Marine megafauna bycatch in the Pelagie Archipelago fisheries (Strait of Sicily, central Mediterranean)
Published:
Oct 17, 2025
Keywords:
bycatch conservation longline Pelagie Archipelago seabirds
Abstract
Seabirds rank among the most threatened long-lived marine species globally, with unintentional capture in fisheries (bycatch) being a major source of mortality. The Pelagie Archipelago, located in the Strait of Sicily in the central Mediterranean, hosts different fishing activities and is a hotspot for marine megafauna biodiversity, including the second most important breeding colony of Scopoli’s shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) in the Mediterranean. This study presents one of the first assessments of seabird bycatch in Italian waters, evaluating the impact of multiple fishing gears on marine megafauna, particularly seabirds, using data collected between 2021 and 2024. A total of 35 fishing trips (215 hauls) were monitored through onboard observations, and 29 structured interviews were conducted with local fishers. Bycatch rates were estimated using standardized metrics, including Bycatch Per Unit Effort (BPUE; birds per 1,000 hooks) for drifting longlines, which are the gear most frequently associated with seabird mortality. Overall, 27 C. diomedea and 9 yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis) were unintentionally caught during drifting longline operations, with an additional C. diomedea caught incidentally in bottom trawling. No seabird bycatch was observed in other gear types, such as gillnets, lines, and set longlines). However, a number of other long-lived species of conservation concern, including sharks, rays, and sea turtles were unintentionally caught, primarily through bottom trawling and drifting longlines. No cetaceans were caught by any gear during the monitoring fishing trips. During the interview survey, fishers reported several incidents of bycatch involving seabirds, elasmobranchs, and sea turtles, particularly related to drifting longlines. This represents the first preliminary investigation indicating that bycatch of different seabird species occurs in the Pelagie Archipelago. Overall, the data demonstrated that drifting longlines could pose a threat to the survival of these species in the area. Finally, more research and collaboration with fisheries are essential to gather additional data and evaluate the potential conservation implications for marine megafauna in the Pelagie Archipelago.
Article Details
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BONANOMI, S., DI GANGI, A., VULCANO, A., CELADA, C., & GAIBANI, G. (2025). Marine megafauna bycatch in the Pelagie Archipelago fisheries (Strait of Sicily, central Mediterranean). Mediterranean Marine Science, 26(4), 827–841. https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.40718
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