Has a shark, seal, dolphin, chicken, or different predator snagged your hooked fish whereas combating it on the top of your fishing line?
Researchers from UMass Amherst need to hear from fishermen about this rising concern for leisure anglers.
Depredation — the lack of an angler’s catch earlier than the fish is reeled in — has grow to be more and more frequent as conservation efforts result in extra sharks, seals and different species alongside Cape Cod and the Northeast. In the meantime, there are extra fishermen out on the water.
Because of this, native scientists are attempting to higher perceive this problem alongside the Northeast continental shelf, from North Carolina as much as Maine — and to probably work out some options to assist out fishermen.
“These are interactions that anglers would have once in a while before, but it can happen multiple times on a single fishing trip now,” stated UMass Amherst researcher Evan Prasky. “And it’s not just sharks. There are a lot of seals that are starting to do this.”
The seal inhabitants has been booming alongside the Cape after authorities restrictions many a long time in the past banned the killing of seals.
The seal inhabitants has since recovered, and that has attracted nice white sharks to the area.
“When you combine the conservation success stories with the increase in fishing participation, the encounter rates are naturally going to be higher,” stated UMass Amherst researcher Andy Danylchuk.
Over the summer time off the Massachusetts coast, there have been quite a few reviews of nice white sharks taking striped bass in conjunction with fishermen’s boats. Many different predators have additionally been noticed taking hooked fish from anglers.
“Ultimately, it’s a matter of changing human behavior,” Danylchuk stated of any potential options. “We don’t manage sharks and seals.”
One of many options might be fishing in areas away from areas the place seals collect.
Additionally, reeling in fish sooner would possibly assist. When scientists studied hammerhead sharks and tarpons within the Florida Keys, the researchers noticed that depredation incidents dropped if the anglers introduced the catch in faster.
“It’s about getting the fish in your boat as soon as you can,” Prasky stated.
Additionally, a technological resolution might be shark deterrent gadgets — much like what some surfers put on on their ankles to forestall shark bites.
The gadgets mounted on boats can create an electromagnetic subject to maintain sharks away. Nonetheless, these gadgets aren’t efficient in opposition to seals, birds and different animals.
This analysis examine is titled, “Assessing recreational angler experiences with depredation along the Northeast continental shelf of the United States.”
The scientists need to hear from anybody who’s 18-plus and has saltwater leisure angling expertise from North Carolina to Maine. They’re fascinated about listening to from anglers of all ability ranges.
“This survey/questionnaire will ask about your beliefs and actions regarding recreational fishing and depredation from North Carolina to Maine,” the survey reads. “The questionnaire will take you approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.”
On the completion of the examine, contributors can elect to enter a raffle for a Patagonia Guidewater Backpack. The survey will probably be open till the top of October.
The net analysis survey could be accessed at: umassamherst.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/kind/SV_cSBJ6y8khaAKRfg.
