In oceans where nets and hooks have long been part of everyday life, an unexpected alliance is being born: scientists and fishers are searching together for ways to reduce the harm done to whales, albatrosses and sharks. Instead of the usual confrontation, there are joint experiments that are already yielding their first results in the waters of Latin America and beyond.
In Argentina, sport fishers and biologists succeeded in changing the rules of a major tournament in order to protect the guitarfish — a species whose population has sharply declined because of fishing and environmental change. This species is now excluded from the tournament standings, and the participants themselves monitor compliance with the new rules.
Off the coast of Peru, researchers are testing acoustic devices — pingers that scare whales away from nets. In an experiment with four artisanal boats, the number of entanglements fell by almost 53 percent. Fishers note not only less damage to their nets but also the possibility of preserving their catch without unnecessary losses.
Albatrosses that fly in from New Zealand to feed off the coasts of Peru and Chile often end up on the hooks of longline fishing. Scientists are using satellite tracking to understand the birds' routes and are proposing simple measures: changing the depth at which gear is set and using special deterrents. The first tests show a reduction in accidental deaths.
In England, another approach is being tested: buoys with moving eyes and kites shaped like birds of prey. These "scarecrows" noticeably reduce the approaches of diving seabirds to nets. Fishers are taking part in the trials and see that the devices do not interfere with the main fishery.
In the Mexican Caribbean, the Kab Shok fishers' cooperative has reduced shark fishing by 80 percent since 2022 and is now promoting the creation of the country's first shark and ray reserve managed by the fishers themselves. The initiative also covers protection of the region's coral reefs.
When fishers and scientists work together, simple technical solutions and changes to fishing rules help preserve both marine life and the fishery itself.
