When fishermen become scientists

Knowing where, when and how different fishing gear practiced are having an impact on the colonies of seabirds, and most importantly, know what type of species are affecting bycatch is the challenge SeaBirdswatcher, a project that seals

IMEDEA has announced this morning that converts streaming APP fishermen scientists. A free and simple tool to manage which will produce hundreds of small sampling points scattered around the Mediterranean extensive overcoming barriers hitherto impassable to expand knowledge on the biodiversity of Spanish Mediterranean in the beginning, and throughout the EU.

Sólo en las Islas, “Professional fishing fleet consists of 300 ships and there are about 50,000 recreational fishing licenses” so the potential information that can get you to sign would yield breakthroughs.

Now available for phones with Android OS and iOS in a few weeks, Seabirdstagram sent to the database project for further scientific analysis of the information recorded on the angler when he accidentally captures a mobile Ave while you are fishing.

Giacomo Tavecchia, Research project funded by the Biodiversity Foundation, explained that the study starts in Baleares and from September will begin to spread in all ports of the Spanish geography, is focused on the evolution of populations of birds

“We intend to estimate the annual mortality rate to assess the likelihood of local extinction. From there, we can make predictions of population dynamics under different scenarios and provide mitigation measures not only the importance of maintaining the food chain but to protect this heritage in the event that really demonstrates that there is a risk”He explained.

Today, the main threats of Seabirds are linked to invasive alien species nesting colonies and the exploitation of the coast. The expansion of commercial fishing in the areas of power Seabirds is, according to investigators, a factor that must be taken into account. In this sense, José Manuel Gual, Senior Project, said that mortality from bycatch “represent one of the most important threats worldwide, especially in longline fishing. The collection of this data should confirm, evaluate the real extent of the problem and whether it varies depending on the geographic area”.

The presentation also participated Toni Garau, Secretary of the Balearic Federation of Fishermen, and Jose Alba, Young member of the Association of Responsible Recreational Fishing Baleares. Garau stressed that industry collaboration on this project in the interest of the collective “carrying out management of fishery resources science accreditation”.

SOURCE: nauta360.expansion.com