 1,239 1,971 2,899 2,622 2,67<br />
Makos 1,118 702 581 450 475 320<br />
Smoothhounds 937 481 398 588 193 225<br />
Blues 212 175 237 33 39 11<br />
Total 3,438 2,597 3,187 3,970 3,329 3,235<br />
Fig. A2.2. Total elasmobranch production <strong>in</strong> Chile, by species groups, 1950-<br />
2004 (FAO, 2006).<br />
Fig. A2.3. Catch of chondrichthyans <strong>in</strong> Chile, 1990 - 2005 (SERNAPESCA, 2006).<br />
(8 to 16 seconds). Bait used is squid <strong>and</strong> Chilean mackerel. Bait is<br />
usually hooked through the eye but may also be hooked <strong>in</strong> the back<br />
or tail. The American configuration generally operates more cleanly<br />
(less bycatch) than the Spanish system.<br />
Table A2.2 <strong>and</strong> Fig. A2.4 <strong>and</strong> A2.5 summarize the general fish<strong>in</strong>g<br />
methods <strong>and</strong> gear deployment strategies for the longl<strong>in</strong>e for mahi<br />
mahi <strong>and</strong> swordfish <strong>in</strong> the ports where surveys were conducted. It<br />
should be noted, however, that fish<strong>in</strong>g methods <strong>and</strong> gear deployment<br />
vary somewhat from port to port <strong>and</strong> vessel to vessel.<br />
A2.5. Catch <strong>and</strong> Discard Rates of Target <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>Bycatch</strong> Species<br />
A summary of shark yield for the artisanal longl<strong>in</strong>e shark fishery<br />
from 2003-2005 is presented <strong>in</strong> Table A2.3<br />
A summary of swordfish captures, effort <strong>and</strong> yield for the <strong>in</strong>dustrial<br />
<strong>and</strong> artisanal swordfish fleets dur<strong>in</strong>g 2004 <strong>and</strong> 2005 is presented <strong>in</strong><br />
Table A2.4.<br />
Dur<strong>in</strong>g the 2005 season of the <strong>in</strong>dustrial swordfish fishery, almost<br />
all sharks captured were reta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>and</strong> commercialized (Table A2.5).<br />
Total fleet effort for 2005 consisted of 2.16 million hooks.<br />
A2.6. Regulations <strong>and</strong> Management Framework<br />
Fisheries regulations are formulated by the Fisheries Sub Secretary<br />
(SUBPESCA). Implementation <strong>and</strong> monitor<strong>in</strong>g of regulations is<br />
conducted by SERNAPESCA. Ley General de Pesca y Acuicultura<br />
(1991) established a number of regulations for <strong>in</strong>dustrial <strong>and</strong><br />
artisanal fisheries. The most important of these is the proportional<br />
distribution of total captures to <strong>in</strong>dustrial vessel owners (a maximum<br />
capture limit per owner).<br />
SUBPESCA has also established maximum quotas by fish<strong>in</strong>g season<br />
<strong>and</strong> by Regions <strong>and</strong> has suspended new authorizations of <strong>in</strong>dustrial<br />
vessels.<br />
Chile has a National Plan of Action for <strong>Shark</strong>s that addresses most<br />
of these regulations <strong>and</strong> promote the establishment of other, new<br />
regulations. These proposed regulations would address issues such<br />
as bycatch monitor<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> assessment (SERNAPESCA, 2006a).<br />
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