Whale Depredation on Alaska's Longline Fisheries

Mon, 02 Dec 2013 19:00:00 -0500

This research, which combines approaches from the natural and social sciences, is an innovative approach to understanding a complex human-animal interaction with significant conservation, economic, and ecological consequences. It is through interdisciplinary efforts like this one that ecosystem-based management can be successfully implemented to address pressing issues in the sustainable management of our natural resources. Utilizing the experience and knowledge of Alaska's fishermen, this research aims to improve upon existing methodologies to assess the effects of depredation on Alaska's longline fisheries and to develop mitigating strategies that will be beneficial and feasible for the fishermen to implement. It is significant that many similarities were found in the conclusions made using analytical techniques and interviews and surveys. Incorporating the knowledge and insight of Alaska's fishermen is an important step forward in understanding the underlying patterns in depredation and how the negative consequences of this interaction can be alleviated for both the fishery and the whales.