Bycatch assessment of coastal gillnets (bottomsets and driftnets)
Current data on fisheries effort and bycatch statistics for coastal gillnet fisheries will be collected by existing fishery observers, complimented by the creation of dedicated fisher networks in order to significantly increase data collection and involve stakeholders.
Materials and methodology
Beach based data recording is appropriate for this task as there are negligible discards in coastal gillnet fisheries, meaning that landings are an accurate representation of bycatch and so boosting efficiency of data collection. The network will collect data on fisheries effort (length of nets, set and/or drift soak hours), gear type (bottomset/driftnet and configuration), target and bycatch species (with tooth samples and photographs to allow for verification), catch volume, catch weight and other important biological and ecological characteristics for demographic analyses to assess catch composition and any possible patterns/vulnerable groups within the population (e.g. size; sex; gravidity; maturity; age – tooth samples, vertebrae) at selected locations. Complementary data will be collected through current national fisheries observer networks and RBAs will be performed.
Geographic description:
Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar and Zanzibar.
Responsible partner/s:
Responsible partners for training of observers in data recording and carrying out the dissemination of the recorded bycatch data will be Dr Amir (leading), Dr Wambiji, Ms Razafindrakoto and Mr Poonian, Dr Jiddawi assisted by Dr Berggren and Dr Kiszka. Responsible partner for species demographic analysis will be Mr Temple.
Bycatch assessment of coastal longlines
Current data on fisheries effort and bycatch statistics for coastal longline fisheries will be collected by existing fishery observers, complimented by the creation of dedicated fisher networks in order to significantly increase data collection and involve stakeholders.
Beach based data recording is appropriate for this task as there are negligible discards in coastal longline fisheries, meaning that landings are an accurate representation of bycatch and so boosting efficiency of data collection. A dedicated network will collect data on fisheries effort (line soak hours) and line configuration (hook count & line length). Complementary data will be collected through current national fisheries observer networks and RBAs.
Geographic description:
Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Responsible partner/s:
Responsible partners for training of observers in data recording and carrying out the dissemination of the recorded bycatch data will be Dr Amir (leading), Dr Wambiji, Dr Jiddawi assisted by Dr Berggren and Dr Kiszka. Responsible partner for species demographic analysis will be Mr Temple.
Assessment of TED effectiveness in prawn trawls
Existing catch and effort data from those countries which have been using TEDs (Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar) will be key to show the effectiveness of the gears and be compared to those that will be tried during this project. Ultimately the levels of bycatch of megafauna in these fisheries will be understood.
In Kenya and Tanzania, TEDs were incorporated in recent SWIOFP research surveys. That results from the catch and effort data from those surveys showed that TED's were effective in reducing bycatch but not significant differences were found based on target species. In Madagascar, logbook catch and effort data pre- and post-TED installation were compared to detect changes in catch rates of target and retained bycatch.
Geographic description:
The activity will be conducted in Kenya and Madagascar with historical data contributed from Tanzania.
Responsible partner/s:
Responsible partners for data analysis will be Dr Brito (leading) and an MSc student from Mozambique, Dr Fennessy, GAPCM and Dr Kimani.
Current data on fisheries effort and bycatch statistics for coastal gillnet fisheries will be collected by existing fishery observers, complimented by the creation of dedicated fisher networks in order to significantly increase data collection and involve stakeholders.
Materials and methodology
Beach based data recording is appropriate for this task as there are negligible discards in coastal gillnet fisheries, meaning that landings are an accurate representation of bycatch and so boosting efficiency of data collection. The network will collect data on fisheries effort (length of nets, set and/or drift soak hours), gear type (bottomset/driftnet and configuration), target and bycatch species (with tooth samples and photographs to allow for verification), catch volume, catch weight and other important biological and ecological characteristics for demographic analyses to assess catch composition and any possible patterns/vulnerable groups within the population (e.g. size; sex; gravidity; maturity; age – tooth samples, vertebrae) at selected locations. Complementary data will be collected through current national fisheries observer networks and RBAs will be performed.
Geographic description:
Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar and Zanzibar.
Responsible partner/s:
Responsible partners for training of observers in data recording and carrying out the dissemination of the recorded bycatch data will be Dr Amir (leading), Dr Wambiji, Ms Razafindrakoto and Mr Poonian, Dr Jiddawi assisted by Dr Berggren and Dr Kiszka. Responsible partner for species demographic analysis will be Mr Temple.
Bycatch assessment of coastal longlines
Current data on fisheries effort and bycatch statistics for coastal longline fisheries will be collected by existing fishery observers, complimented by the creation of dedicated fisher networks in order to significantly increase data collection and involve stakeholders.
Beach based data recording is appropriate for this task as there are negligible discards in coastal longline fisheries, meaning that landings are an accurate representation of bycatch and so boosting efficiency of data collection. A dedicated network will collect data on fisheries effort (line soak hours) and line configuration (hook count & line length). Complementary data will be collected through current national fisheries observer networks and RBAs.
Geographic description:
Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Responsible partner/s:
Responsible partners for training of observers in data recording and carrying out the dissemination of the recorded bycatch data will be Dr Amir (leading), Dr Wambiji, Dr Jiddawi assisted by Dr Berggren and Dr Kiszka. Responsible partner for species demographic analysis will be Mr Temple.
Assessment of TED effectiveness in prawn trawls
Existing catch and effort data from those countries which have been using TEDs (Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar) will be key to show the effectiveness of the gears and be compared to those that will be tried during this project. Ultimately the levels of bycatch of megafauna in these fisheries will be understood.
In Kenya and Tanzania, TEDs were incorporated in recent SWIOFP research surveys. That results from the catch and effort data from those surveys showed that TED's were effective in reducing bycatch but not significant differences were found based on target species. In Madagascar, logbook catch and effort data pre- and post-TED installation were compared to detect changes in catch rates of target and retained bycatch.
Geographic description:
The activity will be conducted in Kenya and Madagascar with historical data contributed from Tanzania.
Responsible partner/s:
Responsible partners for data analysis will be Dr Brito (leading) and an MSc student from Mozambique, Dr Fennessy, GAPCM and Dr Kimani.