Bycatch be gone!

Globally, accidental catch (bycatch) in fishing gear is attributed as the main cause of death for cetaceans. Coastal cetaceans such as Irrawaddy dolphins, finless porpoises and humpback dolphins are prone to bycatch due to the ever-present artisanal fisheries which supports the livelihood of local villagers. 

Studies have found that anchovies, drums or croakers, marine catfish and false trevally are the prey choices of these cetaceans and these fishes are commercially important fish species in Sarawak. 

This overlap, coupled with results that demonstrate co-occurrence

of cetacean 'hotspots' and artisanal and commercial fishing effort, suggests a high likelihood of cetacean-fisheries interactions and elevated risk of cetacean entanglement and mortality. 

How do we reduce the probability of cetaceans getting entangled while ensuring the livelihoods of majority coastal villagers are not affected?