The general aim of the project is to assess the nature and the extent of direct interactions (bycatch and depredation) between fisheries and marine mammals, to understand their socio-ecological drivers and to identify ways to reduce their occurrence and impacts.  It focuses on longline fisheries operating in the southern Africa region and the seine/handline fisheries off northern Africa. The project is implemented through strong partnerships with local scientific institutes, in collaboration with the other actors of the fisheries.

Partners: INRH, INSTM, Sea Search, DFFE

The project is a PhD project (candidate: Margaux Mollier) that will tackle the Human-Wildlife conflicts associated with negative interactions between fisheries and large marine predators through a transdisciplinary and integrated approach in the socio-ecological space. Using two study cases in the South Pacific and South Indian oceans, Margaux will identify aspects of the ecology of sharks and marine mammals and of the behaviour of fishers (including their perceptions of the large marine predators) that influence the occurrence and the level of conflicts such as bycatch and predation on fishery catches.

Supervisors: Paul Tixier (MARBEC) & Camille Mazé (LIENSS)

Collaborators:  Government of New Caledonia, Community of the South Pacific (CPS), Fédération des Pêcheurs Hauturiers de Nouvelle Calédonie, TAAF, MNHN Paris

The project will investigate inter-individual behavioural heterogeneity within two taxa, killer whales and bull sharks, in a context of Human-Wildlife conflict (predation on fishery catches, attacks on humans, etc.). It will study the biological and ecological mechanisms driving the emergence of individuals having a greater propensity to interact with humans and human activities, and from this, it will examine the ways of improving the management of these conflicts towards coexistence.

Consortium: Eric Clua (CRIOBE), Christophe Guinet (CEBC), Paul Tixier (MARBEC), Thomas Vignaud (ADIM), Benoit Pujol (CRIOBE), Amelia Viricel (LEMAR), Estienne Rodary (SENS)

Monitoring committee: Serge Planes (CRIOBE), Carl Meyer (HIMB), John Linnell (NINR), Denis Reale (UQAM)

The killer whale, sperm whale and Commerson's dolphin populations of the Crozet, Kerguelen and Amsterdam/St Paul islands are monitored by long-term photo-identification programmes conducted both from the shore and from vessels (fishing vessels and supply ships)

Coordinators: Christophe Guinet (CEBC), Paul Tixier (MARBEC), Nature Reserve of the French Southern Lands

Collaborators: Nicolas Gasco & Charlotte Chazeau (MNHN Paris), TAAF (DPQM & DE), IPEV (prog. 109, resp. Christophe Barbraud, CEBC), Karine Delord & Baptiste Picard (CEBC), Jared Towers (Bay Cetology, Canada)

Data collected by fishery observers and fieldworkers

The project is the continuation of an international collaboration with fishers, fishing companies and other scientists involved in the toothfish fisheries operated off southern Chile, the SW Atlantic and the southern Indian Ocean initiated in 2015 through COLTO (Coalition of Legal Toothfish Operators). It aims at keeping the research efforts on the issue of killer and/or sperm whales feeding on fishing gear, as an issue shared by most toothfish fisheries, in order to better understand the mecanisms of that behaviour and to identify ways to reduce it.

Coordinators: Paul Tixier (MARBEC), Rhys Arangio (COLTO)

Collaborators: Fishers, boat owners, managers and scientists from Chile, Malvinas/Falklands, S. Georgia, S. Africa, France, Australia