Behavioural responses of sardines Sardina pilchardus to simulated purse-seine capture and slipping. | - CCMAR -

Journal Article

TitleBehavioural responses of sardines Sardina pilchardus to simulated purse-seine capture and slipping.
Publication TypeJournal Article
AuthorsMarçalo, A, Araújo, J, Pousão-Ferreira, P, Pierce, GJ, Stratoudakis, Y, Erzini, K
Year of Publication2013
JournalJ Fish Biol
Volume83
Issue3
Date Published2013 Sep
Pagination480-500
ISSN1095-8649
KeywordsAnimals, Behavior, Animal, Crowding, Fishes, Predatory Behavior, Stress, Physiological, Swimming
Abstract

The behavioural effects of confinement of sardine Sardina pilchardus in a purse seine were evaluated through three laboratory experiments simulating the final stages of purse seining; the process of slipping (deliberately allowing fishes to escape) and subsequent exposure to potential predators. Effects of holding time (the time S. pilchardus were held or entangled in the simulation apparatus) and S. pilchardus density were investigated. Experiment 1 compared the effect of a mild fishing stressor (20 min in the net and low S. pilchardus density) with a control (fishing not simulated) while the second and third experiments compared the mild stressor with a severe stressor (40 min in the net and high S. pilchardus density). In all cases, sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax were used as potential predators. Results indicated a significant effect of crowding time and density on the survival and behaviour of slipped S. pilchardus. After simulated fishing, S. pilchardus showed significant behavioural changes including lower swimming speed, closer approaches to predators and higher nearest-neighbour distances (wider school area) than controls, regardless of stressor severity. These results suggest that, in addition to the delayed and unobserved mortality caused by factors related to fishing operations, slipped pelagic fishes can suffer behavioural impairments that may increase vulnerability to predation. Possible sub-lethal effects of behavioural impairment on fitness are discussed, with suggestions on how stock assessment might be modified to account for both unobserved mortality and sub-lethal effects, and possible approaches to provide better estimates of unobserved mortality in the field are provided.

DOI10.1111/jfb.12184
Sapientia

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23991869?dopt=Abstract

Alternate JournalJ. Fish Biol.
PubMed ID23991869
CCMAR Authors