Entanglement and Drowning of a Magellanic Penguin in a Gill Net recorded by a Time-depth recorder in south-central Chile

Puetz K., L. Hiriart-Bertrand et al 2010 Waterbirds. Accepted

           Incidental mortality in fishing gear has resulted in the decline of many seabird species. While great efforts have been made to implement mitigation measures in longlining and, more recently, trawling, comparatively little attention has so far been given to artisanal fishing. In the 2008/09 breeding season, the foraging behaviour of Humboldt Spheniscus humboldti and Magellanic Penguins S. magellanicus breeding sympatrically on Puñihuil islets in southern Chile was studied. During the course of this study, one Magellanic Penguin equipped with a time-depth recorder became entangled and subsequently drowned in a gill net set for Corvina Drum (Cilus gilberti). The device was returned by fishermen and the data recorded are, to our knowledge, the first documented case of such a drowning in marine, air-breathing vertebrates. According to the data retrieved, while diving to a depth of more than 50 m, the bird became entangled and remained below 60 m for nearly 21 hours until the net was hauled. These findings are discussed in relation to local and regional fishing operations and potential mitigation measures to reduce bycatch of penguins, other seabirds and marine mammals in artisanal fishing.