title: Canadian fishery closures provide a large-scale test of the impact of gillnet bycatch on seabird populations.
abstract: In 1992, the eastern Canadian gillnet fisheries for northern cod and Atlantic salmon were largely closed. These large-scale fishery closures resulted in the removal of tens of thousands of gillnets known to inflict high levels of seabird mortality. We used this unprecedented opportunity to test the effects of gillnet removal on seabird populations. Consistent with predictions, we show that the breeding populations of divers (auks, gannets; susceptible to gillnet bycatch) have increased from pre-closure levels, whereas the populations of scavenging surface-feeders (gulls; low vulnerability to gillnet bycatch but susceptible to removal of fisheries discards) have decreased. Using the most complete series of seabird census data for the species most vulnerable to bycatch, we demonstrate a positive population response of common murres to reduction in gillnet fishing within its foraging range. These findings support the widespread but seldom documented contention that fisheries bycatch negatively impacts populations of non-target large vertebrates.
authors.affiliation: Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, Newfoundland, Canada. paul.regular@mun.ca
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Regular
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Montevecchi
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hedd
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005398:Fisheries / Q000379:methods*; D020387:Food Chain; D009523:Newfoundland and Labrador; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012621:Seasons; D013045:Species Specificity
keywords: bycatch; common murre; fishery closures; gillnets; populations; seabirds