Assessing the risk of whale entanglement in pot fisheries in Irish waters

Entanglement of large whales in static fishing gear, specifically in pot fisheries, is an increasing issue worldwide. This study assessed the entanglement risk of Ireland’s three most frequently observed large whales, humpback ( Megaptera novaeangliae ), minke ( Balaenoptera acutorostrata ), and fin whales ( Balaenoptera physalus ), with pot fisheries within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone. Pot fisheries in Ireland are steadily growing, increasing the likelihood of present, and future, negative interactions with whales. An estimated 85% of the Irish pot fisheries take place within the 12-nautical mile limit, resulting in an increased vulnerability for whales distributed near the coast. This study determined the likelihood of co-occurrence of pot fisheries and large whales, identified areas and times of the year where the risk of entanglement was highest, and reports on actual entanglement cases associated with pot fisheries. Humpback and minke whales have a higher risk of entanglement off the southwest and south coasts of Ireland, while higher-risk areas for fin whales were located off the south coast. This study also identified data gaps that need to be addressed to improve future assessments and identify risk areas at a finer spatial resolution.