Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Heriot- Watt Għammieri, Ingiered Road, Marsa, MRS 3303, Malta
Research Article
Interactions between Cetaceans and Small-Scale Fisheries around the Central Mediterranean Maltese Islands
Author(s): Matthew Laspina*, Kimberly Terribile and Alicia Said
Cetacean depredation poses threats to both the socioeconomic
viability of fisheries as well as species
conservation. This study is based in the Maltese Islands
where the fishing sector has always been one of a smallscale
nature with 93% of the vessels being less than 12
meters in length. Maltese fishers engage in small-scale
fishing utilizing a variety of artisanal fishing gear including
surface long lines, which are mainly used to target swordfish
and tuna and bottom-long lines; trammel nets and
entangling nets which are used to target groupers, various
species of bream, red snappers and red porgies; and pots
and traps which are generally used to captured octopus and
bogue. This study, which aimed to analyze fishers’
perception with respect to interaction occurrence between
small-scale fisheries and cetaceans in Maltese waters, found
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