SYDNEY: At least one dolphin a week is being killed in trawl nets in northern Western Australia and the death toll is rising as authorities fail to address the ongoing problem, according to scientists at Perth’s Murdoch University.
The Pilbara fishery, one of the most lucrative fishing areas in Australia, is currently trawled by two vessels – one operated by MG Kailis, the other by Westmore Seafoods.
Trawl fishing in the Pilbara region was identified as a threat to the local bottlenose dolphin population when the Department of Fisheries began assessing the impact of fishing on marine life in the area more than 10 years ago.
The dolphins are dying as a result of their injuries such as torn fins, lacerated flanks and broken beaks after being caught alongside the target catch species in large trawl nets which are dragged through the ocean at high speeds.
Various reports, some conflicting, suggested 25 to 100 dolphins a year were caught and killed in nets in the region since studies began.
The latest study by Murdoch University in 2014 found that about 50 dolphins a year were being killed in the Pilbara catch, however, Murdoch scientist Simon Allen said the rate of dolphin capture appeared to have risen in recent years.
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