Temporal patterns of target catch and sea turtle bycatch in the US Atlantic pelagic longline fishing fleet

Sea turtle bycatch in pelagic longline fishing gear is an ongoing threat to the conservation of sea turtle populations. However, these bycatch events do not occur uniformly in space or time. Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) bycatch rates reported in large fishing regions exhibited different degrees of interannual variability. Target catch and sea turtle bycatch in most regions displayed strong periodicity that corresponded to seasons (similar to 365 days) and/or moon phase (similar to 29 days). When trends in catch and bycatch rates were examined by month and moon phase, the significant periods of higher and lower catch and bycatch related to swordfish (Xiphias gladius), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), and sea turtle temporal distributions in foraging and spawning/nesting, oceanographic and prey conditions, and foraging behavior. Catch and bycatch rates tended to depend more on a seasonal rather than a lunar time scale, although there is likely an interaction between the two. These findings provide insights to the susceptibility of target catch and bycatch, regional and temporal patterns of fishing effort, and potential guidance for resource management and conservation.