Fisheries-Independent Evidence of Longline Fisheries Impact on the Threatened Mediterranean Blue Shark Prionace Glauca in The Waters Around the Balearic Islands (Spain)

Ana-Maria Abril, Clémentine Séguigne, Gilles Siu, Agusti Torres and Eric Clua
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Ana-Maria Abril: Shark-Med association, Spain
Gilles Siu: Department de Biologia Cra de Valldemossa, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Spain
Agusti Torres: PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, French Polynesia
Eric Clua: Laboratoire d’Excellence CORAIL, France

Oceanography & Fisheries Open Access Journal, 2020, vol. 12, issue 3, 81-87

Abstract: The Mediterranean Sea is one of the seas most affected by the collapse of shark populations due to overfishing. Considered ‘vulnerable’ by the IUCN on a global scale, the blue shark Prionace glauca is classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ in the Mediterranean Sea. A fisheries-independent study was conducted through the implementation of 14 filming sessions, lasting between 5 and 10 days, during winter and summer seasons between July 2017 and February 2020, in semi-pelagic waters around the islands of Mallorca and Menorca (Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean). Using 24-hour BRUVs, we collected 1685 hours of video that allowed us to observe 10 blue sharks, six males and four females, estimated between 1.2 and 2.5 m in total length (TL). In addition to their low abundance (average of 0.02 shark ±0,025 observed per hour), 50% of animals presented residual hook, sometimes with a nylon leader several meters long, potentially jeopardizing its survival. In addition to other threats, the frequent presence of residual hooks may contribute to a cryptic mortality of this species in relation to pelagic fisheries, calling into question the future of this species in this region of the world.

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Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:adp:jofoaj:v:12:y:2020:i:3:p:81-87

DOI: 10.19080/OFOAJ.2020.12.555839

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