Dear MARMAM Community,
here is a link to our paper on the cetacean-fisheries interactions recorded over the past 30 years in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea: <http://vetarhiv.vef.unizg.hr/papers/2021-91-2-9.pdf> http://vetarhiv.vef.unizg.hr/papers/2021-91-2-9.pdf Martina Đuras, Ana Galov, Kim Korpes, Magdalena Kolenc, Matea Baburić, Andrea Gudan Kurilj, Tomislav Gomerčić (2021): Cetacean mortality due to interactions with fisheries and marine litter ingestion in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea from 1990 to 2019. Veterinarski arhiv 91: 189-206. doi 10.24099/vet.arhiv.0942 Abstract Different anthropogenic threats negatively influence the survival of cetaceans in all world seas. Thanks to a long-running marine mammal surveillance program, we are able to report results of a detailed analysis on the influence of cetacean-fisheries interactions and marine litter ingestion on cetacean mortality in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea during the last three decades. Total number of dead cetaceans was 459 and included 334 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), 40 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), ten Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus), six Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) and four fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus). Three hundred of them were postmortally examined. Cetacean-fisheries interactions occurred frequently in the Adriatic Sea being detected in 96 (20.9%) of the recorded cases. Bycatch was the most abundant cetacean-fisheries interaction with 66 (14.4%) cases recorded. Good nutritional condition and evidence of recent feeding were the most common findings recorded in bycatch cases, followed by persistent froth in the airways, edematous lungs, bruises and an amputated fluke or tail. Cetacean-fisheries interactions other than bycatch affected 30 animals and included larynx strangulations, long-term tail entanglement and fishing gear in the stomach. Ingestion of marine litter that was not related to fisheries was recorded in four animals. This study reveals considerable negative anthropogenic influence on cetaceans in the Adriatic Sea, especially the bottlenose dolphin that is considered the most frequent cetacean species therein and calls for an urgent development of the cetacean bycatch reduction program. Finally, it demonstrates the importance of sustaining national surveillance programs for gaining scientifically based knowledge important for cetacean protection and prospects for their long-term survival. Kind regards, Martina Đuras Izv. prof. dr. sc. Martina Đuras Zavod za anatomiju, histologiju i embriologiju Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb 01/2390-252 Assoc. Prof. Martina Đuras Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia +38512390252
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