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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 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 this
method of 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-mortems and also in situations where post-mortems
are not possible because of factors such as
inaccessibility of carcasses or because of post-mortem
funding cuts.
Documentation
If you'd like to see the documentation we
have developed for collecting standardised records,
please click here.
If you'd like more information, please
contact the
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