ICCAT bycatch species

Bycatch species

Bycatch is the unintentional/incidental capture of non-target species during fishing operations. Different types of fisheries have different types and levels of bycatch, depending on the gear used, the time, area and depth fished, etc.Article IV of the Convention states: "the Commission shall be responsible for the study of the population of tuna and tuna-like fishes (the Scombriformes with the exception of Trichiuridae and Gempylidae and the genus Scomber) and such other species of fishes exploited in tuna fishing in the Convention area as are not under investigation by another international fishery organization".

The following is a list of bycatch species recorded as being ever caught by any major tuna fishery in the Atlantic/Mediterranean. Note that the lists are qualitative and are not indicative of quantity nor mortality. Thus, the presence of a species in the lists does not imply that it is caught in significant quantities, nor that individuals that are caught necessarily die.

Skates and rays
Scientific names	Common name	Code	LL	GILL	PS	BB	HARP	TRAP	OTHER
Dasyatis centroura	Roughtail stingray	RDC	X
Dasyatis violacea	Pelagic stingray	PLS	X	X	X		X
Manta birostris	Manta ray	RMB	X	X	X
Mobula hypostoma		RMH	X
Mobula lucasana					X
Mobula mobular	Devil ray	RMM	X	X	X		X		X
Myliobatis aquila	Common eagle ray	MYL	X	X
Pteuromylaeus bovinus	Bull ray	MPO	X	X
Raja fullonica	Shagreen ray	RJF	X
Raja straeleni	Spotted skate	RFL	X
Rhinoptera spp	Cownose ray				X
Torpedo nobiliana	Torpedo ray	TTO	X	X	X

Coastal sharks
Scientific names	Common name	Code	LL	GILL	PS	BB	HARP	TRAP	OTHER
Carcharhinus altimus	Bignose shark	CCA	X
Carcharhinus brachyurus	Copper shark	BRO	X	X
Carcharhinus brevipinna	Spinner shark	CCB	X	X
Carcharhinus galapagensis	Galapagos shark	CCG	X
Carcharhinus leucas	Bull shark	CCE	X
Carcharhinus limbatus	Blacktip shark	CCL	X	X					X
Carcharhinus obscurus	Dusky shark	DUS	X	X
Carcharhinus perezi	Caribbean reef shark	CCV	X
Carcharhinus plumbeus	Sandbar shark	CCP	X	X				X
Carcharhinus porosus	Smalltail shark	CCR	X
Carcharhinus signatus	Night shark	CCS	X
Carcharias taurus	Sand tiger shark	CCT	X	X			X		X
Carcharodon carcharias	(Great) White shark	WSH	X	X	X		X	X	X
Centrophorus granulosus	Gulper shark	GUP	X
Centroscymnus crepidater	Longnose velvet dogfish	CYP	X
Cetorhinus maximus	Basking shark	BSK	X	X			X
Deania calcea	Birdbeak dogfish	DCA	X
Etmopterus spinax	Velvet belly	ETX	X
Galeocerdo cuvieri	Tiger shark	TIG	X	X
Galeorhinus galeus	Tope shark	GAG	X	X
Galeus melastomus	Blackmouth catshark	SHO		X					X
Heptranchias perlo	Sharpnose sevengill shark	HXT	X	X					X
Hexanchus griseus	Bluntnose sixgill shark	SBL	X	X			X		X
Megachasma pelagios	Megamouth shark	LMP	X
Mustelus asterias	Starry smoothhound	SDS	X	X
Mustelus canis	Dusky smooth-hound	CTI	X
Mustelus morrisi	Narrowfin smooth-hound	MTR	X
Mustelus mustelus	Smoothhound	SMD	X	X			X		X
Negaprion brevirostris	Lemon shark	NGB	X
Odontaspis ferox	Smalltooth sand shark	LOO	X	X			X		X
Odontaspis noronhai	Smalltooh sand tiger	ODH	X
Rhincodon typus	Whale shark	RHN	X		X
Rhizoprionodon porosus	Caribbean sharpnose shark	RHR	X
Rhizoprionodon terraenovae	Atlantic sharpnose shark	RHT	X
Somniosus microcephalus	Greenland shark	GSK	X
Sphyrna lewini	Scalloped hammerhead	SPL	X	X	X
Sphyrna mokarran	Great hammerhead	SPK	X		X
Sphyrna spp	Hammerhead	SPN	X	X	X
Sphyrna zygaena	Smooth hammerhead	SPZ	X	X	X		X		X
Squaliolus laticaudus	Spined pygmy shark	QUL	X
Squalus acanthias	Spurdog fish	DGS	X
Squalus blainvielli	Longnose spurdog	QUB	X
Squalus cubensis	Cuban dogfish	QUC	X
Squatina aculeata	Sawback angelshark	SUA	X
Squatina oculata	Smoothback angelshark	SUT	X
Squatina squatina	Angelshark	AGN	X

Pelagic sharks
Scientific names	Common name	Code	LL	GILL	PS	BB	HARP	TRAP	OTHER
Alopias superciliuosus	Bigeye thresher	BTH	X	X			X
Alopias vulpinus	Common thresher	ALV	X	X			X	X	X
Carcharhinus falciformis	Silky shark	FAL	X	X	X
Carcharhinus longimanus	Oceanic whitetip shark	OCS	X		X
Isistius brasiliensis	Cookiecutter shark	ISB			X
Isurus oxyrinchus	Shortfin mako	SMA	X	X	X		X
Isurus paucus	Longfin mako	LMA	X	X					X
Lamna nasus	Porbeagle	POR	X	X			X		X
Prionace glauca	Blue shark	BSH	X	X	X		X	X	X
Pseudocarcharias kamoharai	Crocodile shark	PCH	X
Zameus squamulosus	Velvet dogfish	SSQ	X

Teleosts (ICCAT Species)
Scientific names	Common name	Code	LL	GILL	PS	BB	HARP	TRAP	OTHER
Acanthocybium solandri	Wahoo	WAH	X		X
Auxis rochei	Bullet tuna	FRT	X	X	X	X		X	X
Auxis thazard	Frigate tuna	FRT	X	X	X				X
Euthynnus alletteratus	Atlantic little tuna	LTA	X	X	X	X		X	X
Istiophorus albicans	Sailfish	SAI	X	X	X				X
Katsuwonus pelamis	Skipjack tuna	SKJ	X	X	X	X			X
Makaira nigricans	Blue marlin	BUM	X	X	X		X		X
Orcinopsis unicolor	Plain bonito	BOP	X
Sarda sarda	Bonito	BON	X	X		X		X	X
Scomberomorus brasiliensis	Serra Spanish mackerel	SER	X	X
Scomberomorus cavalla	King mackerel	KGM	X	X
Scomberomorus tritor	Spotted Spanish Mackerel	SSM	X	X	X
Tetrapterus angustirosiris	Shortbill spearfish	SPF	X
Tetrapterus pfluegeri	Longbill spearfish	SPF	X		X
Tetrapturus albidus	White marlin	WHM	X	X	X		X
Tetrapturus belone	Mediterranean spearfish	MPF	X	X			X	X	X
Tetrapturus georgii	Round scale spearfish	RSP	X
Thunnus alalunga	Albacore	ALB	X	X	X	X	X		X
Thunnus albacares	Yellowfin tuna	YFT	X	X	X	X
Thunnus atlanticus	Blackfin tuna	BLT	X	X	X	X
Thunnus obesus	Bigeye tuna	BET	X	X	X	X
Thunnus thynnus	Bluefin tuna	BFT	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Xiphias gladius	Swordfish	SWO	X	X	X		X	X	X

Teleosts (excluding Scombridae and billfishes)
Scientific names	Common name	Code	LL	GILL	PS	BB	HARP	TRAP	OTHER
Abalistes stellatus					X
Alephisaurus spp	Lancet fish	ALI	X
Alepisaurus brevirostris	Shortnose lancetfish	ALO	X
Alepisaurus ferox	Longnose lancetfish	ALX	X
Alutera punctata					X
Aphanopus carbo	black scabbardfish		X
Balistes carolinensis	Grey triggerfish	TRG		X	X				X
Balistes punctatus					X
Balistidae spp	Triggerfish	TRI	X	X
Belone belone	Needlefish	GAR		X					X
Belonidae	Needlefish	BES			X
Brama brama	Atlantic pomfret	POA	X	X				X	X
Brama raii	Pomfret			X
Campogramma glaycos	Vadigo	VAD	X						X
Canthidermis maculatus	Rough triggerfish	CNT			X
Caranx crysos	Blue runner	RUB			X				X
Caranx hippos	Crevalle jack	CVJ	X	X					X
Centrolophus niger	Black ruff	CEO		X					X
Coryphaena equiselis	Pompano dolphin fish	CFW	X	X	X		X		X
Coryphaena hippurus	Dolphin fish	DOL	X	X	X				X
Cubiceps spp	Bigeye cigarfish	CUP	X
Diodon hystrix	Porcupinefish	DIY			X
Echeneidae	Remora			X
Elagatis bipinnulata	Rainbow runner	RRU	X		X
Engraulis encrasicolus	European anchovy	ANE		X
Epinephelus spp	Grouper	GPX	X
Euleptorhamphus velox	Flying halfbeak				X
Exocoetidae	Flying fish				X
Gadus morhua	Cod	COD	X
Gempylus serpens	Snake mackerel	GES	X
Hippocampus guttulatus	Common seahorse			X
Hirundichthys rondeleti	Blackwing flyingfish	HDR		X
Kyphosus sectator	Bermuda chub				X
Lampris guttatus	Opah	LAG	X	X	X
Lepidocybium flavobrunneum	Escolar	LEC	X	X
Lepidopus caudatus	Silver scabbardfish	SFS							X
Lichia amia	Leerfish	LEE		X					X
Lobotes surinamensis	Tripletail	LOB	X		X
Lophius americanus	Goosefish	ANG	X
Lophius piscatorius	Monk fish	MON	X
Luvarus imperialis	Luvar	LVM	X						X
Macrouridae	Rat-tail		X
Masturus lanceolatus	Sharp-tail sunfish	MRW			X
Mola mola	Ocean sunfish	MOX	X	X	X		X	X
Mola spp	Sunfish	MOP	X	X
Molva dypterygia	Blue ling	BLI	X
Muraena helena	Muray eel	MMH							X
Naucrates ductor	Pilotfish	NAU		X	X				X
Nesiarchus nasutus	Black gemfish	NEN	X
Ophichthidae	Eel		X
Phtheirichthys lineatus	Slender suckerfish	HTL			X
Polyprion americanus	Stone bass	WRF	X	X			X		X
Pomatomus saltatrix	Bluefish	BLU	X	X				X	X
Pseudocaranx dentex	Guelly jack	TRZ		X		X			X
Pseudotolithis spp	Cassava fish			X
Ranzania laevis	Slender mora (sunfish)	RZV	X	X
Rechycentron canadum	Cobia	CBA	X
Regalecus glesne	Oarfish	REL		X
Remora osteochir	Marlin sucker			X
Remora remora	Remora	REOI	X	X	X
Remora spp		REM		X			X
Ruvettus pretiosus	Oilfish	OIL	X	X	X
Schedophilus medusophagus				X
Schedophilus ovalis	Imperial blackfish	HDV		X
Sciaenops ocellatus	Red drum	RDM	X
Scomber japonicus	Chub mackerel	MAS		X
Scomber scobrus	Atlantic mackerel	MAC		X	X
Seriola dumerilii	Greater amberjack	AMB	X	X			X	X	X
Seriola lalandii	Yellowtail	YTC				X
Seriola rivoliana	Longfin yellowtail	YTL			X
Seriola spp	Amberjack	AMX	X
Sparnus pagrus	Common sea bream		X
Sphyraena barracuda	Barracuda	GBA	X		X
Spinax niger	Velvet belly			X
Taractes asper	Rough pomfret	TAS	X
Taractichthys steindachneri	Sickle pomfret	TST	X
Taratichtys longipi	Big scale pomphret	TAL	X
Tetraodontidae	Puffer		X
Trachipterus arcticus	Deal fish	TPA	X
Trachurus mediterraneus	Mediter. horse mackerel	HMM		X
Trichiuridae	Snake mackeral		X
Uraspis secunda		USE			X

Sea Turtles
Scientific names	Common name	Code	LL	GILL	PS	BB	HARP	TRAP	OTHER
Caretta caretta	Loggerhead turtle	TTL	X	X	X		X	X	X
Chelonia mydas	Green turtle	TUG	X	X	X
Dermochelys coriacea	Leatherback turtle	DKK	X	X	X		X
Eretmochelys imbricata	Hawksbill turtle	TTH		X	X
Lepidochelys kempii	Kemps Ridley turtle	LKY			X

Sea Birds
Scientific names	Common name	Code	LL	GILL	PS	BB	HARP	TRAP	OTHER
Thalassarche chlororhynchos	Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross	Tristan da Cunha	X
Larus audouinni	Audouin’s gull	Mediterranean	X
Puffinus lherminieri	Audubon’s shearwater	Caribbean	X
Puffinus mauritanicus	Balearic shearwater	Balearics	X
Pterodroma cahow	Bermuda petrel	Bermuda	X
Thalassarche melanophrys	Black-browed albatross	DIM	X
Pterodroma hasitata	Black-capped petrel	Caribbean	X
Morus capensis	Cape gannet	Namibia/South Africa	X
Daption capense	Cape petrel	Many colonies	X
Calonectris edwardsii	Cape Verde Shearwater	Cape Verdes	X
Calonectris diomedea	Cory's shearwater	CDI		X
Larus marinus	Great black-backed gull	North Atlantic
Puffinus gravis	Great shearwater	PUG	X
Catharacta skua	Great skua	North Atlantic	X
Pterodroma macroptera	Great-winged petrel	Tristan da Cunha	X
Procellaria cinerea	Grey petrel	Prince Edward	X
Thalassarche chrysostoma	Grey-headed albatross	Prince Edward	X
Larus argentatus	Herring gull	Widespread	X
Thalassarche carteri	Indian yellow-nosed albatross	Indian Ocean	X
Larus atricilla	Laughing gull	Caribbean	X
Fulmarus glacialis	Northern fulmar	Many colonies	X
Morus bassanus	Northern gannet	N Atlantic	X
Macronectes halli	Northern giant petrel	South Georgia	X
Diomedea sanfordi	Northern royal albatross	Chatham	X
Thalassarche cauta	Shy albatross	Tasmania	X
Phoebetria fusca	Sooty albatross	Tristan da Cunha	X
Puffinus griseus	Sooty shearwater	Falklands
Fulmarus glacialoides	Southern fulmar	FUG	X	X
Macronectes giganteus	Southern giant petrel	Chile	X
Diomedea epomophora	Southern royal albatross	Campbell	X
Procellaria conspicillata	Specticled petrel		X
Diomedea dabbenena	Tristan albatross	Tristan da Cunha	X
Diomedea exulans	Wandering albatross	DIX	X
Procellaria aequinoctialis	White-chinned petrel	PRO	X
Puffinus yelkoan	Yelkouan shearwater	Mediterranean	X
Larus cachinnans	Yellow-legged gull	Mediterranean	X
Diomedea chlororhynchos	Yellow-nosed albatros	DCR	X

Marine Mammals
Scientific names	Common name	Code	LL	GILL	PS	BB	HARP	TRAP	OTHER
Balaenoptera acutorostrata	Minke whale	MIW		X	X			X
Balaenoptera borealis	Sei whale	SIW			X
Balaenoptera edeni	Bryde's whale	BRW			X
Balaenoptera physalus	Fin whale	FIW	X	X	X		X
Delphinus delphis	Common dolphin	DCO		X	X
Eubalaena glacialis	Northern right whale	EUG		X
Globicephala macrorhynchus	Shortfin pilot whale	SHW			X
Globicephala melas	Pilot whale	PIW	X	X			X	X
Grampus griseus	Risso's dolphin	DRR	X	X			X
Kogia breviceps	Pygmy sperm whale	PYW		X
Lagenorhynchus acutus	Atlantic whiteside dolphin	DWH		X
Megaptera novaeangliae	Humpback whale	HUW		X
Mesoplodon spp	Beaked whale	MEP		X
Orcinus orca	Killer whale	KIW			X			X
Phocoena phocoena	Harber porpoise	PHR		X
Physeter macrocephalus	Sperm whale	SPW		X	X		X
Pseudorca crassidens	False killer whale	FAW			X
Stenella attenuata	Pantropical spotted dolphin	DPN			X
Stenella clymene	Shortsnouted spinner dolphin	DCL			X
Stenella coeruleoalba	Striped dolphin	DST	X	X	X		X	X
Stenella frontalis	Atlantic spotted dolphin	DSA		X
Stenella longirostris	Spinner dolphin	DSI			X
Stenella plagiodon	Atlantic spotted dolphin			X
Steno bredanensis	Rough-toothed dolphin	RTD			X
Tursiops truncatus	Bottlenose dolphin	DBO	X	X	X		X
Ziphius cavirostris	Goosebeaked whale	BCW	X	X				X

Last update: 28 Mar 2007