Izvorni znanstveni članak

https://doi.org/10.24099/vet.arhiv.1254

Cetacean mortality due to interactions with fisheries and marine litter ingestion in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea from 1990 to 2019

Martina Đuras ; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ana Galov ; Division of Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Kim Korpes ; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Magdalena Kolenc ; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Matea Baburić ; Zagreb, Croatia
Andrea Gudan Kurilj ; Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Tomislav Gomerčić ; Department of Veterinary Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Sažetak

Various anthropogenic threats negatively influence the survival of cetaceans in all world seas. Thanks to a long- running marine mammal surveillance program, we are able to report the results of a detailed analysis of the influence of cetacean-fisheries interactions and marine litter ingestion on cetacean mortality in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea over the last three decades. The total number of dead cetaceans was 459, and included 334 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), 40 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), ten Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus), six Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) and four fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus). Three hundred of them were examined postmortally. Cetacean-fisheries interaction occurred frequently in the Adriatic Sea, being detected in 96 (20.9%) of the recorded cases. Bycatch was the most abundant cetacean-fisheries interaction, with 66 (14.4%) cases recorded. Good nutritional condition and evidence of recent feeding were the most common findings recorded in bycatch cases, followed by persistent froth in the airways, edematous lungs, bruises and an amputated fluke or tail. Cetacean-fisheries interactions other than bycatch affected 30 animals and included larynx strangulations, long- term tail entanglement and fishing gear in the stomach. Ingestion of marine litter that was not related to fisheries was recorded in four animals. This study reveals the considerable negative anthropogenic influence on cetaceans in the Adriatic Sea, especially the bottlenose dolphin that is considered to be the most numerous cetacean species therein, and demonstrates the need for the urgent development of a cetacean bycatch reduction program. Finally, it also shows the importance of sustaining national surveillance programs to gain scientifically based knowledge important for cetacean protection and prospects for their long-term survival.

Ključne riječi

bycatch; entanglement; fishing gear; marine litter; cetaceans; Adriatic Sea

Hrčak ID:

258466

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/258466

Datum izdavanja:

8.6.2021.

Podaci na drugim jezicima: hrvatski

Posjeta: 728 *