Marine Mammal Interactions with Fisheries
Summary
Marine mammals interact with fisheries through a range of ecological and operational pathways. Overlap in spatial distribution leads to competition for shared prey species, while depredation by seals and cetaceans can reduce catch yields and damage gear. Conversely, animals may become inadvertently captured or entangled, resulting in injury or mortality. These interactions have broad implications for conservation, fishery sustainability and coastal livelihoods, prompting the development of monitoring techniques—from satellite telemetry to trophic modelling—and management interventions such as time-area closures, modified gear designs and co-management frameworks. Understanding the behavioural ecology of marine predators alongside socioeconomic drivers is essential to designing balanced strategies that support both ecosystem health and fishing communities globally.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent studies have used high-resolution movement and environmental data to elucidate pinniped responses to fishing activities. A foundational analysis applied a multivariate hidden Markov model to classify grey seal diving and foraging states in relation to depth, temperature and proximity to active fishing nets. Results indicated that seals exhibit increased foraging likelihood close to nets but allocate limited time to these areas, highlighting critical temporal and spatial scales for mitigation. These insights inform the design of dynamic management measures that align ecological requirements with fishery operations.
Marine Mammal Interactions with Fisheries publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in marine mammal interactions with fisheries across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Bycatch: Unintended capture of non-target species during fishing operations.
Entanglement: Accidental ensnaring of marine animals in nets, lines or other fishing gear.
Depredation: Predators removing or damaging catch or gear before retrieval.
Q methodology: Structured approach for eliciting and categorising stakeholder perspectives.
Governance framework: Institutional and regulatory arrangements guiding resource management and conflict resolution.
References
- Stakeholder consensus suggests strategies to promote sustainability in an artisanal fishery with high rates of poaching and marine mammal bycatch. People and Nature (2023).
- Reassessing the management criteria of growing seal populations: The case of Baltic grey seal and coastal fishery. Marine Policy (2023).
- Classifying grey seal behaviour in relation to environmental variability and commercial fishing activity - a multivariate hidden Markov model. Scientific Reports (2019).
- Spatial Overlap of Grey Seals and Fisheries in Irish Waters, Some New Insights Using Telemetry Technology and VMS. PLOS ONE (2016).
- Seal interactions and exits from fisheries: insights from the Baltic Sea cod fishery. ICES Journal of Marine Science (2021).
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