Incidental capture of the short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) in the industrial purse seine fishery in northern Chile

Incidental capture of marine mammals during fishing activities is a worldwide concern given the potentially drastic effects this can have on marine mammal populations. To assess the interaction between marine mammals and industrial fishery, an onboard observer monitored 8 purse seine fishing trips in northern Chile. He reported the incidental capture of 58 short-beaked common dolphins, 3 of which died, and one South American sea lion, which also died. The mortality rate of dolphins was 0.15 dolphins/haul and 0.3 dolphins/fishing trip, whereas for sea lions the mortality rate was 0.05 sea lions/haul and 0.125 sea lions/fishing trip. This study recorded for the first time the incidental capture of common dolphins in industrial fishery in Chile, and emphasizes the need to implement a specific monitoring plan to estimate bycatch rates of marine mammals.