Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Scientific Correspondence
  • Published:

Acoustic alarms reduce porpoise mortality

Abstract

The most serious danger to dolphins and porpoises around the world is the threat from various forms of gill-net fishing. One potential way to reduce the number of deaths of marine mammals is the use of active acoustic alarms to warn animals about the presence of nets1. Until now, acoustic alarms have not been tested in field experiments with sufficient statistical power2. Here we describe a field experiment showing that acoustic alarms are effective at reducing the number of deaths of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in sink gill-nets.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Jefferson, T. A. & Curry, B. Biol. Conserv. 67, 167–183 (1994).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dawson, S. M. Rep. Int. Whaling Commiss. 15, 573– 578 (1994).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Perrin, W. F., Donovan, G. P. & Barlow, J. (eds) Rep. Int. Whaling Commiss.Spec. Iss.15 (1994).

  4. Andersen, S. Invest. Cetacea 2, 256–259 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Møhl, B. J. Aud. Res. 8, 27–38 ( 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Kastelein, R. A., Goodson, A. D., Lien, J. & de Haan, D. in Harbour Porpoises: Laboratory Studies to Reduce Bycatch (eds Nachtigall, P. E., Lien, J., Au, W. W. L. & Read, A. J.) 157-167 (De Spil, Woerden, 1995).

  7. Recchia, C. R. & Read, A. J. Can. J. Zool. 67, 2140–2146 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Enger, P. S. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 22, 527–538 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Popper, A. N. & Platt, C. Nature 280, 832–833 (1979).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Author notes

  1. Drew facilitated data collection aboard the fishing vessels.

    Authors

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    About this article

    Cite this article

    Kraus, S., Read, A., Solow, A. et al. Acoustic alarms reduce porpoise mortality. Nature 388, 525 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/41451

    Download citation

    • Issue Date:

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/41451

    This article is cited by

    Comments

    By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

    Search

    Quick links

    Nature Briefing

    Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

    Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing