Bycatch Evidence Evaluation Project

At present, diagnosing bycatch in cetaceans from observations made on the beach lacks credibility among the scientific community.

Consequently bycatch statistics are based solely on animals that undergo a post-mortem examination by a veterinary pathologist.

As a result, a lot of valuable information from animals that are not subject to post-mortem examination is lost or ignored and the current data do not reflect the true scale of bycatch mortalities.

Objective of BEEP

• To establish credibility and acceptance of a photo-based protocol for diagnosing bycatch in small cetaceans.

The study

The aims of the project are to:

• Develop a protocol for collecting standardised records of external signs on animals on the beach, regardless of their origin.
• Test the data to establish which signs can be uniformly recorded by a wide range of observers, including many with limited training and experience.
• Test the observed signs statistically and in particular, compare these with post-mortem results (where these are available) to identify which patterns are reliable indicators of bycatch or of other causes of death.
• Publish the finally agreed method in cooperation with veterinary pathologists to establish a firm basis for the future credibility and value of this kind of diagnosis.

The project will exploit the wide availability of digital photography to allow independent checking of the records and assessments made on the beach. Ideally, this study will bring together observers and data from several countries to establish the general validity of the method.

Note: This project is not intended to replace post-mortem examinations. However, it is hoped that this method may used in conjunction with post-mortem examinations and also in situations where post-mortems examinations are not possible because of factors such as inaccessibility of carcasses or because of post-mortem funding cuts.

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