Evaluation of the Nature and Magnitude of Interactions between Bottlenose Dolphins, 'Tursiops truncatus' and Fisheries and Other Human Activities in Coastal Areas of the Southeastern United States

摘要

Questionnaires were designed to determine the nature and relative magnitude of incidental mortality for bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, and their detrimental impacts on fisheries or other human activities in the southeastern United States (SEUS). Of 276 questionnaires distributed, 106 (38.4%) were returned. Fifty-six respondents indicated knowledge of interactions between bottlenose dolphins and human activities. The survey indicates that bottlenose dolphins are caught incidentally by the following fisheries: Carolina sturgeon and shad gill netters; menhaden purse seiners throughout the SEUS; tuna netters offshore of Florida and Georgia; and shrimp trawlers in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. The survey also indicates that bottlenose dolphins adversely impact a number of fisheries by damaging gear, stealing fish, causing fish to scatter, causing loss of work time while gear is replaced or repaired, or injuring fishermen.