Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Team Update: Abundance and Mortality September Dr. Lance P. Garrison Dr. Patricia Rosel Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Abundance Estimate (CV) Nmin Potential Biological Removal Combined Short- finned and Long- finned (2009 SAR) 31,139 (0.27)24, Long-finned pilot whale (Draft 2010 SAR) 12,619 (0.37)9,33393 Short-finned pilot whale (Draft 2010 SAR) 24,674 (0.45)17, Revised Abundance Estimates: Draft 2010 SAR Average Mortality and Serious Injury (combined) : 175 (CV = 0.14)
Splitting Abundance Estimates: Approach Analytical Approach: Logistic regression to predict the probability of a sample being from shortfin (or longfin) pilot whale based on location of sample, water depth, surface water temperature, surface chlorophyll Habitat Data: Remotely sensed habitat SST (1 km) and CHL (4km) 8-day composites used to extract values based on sample location/collection date. Bottom depth from 1-minute resolution bathymetry grid. Prediction: Predict the probability that an observed group of pilot whales is of a particular species based on environmental conditions at sighting location. Use this probability to partition abundance estimates from 2004 surveys.
YearMonthLong-finnedShort-finnedTotal 1998July August August June July July July August July August TOTAL Pilot Whale Abundance Estimates: Biopsy Samples from June-August Includes both Field Collection and Bycatch
Pilot Whale Abundance Estimates: Biopsy Samples from June-August
Pilot Whale Abundance Estimates: Logistic Regression Results Best model included Depth, SST and their Interaction effect
Pilot Whale Abundance Estimates: 2004 Summer Pilot Whale Sightings All sightings in the NEC aerial surveys are expected to be long- finned pilot whales. Abundance estimate: 11,038 (CV = 0.4) All sightings in the SEC ship survey are expected to be short- finned pilot whales Abundance estimate: 21,056 (CV = 0.5) Sightings in the NEC ship survey are in the mixed zone.
Pilot Whale Abundance Estimates: Probability of Being Short-finned
Species Bootstrap Mean Abundance Bootstrap 95% Confidence Limit Short- finned 3,6181,112 – 8,294 Long- finned 1, – 5,307 Pilot Whale Abundance Estimates
SurveyLatitude RangeSpecies Abundance estimate (CV) Atlantic Cetacean Survey (SEFSC ) 28° N to 38° NShort-finned21,056 (0.52) Northeast Cetacean Survey - Vessel (NEFSC) 38° N to 41° NMixed SF - 3,618 (0.50) LF - 1,581 (0.86) Northeast Cetacean Survey - Aerial (NEFSC ) 41° N to ~45° NLong-finned 11,038 (0.40) Total Abundance Estimates (CV) Short-finned24,674 (0.45) Long-finned12,619 (0.37) Pilot Whale Abundance Estimates
Pilot Whale Bycatch and Biopsy Data Limited Data to Parse Out Mortality Estimates
Longline Observer Biopsy Samples false killer whale Risso’s dolphin SF pilot whale, common dolphin minke whale bottlenose dolphin pantropical spotted dolphin sperm whale pygmy sperm whale
Longline Observer Biopsy Samples We have received 10 biopsy samples between November 2008 and April 2010 Wide variety of species 1 short-finned pilot whale off of New Jersey Field IdentificationGenetic Identification Unknown marine mammalSperm whale Pilot whaleFalse killer whale Bottlenose dolphinNot run yet Risso’s dolphinNot run yet Pantropical spotted dolphin Pilot whale sp.Short-finned pilot whale Common dolphin Unidentified large whaleMinke whale Pantropical spotted dolphin Dwarf sperm whalePygmy sperm whale
Observed Interactions
QuarterCARFECGOMMABNECNEDSABSARTUNTotal Total Percent Observer Coverage
Observed Interactions SpeciesDead Serious InjuryReleased AliveTotal Pilot Whale0 224 Risso's Dolphin 0235 Bottlenose Dolphin 0213 Common Dolphin1001 Pantrop. Spotted Dolphin0415 Unid. Dolphin 0011 Unid. Marine Mammal 0101 Total111820
Pilot Whale Bycatch Rates Quarter Area CPUE % CI 2009 CPUE % CI 1 MAB – MAB – MAB – – NEC – – MAB – – Pilot whale bycatch rates were lower than normal in each quarter. No interactions in quarters 1 & 2. No serious injuries observed in quarter 3.
Risso’s Bycatch Rates Quarter Area CPUE % CI 2009 CPUE % CI 3 MAB – – NEC – – NED – MAB – NEC – Risso’s Dolphin bycatch rates were higher in the 3 rd quarter, but lower in the 4 th Quarter.
Estimated Annual Bycatch Species Alive 95% CI Serious Injury/Mortality SI 95% CI Total Common Dolphin – Bottlenose Dolphin – – Pantropical Spotted Dolphin – – Risso’s Dolphin – – Pilot Whale – – Unid. Dolphin – Unid. Marine Mammal –
Pilot Whale Bycatch and Effort Trends
Risso’s Dolphin Bycatch and Effort Trends
Observed Bycatch Quarters 1 and 2 of 2010
SpeciesRegion # Released Un- injured # Dead# Serious Injury Pantropical Spotted DolphinGOM100 Unidentified Marine Mammal GOM010 Pilot WhaleFEC001 Minke WhaleSAB100 SpeciesRegion # Released Un- injured # Dead# Serious Injury Un-identified DolphinGOM100 Bottlenose Dolphin GOM (Exp.) 001 Unidentified Marine Mammal GOM001 Pygmy Sperm WhaleGOM010 Pilot WhaleMAB003 Bottlenose DolphinSAB100 Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Observed Bycatch Quarters 1 and 2 of 2010
QuarterSpecies Area CPUE % CI 2010 CPUE % CI 1Pilot Whale FEC – Pilot Whale MAB – Pilot Whale MAB – – Bycatch Rates Quarters 1 and 2 of 2010 Very high bycatch rate in quarter 2. 3 Pilot whale SI in one set.
Mainline Length in MAB Before and After PLTRP Rule