Sea duck predation in mussel farms: the best nets for excluding common eiders safely and efficiently
Shellfish aquaculture is a growing food-producing sector. The blue mussel Mytilus edulis is the primary farmed shellfish and is also a main prey for various species of sea ducks. With their large density of high-quality mussels, mussel farms attract these predators, and consequent depredation by duc...
Published in: | Aquaculture Environment Interactions |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Inter-Research
2013
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3354/aei00072 https://doaj.org/article/41952298422c4bea8fc774cf636254f0 |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:41952298422c4bea8fc774cf636254f0 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:41952298422c4bea8fc774cf636254f0 2023-05-15T18:20:27+02:00 Sea duck predation in mussel farms: the best nets for excluding common eiders safely and efficiently É Varennes SA Hanssen J Bonardelli M Guillemette 2013-06-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3354/aei00072 https://doaj.org/article/41952298422c4bea8fc774cf636254f0 EN eng Inter-Research https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/aei/v4/n1/p31-39/ https://doaj.org/toc/1869-215X https://doaj.org/toc/1869-7534 1869-215X 1869-7534 doi:10.3354/aei00072 https://doaj.org/article/41952298422c4bea8fc774cf636254f0 Aquaculture Environment Interactions, Vol 4, Iss 1, Pp 31-39 (2013) Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling SH1-691 Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2013 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3354/aei00072 2022-12-31T07:08:23Z Shellfish aquaculture is a growing food-producing sector. The blue mussel Mytilus edulis is the primary farmed shellfish and is also a main prey for various species of sea ducks. With their large density of high-quality mussels, mussel farms attract these predators, and consequent depredation by ducks represents a substantial economic loss among mussel growers worldwide. Total exclusion with nets seems to be the only method that provides complete and long-term control of bird predation. The best nets for duck exclusion must be cost effective, efficient, easy to handle, and safe for bird populations. In order to identify the best net type, we tested 8 different nets under controlled conditions using captive common eiders Somateria mollissima, the largest sea duck species in the Northern Hemisphere. We identified a net with a maximum mesh size of 6 inches (~15 cm) and large twine size to be best in excluding common eiders considering the above-mentioned criteria. Nets with thin twine and large mesh size were more likely to cause bird entanglement. In addition to using the best nets for sea duck exclusion, it is necessary to identify a target zone where such nets are the most effective. Good knowledge of the predation problem as well as collaboration among mussel growers, bird specialists, and government authorities are essential to reduce the costs and effort of installing and maintaining exclusion nets. Article in Journal/Newspaper Somateria mollissima Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Aquaculture Environment Interactions 4 1 31 39 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling SH1-691 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling SH1-691 Ecology QH540-549.5 É Varennes SA Hanssen J Bonardelli M Guillemette Sea duck predation in mussel farms: the best nets for excluding common eiders safely and efficiently |
topic_facet |
Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling SH1-691 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Shellfish aquaculture is a growing food-producing sector. The blue mussel Mytilus edulis is the primary farmed shellfish and is also a main prey for various species of sea ducks. With their large density of high-quality mussels, mussel farms attract these predators, and consequent depredation by ducks represents a substantial economic loss among mussel growers worldwide. Total exclusion with nets seems to be the only method that provides complete and long-term control of bird predation. The best nets for duck exclusion must be cost effective, efficient, easy to handle, and safe for bird populations. In order to identify the best net type, we tested 8 different nets under controlled conditions using captive common eiders Somateria mollissima, the largest sea duck species in the Northern Hemisphere. We identified a net with a maximum mesh size of 6 inches (~15 cm) and large twine size to be best in excluding common eiders considering the above-mentioned criteria. Nets with thin twine and large mesh size were more likely to cause bird entanglement. In addition to using the best nets for sea duck exclusion, it is necessary to identify a target zone where such nets are the most effective. Good knowledge of the predation problem as well as collaboration among mussel growers, bird specialists, and government authorities are essential to reduce the costs and effort of installing and maintaining exclusion nets. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
É Varennes SA Hanssen J Bonardelli M Guillemette |
author_facet |
É Varennes SA Hanssen J Bonardelli M Guillemette |
author_sort |
É Varennes |
title |
Sea duck predation in mussel farms: the best nets for excluding common eiders safely and efficiently |
title_short |
Sea duck predation in mussel farms: the best nets for excluding common eiders safely and efficiently |
title_full |
Sea duck predation in mussel farms: the best nets for excluding common eiders safely and efficiently |
title_fullStr |
Sea duck predation in mussel farms: the best nets for excluding common eiders safely and efficiently |
title_full_unstemmed |
Sea duck predation in mussel farms: the best nets for excluding common eiders safely and efficiently |
title_sort |
sea duck predation in mussel farms: the best nets for excluding common eiders safely and efficiently |
publisher |
Inter-Research |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3354/aei00072 https://doaj.org/article/41952298422c4bea8fc774cf636254f0 |
genre |
Somateria mollissima |
genre_facet |
Somateria mollissima |
op_source |
Aquaculture Environment Interactions, Vol 4, Iss 1, Pp 31-39 (2013) |
op_relation |
https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/aei/v4/n1/p31-39/ https://doaj.org/toc/1869-215X https://doaj.org/toc/1869-7534 1869-215X 1869-7534 doi:10.3354/aei00072 https://doaj.org/article/41952298422c4bea8fc774cf636254f0 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3354/aei00072 |
container_title |
Aquaculture Environment Interactions |
container_volume |
4 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
31 |
op_container_end_page |
39 |
_version_ |
1766197969141366784 |