Bycatch, interactions and trap loss in the Ophichthus remiger fishery in northern Peru

Pasara-Polack A.; Vinatea-Chávez R.; Loza-Choque K.; Grillo-Núñez J.; Quiñe-Fernández M. · Marine and Fishery Sciences (2026) · DOI: 10.47193/mafis.3922026010408

Resumen

Bycatch, interactions with other species −including marine mammals and seabirds− and trap loss in the common eel (Ophichthus remiger) fishery in Peru have been poorly documented, limiting the assessment of the fishery’s potential impacts and the development of mitigation-oriented management strategies. This study presents the first assessment of bycatch and multispecies interactions in the common eel fishery off northern Peru, using data from the Logbook Monitoring System (SBP). A total of 7,400 fishing sets recorded between September 2022 and August 2023 were analyzed. Bycatch represented 1.36% of the total catch volume and included 47 species, mostly benthic invertebrates, of which 94.93% were released alive, suggesting a low impact on non-target species. Interactions with sea lions and seabirds were recorded in 95.05% and 69.64% of sets, respectively. A total of 2,829 traps were lost (0.04% of the total), mainly concentrated in areas of high fishing effort. Comparative analysis with data from the Onboard Observer System (SOB) showed high concordance in catch volume, number of species, and live release, as well as good agreement in the reporting of frequent species. These results help close a key information gap and support the reliability of the SBP as a tool for monitoring bycatch and multispecies interactions in the common eel fishery.

Instituciones: Universidad Científica del Sur