Canadian Whale Institute’s Post

Step back in history this #CitSciFri with #FISHstory! This project works to answer some key questions about South Atlantic fisheries of the 1940s - 1980s that still impact stock assessments today. In this time period, catch monitoring either wasn’t in place or was just getting started in our region. So there are a lot of questions about South Atlantic fishing activity during that time. People like you (whether you’re a fish ID expert or not!) are helping us analyze historic fishing photos in the online platform @Zooniverse, so we can unlock the information they hold and answer some of those long-standing questions. Start analyzing these photos from the comfort of your own home through Zooniverse! https://lnkd.in/erUb23jN Have historic fishing photos? Check out our FISHstory webpage to learn how you can get your photos included in the project. https://lnkd.in/eUwV5Aeg #SAFMCcitsci #CitizenScience #FISHstory PC: S. Nielsen

Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), prehistoric giants that can live up to 150 years, were once abundant in the Great Lakes. These near-shore fish played a vital role in the diets of Native American tribes and were a critical part of the Great Lakes food web. However, in the 1800s, lake sturgeon were viewed as a nuisance to commercial fishing operations. They were discarded and even used for various purposes, including fuel aboard steamships, caviar, and ingredients in beer and winemaking. In 1880 alone, over four million pounds of sturgeon were harvested from the Great Lakes; by 1920, only 2,00 pounds of sturgeon were harvested. Today, US and Canadian agencies are working diligently to restore the sturgeon population. By protecting spawning grounds and habitats, developing innovative solutions like fish passes, and supporting hatchery programs, we can help these magnificent fish thrive once more.

The “engine” of CIBBRiNA’s work to minimise #ETP species #bycatch, our eight case studies cover a rich variety of commercial #fishing methods, from small-scale to large-scale, using gear including gillnets, surface and deep-water longlines, pelagic and bottom trawls. These case studies are found across areas of the North-East Atlantic, Baltic, and Mediterranean. Through collaborative research with these #fisheries, CIBBRiNA will produce new knowledge that is applicable across #Europe while at the same time designed with the specific contexts of different fishing operations in mind. Progress across the case studies is well underway, with CIBBRiNA partners already carrying out talks with #fishers and governments, applying for licences to carry out gear trials, obtaining mitigation devices and other equipment, and making trips out to sea. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be spotlighting each of the eight CIBBRiNA case studies, so keep an eye out! Find more information and sign up to our newsletter at: www.cibbrina.eu.

I am currently assessing the bycatch of non-target species listed with MPI and am blown away by the sheer volume of creatures, critters and even coral, that have been either hauled in from the deep by trawl net, caught in set nets, or have fallen victim to surface long lines. Out of 2,739 events highlighted, 5,012 animals have died, 5,570 have been caught and released (the outcome of their survival beyond release is unknown). There has been 5.22 tonnes of benthic material - including coral, caught. Of the species caught, I was saddened to see at least 7 Basking sharks, 11 Leatherback turtles, Yellow eyed penguins (setnets), 3 orca, whales, dolphins including Hector's, baleen whales, long-fin pilot whales, and so many albatross (including royal) with 15 caught in one long-line event. The threatened Westland Petrel, which lives and nests on the wetlands of Barrytown - were also victim, with 6 caught so far. In one single trawl event, 9 NZ Fur Seals were caught. My aim is to list and analyse all of these, and map their fisheries area so we can all understand the gravity of what this means for our coastal areas in Aotearoa NZ. Because from where I sit, this is not the future I want for my child. #conservation #fishing #nzcps #policy11 #ecsi

"The California Ocean Protection Council has authorized a couple million dollars to give fishermen whale-safe, ropeless Dungeness crab traps, in hopes of stopping the constant delays to crab season. It’s getting to be pretty much every year the Dungeness crab season is delayed for months from its normal mid-November start, and this year, the season did not start until January 18. Some ten years ago, the delays were because of toxic algae blooms, but in recent years, the delays are being caused because migrating whales were getting caught in the rope-based crab traps. There may be a solution to this, that ends the delays, or at least, extends Dungeness crab fishing season. Monterey’s KSBW reports that the California Ocean Protection Council is authorizing funding so that fishermen can use  new ropeless Dungeness crab traps that would not entangle whales or turtles." California Ocean Protection Council #ropelesscrabgear https://lnkd.in/gVf8cvcu

POLAND The small-scale fishery in the Szczecin lagoon represents a range of opinions about fishing in the lagoon and its future. The approximately 60 fishers are based in the towns around the lagoon, where they target perch, eel, pike perch, roach, and bream. The gears used for this fishery are fixed, either trammel nets or fyke nets—trawlers, which used to operate a few years ago, were decommissioned. The fishers are organised into associations, cooperatives, and/or producer organisations, all of which have slightly different though sometimes overlapping functions. But some of the fishers remain independent for reasons of geography rather than ideology. They are based far from the towns where the organisations have their ports and landing sites. However, most fishers face the same challenges. Declining catches, low prices for their products, predation from cormorants, and above all, red tape that gets worse all the time. Even though many fishers want to preserve their profession, the odds they face are daunting. #eurofishmagazine #fisheries #poland

It’s the week of Christmas – so why not take a few minutes to pause, and watch this informative ICES - International Council for the Exploration of the Sea video on the importance of work to conserve #elasmobranchs (AKA #sharks, skates, and rays)? Find out about: 🦈 The key differences between sharks, skates, and rays. 🦈 What makes these species particularly vulnerable to threats like #fisheries #bycatch. 🦈 How ICES works with other key stakeholders including #fishers to help conserve elasmobranch populations. Watch the video here 👇 https://loom.ly/mx6ZiAM

💙 Are you passionate about caring for our region's coasts? 💙 Love long walks along the beach? 💙 Let's make waves and show some love to our coastlines! NACC NRM has been casting out nets to gather data on washed up debris, and we need our community to help reel in more information! While years of research have helped in understanding fishing related debris, our Coastal & Marine team are getting into the nitty gritty and narrowing down the different sources of this debris. Dive into this cause with us and report fishing floats you find along the coastline from Kalbarri to Guilderton. Your contributions will help us create a treasure trove database that tracks and measures lost or discarded items from various fisheries. It's as easy as reporting: 🩵 Date & location of your find 🩵 Any visible float numbers 🩵 Possible source - commercial or recreational 🩵 Any rope attached in metres 🩵 Float condition - new, worn etc 🩵 Photos of float and/or rope Fill out the survey and you might just hook a $100 prize for the most submissions in 2024/2025! To find out more or submit your data, click below. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gUs7fNcQ 🔗 Keep Australia Beautiful

Do Fish Think They Are In Jail? Step into the captivating world of aquariums, where fish are truly flourishing. Unlike the misconceptions, they’re not feeling confined but rather thriving. With access to optimal care, they’re breeding, growing, and living longer lives than in the wild. What’s even better? They’re helping us learn more about aquatic life and our environment. Fish-keeping isn’t just fascinating; it’s a win-win for both us and our finned companions. Share this video if you agree that keeping fish is beneficial for both us and the fish themselves! #AquariumFishCare #FishKeepingBenefits #FishInCaptivity

🍂🐟 Want to stock your lake or pond with fish? Fall is the perfect time of year to stock Largemouth bass, trout, Specklebelly, and more. Discover why fall is a great time to stock fish and which fish species are popular to stock this time of year>> https://lnkd.in/g3izKMCD #LakeManagement #PondCare #Fisheries #FallMaintenance #TrophyFishing #FishStocking