Mortality to Ducks from Trotlines in Lower Laguna Madre, Texas

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Abstract
The mortality of ducks hooked on com-merical fishery trotlines was studied in the Lower Laguna Madre of Texas. A sample area was selected and 20 trotlines, containing 2000 hooks, were marked. Nineteen consecutive checks and 10 random checks were made on the sample trotlines for hooked ducks. For each duck, the following data were recorded: species, sex and age, part of anatomy hooked, and chance for survival. Chance for survival classification was facilitated by observing penned specimens. The data from the 19 consecutive checks on the sample trotlines were extrapolated to an estimate of 196,800 total hooks being used in Lower Laguna Madre for the 90 days that ducks were in this area. Of an estimated 420,000 redhead ducks (Aythya americana), 21,914 were hooked by trotlines; 3267 were killed, and 7459 were classified as having poor chances for survival.

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