First insights into the vertical habitat use of young porbeagles in the north-western Atlantic with implications for bycatch reduction strategies

Abstract

Context

For threatened marine species, data on their vertical habitat use patterns can reveal risk of interactions with fishing gear and can inform bycatch avoidance strategies. Such data are lacking for young porbeagles (Lamna nasus), which are captured as bycatch in north-western Atlantic fisheries.

Aims

We aimed to examine temporal patterns in diving and characterise vertical habitat use of young porbeagles during summer and autumn.

Methods

We used data from short-term (28-day), high-resolution (5-min interval) pop-off satellite tags attached to 14 young (young-of-the-year and 1-year-old) porbeagles to model depth use.

Key results

Occupied depths ranged from the sea surface to 679 m, with ambient water temperatures of −0.2 to 26°C. Diel period and season were factors related to depth use.

Conclusions

Sharks exhibited a diel activity pattern characterised by more extensive use of the water column during the day while remaining primarily at the surface at night. Depth use differed between seasons, with summer characterised by greater affinity for surface waters (0–10 m) compared to autumn.

Implications

Young porbeagles are at risk of interaction with active fisheries on the continental shelf, but interactions may be reduced by setting gear deeper at night or during summer.