Éditeur(s) : Oxford university press
Résumé : There is increasing evidence from previous studies, and from fishers' observations, that coastal dolphins use fishing nets as an easily accessible feeding source, damaging or depredating fish caught in the nets. This study investigates the impact of dolphin depredation on artisanal trammelnets by analysing the catch composition of 614 artisanal fishing operations in the Bonifacio Strait Natural Reserve (France). Common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) attacked, on average, 12.4% of the nets and damaged 8.3% of the catch. However, attacked nets were characterized by statistically significantly higher catch per unit effort than unattacked ones. Catch composition also differed significantly after dolphin attacks; bentho-pelagic fish were more represented and reef-associated fish less represented. Our results suggest that (i) dolphins are attracted by high fish densities in the fishing area and/or nets, and (ii) their attacks induce specific fish-avoidance behaviour, according to the fish position in the water column. Although dolphins depredate a small part of the catch, damage to nets, not yet assessed in this area, could weaken the benefits that reserves can provide to artisanal fisheries.
ICES Journal of Marine Science (1054-3139) (Oxford university press), 2009-05 , Vol. 66 , N. 4 , P. 699-707

Droits : 2009 ICES/CIEM. Oxford Journals
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2009/publication-6808.pdf
DOI:10.1093/icesjms/fsp036
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/6808/

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier
Résumé : This study aimed at comparing toxic element (Hg, Cd) bioaccumulation in relation to age for bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from Mediterranean and Atlantic waters. Metal concentrations were also measured in selected prey to infer metal exposure through the diet. As expected, Mediterranean prey exhibited the highest Hg levels, probably as a consequence of the Hg enrichment of the Mediterranean Sea. Comparing the predators from each area and taking age into account, Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins displayed higher Hg levels than Atlantic dolphins (p = 0.032), whereas Mediterranean striped dolphins did not (p = 0.691). The consumption of Myctophid fish, which showed the highest Hg levels (105 +/- 80 ng g(-1) w.wt.) among Atlantic prey, may explain the high Hg levels in the liver of the Atlantic striped dolphins and suggested a preferential offshore feeding behaviour in this area. Concerning Cd, no clear differences were found between geographical areas. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Marine Pollution Bulletin (0025-326X) (Elsevier), 2006-10 , Vol. 52 , N. 10 , P. 1219-1230

Droits : 2006 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2006/publication-4713.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2006.02.020
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/4713/