Commercial fishing patterns influence odontocete whale-longline interactions in the Southern Ocean

The emergence of longline fishing around the world has been concomitant with an increase in
depredation-interactions by odontocete whales (removal of fish caught on hooks), resulting in
substantial socio-economic and ecological impacts. The extent, trends and underlying mechanisms
driving these interactions remain poorly known. Using long-term (2003–2017) datasets from seven
major Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) longline fisheries, this study assessed the levels
and inter-annual trends of sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) and/or killer whale (Orcinus orca)
interactions as proportions of fishing time (days) and fishing area (spatial cells). The role of fishing
patterns in explaining between-fisheries variations of probabilities of odontocete interactions was
investigated. While interaction levels remained globally stable since the early 2000s, they varied
greatly between fisheries from 0 to >50% of the fishing days and area. Interaction probabilities were
influenced by the seasonal concentration of fishing effort, size of fishing areas, density of vessels, their
mobility and the depth at which they operated. The results suggest that between-fisheries variations
of interaction probabilities are largely explained by the extent to which vessels provide whales with
opportunities for interactions. Determining the natural distribution of whales will, therefore, allow
fishers to implement better strategies of spatio-temporal avoidance of depredation.