Killer whale (Orcinus orca) sightings and depredation on tuna and swordfish longline catches in southern Brazil

Observations of killer whale (Orcinus orca) depredation on tuna and swordfish longline
fisheries in southern Brazil were made during nine cruises on board tuna boats, from August
1987 to August 1991. During the astral winter, fisheries occur in south and southeast Brazil,
mainly in the latitudes between 30" S and 35" S and from November to March they are
carried out off the Brazilian northeast coast. Killer whales and sharks commonly attack
hooked tuna (Thunnus spp.) but killer whales seem to prefer the swordfish (Xiphias gladius)