Entanglements and Mortality of Endemic Chilean Dolphins (Cephalorhynchus eutropia) in Salmon Farms in Southern Chile

Espinosa-Miranda, Cayetano; Cáceres, Benjamín; Blank, Olivia; Fuentes-Riquelme, Marjorie; Heinrich, Sonja

doi:10.1578/am.46.4.2020.337

Cited by 11 publications

(19 citation statements)

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“…However, around southern South America such as Chile and the Falkland Islands, sei whales frequently inhabit neritic and coastal habitat, increasing their overlap with human activities and potential exposure to threats such as vessel strikes and entanglements [e.g. 54 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting suitable coastal habitat for sei whales, southern right whales and dolphins around the Falkland Islands

Baines

Weir

2020

PLoS ONE

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Species distribution models (SDMs) are valuable tools for describing the occurrence of species and predicting suitable habitats. This study used generalized additive models (GAMs) and MaxEnt models to predict the relative densities of four cetacean species (sei whale Balaeanoptera borealis, southern right whale Eubalaena australis, Peale’s dolphin Lagenorhynchus australis, and Commerson’s dolphin Cephalorhynchus commersonii) in neritic waters (≤100 m depth) around the Falkland Islands, using boat survey data collected over three seasons (2017–2019). The model predictor variables (PVs) included remotely sensed environmental variables (sea surface temperature, SST, and chlorophyll-a concentration) and static geographical variables (e.g. water depth, distance to shore, slope). The GAM results explained 35 to 41% of the total deviance for sei whale, combined sei whales and unidentified large baleen whales, and Commerson’s dolphins, but only 17% of the deviance for Peale’s dolphins. The MaxEnt models for all species had low to moderate discriminatory power. The relative density of sei whales increased with SST in both models, and their predicted distribution was widespread across the inner shelf which is consistent with the use of Falklands’ waters as a coastal summer feeding ground. Peale’s dolphins and Commerson’s dolphins were largely sympatric across the study area. However, the relative densities of Commerson’s dolphins were generally predicted to be higher in nearshore, semi-enclosed, waters compared with Peale’s dolphins, suggesting some habitat partitioning. The models for southern right whales performed poorly and the results were not considered meaningful, perhaps due to this species exhibiting fewer strong habitat preferences around the Falklands. The modelling results are applicable to marine spatial planning to identify where the occurrence of cetacean species and anthropogenic activities may most overlap. Additionally, the results can inform the process of delineating a potential Key Biodiversity Area for sei whales in the Falkland Islands.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting suitable coastal habitat for sei whales, southern right whales and dolphins around the Falkland Islands

Baines

Weir

2020

PLoS ONE

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“…High‐performance netting materials are often used in offshore aquaculture environments to contain fish, exclude predators, and prevent predation. Some netting materials and their related hardware pose potential entanglement risk, resulting in injury, stress, or death to marine mammals, sea turtles, birds, and sharks 25,26,48,53–59 . Finfish operations can attract some piscivorous animals because wild fish aggregate to the structural habitat provided by cages or are attracted to excess feed loss from the cages 25,55,60,61 …”

Section: Marine Aquaculture Gearmentioning

confidence: 99%

A global review of protected species interactions with marine aquaculture

Bath

Price

Riley

et al. 2023

Reviews in Aquaculture

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As marine aquaculture expands around the world, there is increased concern for impacts to protected species. Documented cases of marine mammal, sea turtle, seabird, and shark interactions with aquaculture installations do exist but are challenging to find. This extensive review summarises the state of knowledge of protected species interactions with marine fish and shellfish aquaculture installations. Although seaweed aquaculture was beyond the scope of this review, some of the findings for shellfish and finfish aquaculture may be relevant. The potential impacts of farms including habitat exclusion, entanglement, entrapment, collisions, and behavioural modifications are the primary risks posed to protected species by marine aquaculture facilities and operations. In addition, indirect effects from habitat impacts of farm operations may be of concern in some areas as well as the cumulative impacts of multiple small or large farms in the same general vicinity. Decades of farm innovations and best management practices have been driven by industry, natural resource managers, conservation organisations, and international conservation agreements. This review is useful for informing industry planning and permitting to develop aquaculture in the open ocean. This work will help advance the science of conservation by synthesising the state of knowledge and provide managers and industry with more insight to protect the most vulnerable species.

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“…Anti-predator nets are an important risk factor for potential entanglement and unintended killing of pinnipeds and other marine mammals. 53,107 Even though entanglement is a reality in most salmon farms, the extent of the problem is unknown as only a few reports provide official or independent estimates on the number of pinnipeds entangled by anti-predator nets. 8,102 In the West Coast of Canada (Figure 5) and the USA, salmon farmers report steadily decreasing numbers of entangled harbour seal, Steller sea lion and California sea lion per year.…”

Section: Entanglementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Anti‐predator nets are an important risk factor for potential entanglement and unintended killing of pinnipeds and other marine mammals 53,107 . Even though entanglement is a reality in most salmon farms, the extent of the problem is unknown as only a few reports provide official or independent estimates on the number of pinnipeds entangled by anti‐predator nets 8,102 .…”

Section: Threatening Pinnipedsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pinnipeds and salmon farming: Threats, conflicts and challenges to co‐existence after 50 years of industrial growth and expansion

Heredia-Azuaje

Niklitschek

Sepúlveda

2021

Reviews in Aquaculture

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In this review, we summarize and discuss the main interactions affecting salmon farming and pinniped populations worldwide. Out of seven pinnipeds commonly engaged in these interactions, only one, Eumetopias jubatus, is currently listed, as ‘Near Threatened’, by the IUCN. This scenario may change as the salmon farming industry is expanding to higher latitudes and climate change is threatening many pinniped populations. Pinniped attacks cause productive and economic losses, equivalent to 1%–12% of gross production costs, due to predation, induced escapes and implementing deterrent measures. Other potential negative effects on the industry remain unassessed: lower fish growth, immunosuppression, diseases transmission, damaging infrastructure and injuring farmworkers. Main direct threats to pinnipeds include intended and unintended killing, which lack independent quantifications and have generated a growing number of ethical, economic and socio‐political concerns, as well as trade regulations affecting the industry. Physical perturbation, pollution, nutrification and/or prey subsidies related to this industry may induce behavioural, trophic and social changes, as well as breeding and/or foraging habitat loss/change in impacted areas. Despite their relevance, the magnitude and consequences of these potential impacts have been poorly evaluated and documented, precluding us from assembling accurate assessments on most interactions. Hence, we recommend focusing further research on assessing the effects of these interactions and make a call for implementing and maintaining reliable and independent records of: (i) intended and unintended killings and (ii) demography of affected populations. Implementing an ecosystem approach may be key to reduce negative impacts of salmon farming on pinnipeds and coastal ecosystems.

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Entanglements and Mortality of Endemic Chilean Dolphins (Cephalorhynchus eutropia) in Salmon Farms in Southern Chile

Cited by 11 publications

References 0 publications

Predicting suitable coastal habitat for sei whales, southern right whales and dolphins around the Falkland Islands

Predicting suitable coastal habitat for sei whales, southern right whales and dolphins around the Falkland Islands

A global review of protected species interactions with marine aquaculture

Pinnipeds and salmon farming: Threats, conflicts and challenges to co‐existence after 50 years of industrial growth and expansion

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