Study: Tuna Fishers Could Save Sharks

Researchers found that cliques within the Hawaii-based fishing industry don’t share information with each other.

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Hawaii-based longline fishers could save thousands of sharks from being accidentally captured and killed in the Pacific Ocean by sharing information with each other, according to a new scientific study.

Researchers from the University of Hawaii and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University found that if “cliques” of fishers communicated more with their rivals, it could lead to more sustainable fishing practices, a UH release said Monday.

Michele Barnes, lead author of the study, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, interviewed nearly every Hawaii-based longline tuna fisher — 145 in all, working on 121 different boats —and found there were three distinct groups.

University researchers say tuna fishers could save more sharks, such as this dead bigeye thresher shark, by sharing information with each other.
University researchers say tuna fishers could save more sharks, such as this dead bigeye thresher shark, by sharing information with each other. Courtesy: NOAA Fisheries

“To use the phrase, ‘birds of a feather flock together,’ we definitely found that to be the case here — fishers primarily shared information with those most similar to themselves,” she said in the release.

The study says the three groups are Vietnamese Americans, European Americans and Korean Americans.

Longline fishers drag lines miles long with thousands of hooks, often catching non-target species in the process.

The study found that “enhanced communication channels across segregated fisher groups could have prevented the incidental catch of over 46,000 sharks between 2008 and 2012 in a single commercial fishery.”

Researchers found that tuna fishers may not even be aware that some groups have learned how to avoid sharks more effectively.
Researchers found that tuna fishers may not even be aware that some groups have learned how to avoid sharks more effectively. Courtesy: NOAA Fisheries

“Shark bycatch has significant ecological implications because many species of shark are in sharp decline,” UH co-author John Lynham said in the release.

“But when sharks are accidentally caught,” he said, “there are also economic implications because it takes time for fishers to cut them off the line, they risk losing their gear, and it can be dangerous”

Barnes said it was unclear whether fishers are even aware that some groups have learned how to avoid sharks more effectively.

“Sharks are vital to the health of the oceans, and fishing supports the livelihoods of millions of people across the globe,” she said. “So when we can find simple, low-cost ways to reduce the number of sharks that are accidentally caught, it’s great for fishers, and for the oceans.”

The industry generates $65 million to $94 million annually, according to the study.

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