The global extent and severity of operational interactions between conflicting pinnipeds and fisheries
John Jackson, William N. S. Arlidge, Rodrigo Oyanedel, Katrina Davis
Abstract
Recent population recovery of many pinniped species (seals, sea lions, walrus) is a conservation success. However, pinniped population recovery combined with increasing global fisheries operations is leading to increased conflicts between pinnipeds and fisheries. This human-wildlife conflict threatens pinniped conservation outcomes and may impose damaging impacts on fisheries, but the economic consequences and extent of these impacts are poorly understood. Here, we provide a global assessment of pinniped and fisheries operational interactions. We show that a third of reported fishing days have interactions with pinnipeds and 13.8% of catch is lost. Our results also reveal high heterogeneity between studies. Small-scale fisheries are three times more likely to interact with pinnipeds and lose four times as much catch as large-scale fisheries. Finally, we develop a spatial index that can predict where conflict is most likely to occur. Our findings reveal a substantial global issue requiring appropriate management as pinniped populations continue to recover. Davis and colleagues investigate global conflict between pinnipeds and fisheries. In the analyzed fisheries, pinniped interactions occur on 33% of days and 14% of catch is lost or damaged. The authors develop a spatial forecasting tool to predict areas of future conflict.