Entangled cetacean events in El Salvador

Abstract

Entanglement in fishing gear is recognized as the main modern threat to cetacean populations worldwide. The following is the first evidence of interactions between artisanal marine-coastal fisheries and cetaceans along the Pacific coast of El Salvador. Between 2017 and 2022, five entanglement events were recorded, two in oceanic dolphin species, Stenella longirostris and S. attenuata, three cases of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, one of them was a mother and a dependent calf, entangled in the same fishing gear. These five incidents were documented in western El Salvador, near the Port of Acajutla and constitute the first report of cetacean entanglement in the country, including a case affecting a population of endangered migratory whales and a threatened dolphin species. Of note, two cases of live entanglement involved attempts/successful release of the animals by local volunteer fishermen, rangers, and naval force personnel not trained in cetacean rescue. This report highlights the need to manage and mitigate fishing interactions with cetaceans in El Salvador, including training of rescue teams, to reduce the threat of cetacean entanglement and risk to human life during rescue attempts.