Characterising and assessing seabird bycatch in expanding Arctic fisheries

Fisheries are an important industry in Canada, particularly in rural communities that depend on marine resources for sustainable economic opportunities. But all fishing imposes environmental costs. In the case of northern fisheries, one cost of concern is the incidental bycatch of seabirds by fisheries. Birds, attracted to bait and discards from vessels, can get ensnared in nets or hooked on longlines. The goal of this project will be to develop mitigation strategies, including applying best-practices to existing gear, modifying gear to reduce seabird entanglement, and develop strategies that minimize interactions between fishers and birds.

Faculty Supervisor:

Scott Grant;Heather Major;Jennifer Provencher

Student:

Partner:

Nunavut Fisheries Association

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Memorial University of Newfoundland; University of New Brunswick

Program: