Scientists Use Plastic Bottles on Fishing Nets to Reduce Dolphin Bycatch
Recent studies have explored the innovative use of plastic bottles attached to fishing nets to reduce dolphin bycatch. Conducted in Zanzibar, Peru, and Brazil, these studies tested the effectiveness of attaching glass or plastic bottles to gillnets, which are known for unintentionally catching marine life such as dolphins. The research found that in Brazil, where nets are anchored to the seafloor, the use of plastic bottles showed promise in reducing dolphin bycatch by 88% without affecting the catch of target fish. The bottles help reflect sound from dolphins' echolocation, potentially alerting them to the presence of the nets. However, the effectiveness varied in different environments, with less success observed in surface waters due to noise interference. The studies suggest that this low-cost method could be widely adopted to improve the conservation of coastal dolphin species. 
