Abstract

Several species of marine mammals are known to interact with commercial fishing operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Depredation can have negative consequences for fisherman through loss of fish, bait, or gear which devalues catch and can result in injury to marine mammals through gear entanglement or retaliatory actions of fisherman. Depredation of catch by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) was observed from June 2011 to March 2012 while onboard com-mercial reef fish fishing vessels in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the coast of Texas and Florida (n=177 sets, 489 hours). Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) were near fishing vessels however none were observed depredating or directly interacting with vessels. Depredation of catch by bottlenose dolphins occurred during 12.2% of fishing time and during 20.9% of sets. Of 124 total bottlenose dolphins sighted 120 were observed depredating catch. Atlantic spotted dolphins were near fishing vessels 0.91% of fishing time. Data was analyzed using ANOVA and post hoc tests with dependent variables of statistical management zone (SMZ) and fishing gear or target fish-ery. There were no differences in depredation among gear types (p = 0.6163, F = 0.49). Juvenile dolphins were ob-served more in SMZ 6, near Tampa, Florida than in other SMZs (p = 0.0004, F = 4.85, n = 177). Atlantic spotted dol-phins were seen more frequently in SMZ 5 and 6 than in other SMZs (p = 0.0357, F = 2.45, n = 177). Bottlenose dolphins were commonly sighted near fishing vessels off the coast of Texas

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