Enhancing catch‐and‐release science with biotelemetry

Abstract

Introduction 80Traditional C&R research methods 81Quantitative overview of biotelemetry in C&R science 82Abstract Catch-and-release (C&R) angling is widely practised by anglers and is a common fisheries management strategy or is a by-product of harvest regulations. Accordingly, there is a growing body of research that examines not only the mortality associated with C&R, but also the sublethal physiological and behavioural consequences. Biotelemetry offers a powerful means of remotely monitoring the behaviour, physiology and mortality of fish caught and released in their natural environment, but we contend that its usefulness is still underappreciated by scholars and managers. In this study, we review the applications of biotelemetry in C&R science, identify novel research directions, opportunities and challenges. There are now about 250 C&R studies but only one quarter of these utilize biotelemetry. In fact, almost all of the C&R studies that have used biotelemetry have been conducted within the last decade. We found that the majority of C&R telemetry studies used either radio or acoustic telemetry, while comparatively few studies have used satellite technologies. Most C&R biotelemetry studies have been used to assess mortality rates, behavioural impairments or to evaluate the effects of displacement on fish. A small fraction of studies (<8%) have used physiological sensors despite the fact that these tools are highly applicable to understanding the multiple sublethal consequences of C&R and are useful for providing mechanistic insights into endpoints such as death. We conclude that C&R science has the potential to benefit greatly from biotelemetry technology, particularly with respect to providing more robust short-term and delayed mortality estimates and adopting a more integrative and comparative approach to understanding the lethal and sublethal impacts of C&R. However, there are still a number of challenges including (i) the need for appropriate controls and methodological approaches, (ii) the need for accounting for tagging and handling stress and mortality, and (iii) the need for certainty in assessing mortality. However, the benefits associated with C&R biotelemetry outweigh its disadvantages and limitations and thereby offer C&R researchers a suite of new tools to enhance fisheries management and conservation.

Retained fishing gear and associated injuries in the east Australian grey nurse sharks (Carcharias taurus): implications for population recovery

“…Sharks that swallow hooks are likely to suffer a shortened lifespan and reduced reproductive output as ingested hooks cause serious disease and may result in long-term mortality (Borucinska et al 2002;Donaldson et al 2008). In the current study, only 32 sharks (3.4%) showed evidence of internalised fishing gear, with fishing line trailing from the mouth, gill-slits or cloaca.…”

Resilience of Pink Salmon and Chum Salmon to Simulated Fisheries Capture Stress Incurred upon Arrival at Spawning Grounds

“…There is a growing interest in advancing our understanding of the fate of animals released from fishing gears (Davis 2002;Broadhurst et al 2006;Donaldson et al 2008;Davis 2010). By comparing fishing techniques, handling practices, and environmental variables with postrelease outcomes (Davis 2002), research can inform management efforts to reduce or account for postrelease mortality (e.g., Huse and Vold 2010;Gale et al 2011;Roberts et al 2011;Baker et al unpublished data) or improve animal welfare (e.g., Butcher et al 2011).…”

Salmon and sea trout spawning migration in the River Tweed: telemetry-derived insights for management

“…Since there were low river dropout and low post net-release mortality rates, the telemetry data provide valuable support for confidence in the T-bar tag estimates of exploitation rate and thus of fisheries management advice relating to the fishery. Telemetry data such as these provide an increasingly important complementary role in facilitating fisheries stock assessment, management and conservation (Clarke et al, 1991;Webb, 1998;Erkinaro et al, 1999;Donaldson et al, 2008). Our study found that later running Atlantic salmon predominantly used the lower to middle sections of the main Tweed as an assumed spawning area.…”