http://www.teachengineering.org/view_lesson.php?url=collection/duk_/lessons/duk_bycatchunit_musc_less/duk_bycatchunit_musc_less.xmllessontext/xmlCaught in the NetEngineering K-Ph.D. Program, BycatchTarget SpeciesBycatchGillnetTrawlPurse SeineLonglineBycatch can be defined as the act of unintentionally catching certain living creatures using fishing gear. A bycatched species is distinguished from a target species (the animal the gear is intended to catch) because it is not sold or used. Marine mammals (whales, dolphins, porpoises), seabirds, sea turtles and unwanted or undersized fish are some examples of animals caught as bycatch. The incidental capture of these animals can significantly reduce their populations. The most well known example of bycatch may be the unintentional mortality of spotted and spinner dolphins in the tuna fishing industry. “Dolphin-Safe” tuna was a result of this interaction (Be prepared to discuss how this came about with students, as it is something close to their daily lives). One important aspect to consider when discussing this issue is that laws protect some of the animals caught as bycatch (Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act). In this lesson, students will first be shown pictures of entangled marine animals and will discuss the definition of bycatch. This will lead to discussions on why bycatching exists, how it impacts specific animals as well as humans, whether the students believe it is an important issue, and how bycatch can be reduced.
Students will study bycatch from an engineering perspective to design technological solutions for addressing the problem.
explain what is meant by “bycatch”explain how bycatch affects their livesdescribe ways to reduce bycatchdescribe key issues relating to bycatch, such as fishermen’s rights, ownership of the sea, and the economic impact of eliminating bycatch 1TeachEngineering.orgAruna Venkatesan (Primary Author), Pratt School of Engineering, Duke UniversityMatt Nusnbaum (Author), Pratt School of Engineering, Duke UniversityAngela Jiang (Author), Pratt School of Engineering, Duke UniversityVicki Thayer (Author), Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke UniversityAmy Whitt (Author), Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke UniversityBiology of Marine Mammals. 1999. Edited by: J. Reynolds III and S. Rommel. Smithsonian Institution, WDC, USA.The Bottlenose Dolphin. 1990 Eds. S. Leatherwood and R. Reeves. Academic Press, Inc. London, U.K.Conservation and Management of Marine Mammals.1999. Eds. Twiss and Reeves. Smithsonian Institution, WDC, U.S.A.http://www.shoppbs.orgMarine Mammal Biology, An Evolutionary Approach. 2002. Ed. R. Hoelzel. Blackwell Science, Ltd., Oxford, U.K. Seabird Bycatch: Trends, Roadblocks, and Solutions. 2001. Eds. E. Melvin and J. Parrish. Univ. of Alaska Seagrant.S10283E1North_CarolinaScience1.05 Explain and evaluate some ways that humans affect ecosystems.• Habitat reduction due to development.55S102841ENorth_CarolinaScience1.05 Analyze evidence to:<br />• Explain observations.66S1028421North_CarolinaScience1.06 Use mathematics to gather, organize, and present quantitative data resulting from scientific investigations:<br />• Measurement.66S1005629North_CarolinaMathd. Estimation of products and quotients in appropriate situations.44S100FC3DNorth_CarolinaMath4.01 Collect, organize, analyze, and display data (including line graphs and bar graphs to solve problems.44S10220DBNorth_CarolinaMath4.01 Collect, organize, analyze, and display data (including stem-and-leaf plots) to solve problems.55S1006F87North_CarolinaMath1.02 Develop meaning for percents.66United StatesCopyright 2012 - Engineering K-Ph.D. Program, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke Universityhttp://www.teachengineering.org/policy_ipp.phphttp://www.teachengineering.org/2008-09-265Teacher