Post-release survival and prolonged sublethal effects of capture and barotrauma on deep-dwelling rockfishes (genus Sebastes): implications for fish management and conservation

Abstract

Barotrauma—injury induced by changes in pressure—is a widespread challenge for successfully releasing fishes following capture. We used acoustic telemetry to examine the long-term post-release survival and behaviour of four rockfish species (genus Sebastes) suffering from barotrauma following capture using recreational fishing techniques. We placed particular emphasis on examining Cowcod (Sebastes levis) and Bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinis), two historically overfished species along the United States West Coast that serve as good model species representing different ecological lifestyles. We show that fish survival was species specific and that 40% of observed mortality occurred more than 48 h post release—a typical time period used in many short-term survivorship studies. Cowcod survival was correlated with fish length, sea surface temperature, and dissolved oxygen concentration at the mean depth of capture. Generalized additive mixed models of Cowcod and Bocaccio behaviour showed that surviving individuals were negatively affected by capture and barotrauma for at least 30 d post-release. Our findings demonstrate the need for extended observations to accurately quantify the mortality of fishes suffering from barotrauma and show how such data can be successfully implemented into fisheries management through engagement between managers, scientists, and the fishing community.

Economic Improvement of Artisanal Fishing by Studying the Survival of Discarded Plectorhinchus mediterraneus

“…Similar results were observed in P. bogaraveus captured in the same geographical area at depths around 234 to 452 m by hookline [ 20 ]. This ability to regain buoyancy is crucial to improving the survival of captured species, as barotrauma greatly diminishes survival rates of captured teleosts [ 48 , 49 ]. In this sense, the present study shows survival rates higher than 93% when captured by gillnet, and up to 100% when P. mediterraneus is captured by hookline.…”

Evaluation of six methods for external attachment of electronic tags to fish: assessment of tag retention, growth and fish welfare

“…(2020) and Wegner et al . (2021) affixed transmitters with two small nylon dart tips attached to a length of galvanized steel wire; the transmitter was fixed to the wire with heat shrink and the dart tips were inserted into the dorsal musculature. In these two studies, it was necessary for transmitters to be affixed at both ends because they contained accelerometers and therefore any dangling or swinging of the tag would bias the readings of this sensor. Cinch‐up .…”

Depredation of Demersal Reef Fishes Released with Descender Devices Is Uncommon off North Carolina, USA

“…2020b; Wegner et al. 2021). As a result of this research, descender devices are required gear onboard any vessel fishing for or possessing reef species in the southeastern United States (SAFMC 2020).…”