Dolphins' Trampoline Play in Fishing Nets Reveals Alarming Bycatch Impact.
Dolphins are often caught accidentally in fishing nets in Western Australia. Researchers studied dolphin behavior around trawl nets to find ways to reduce these incidents. They found that dolphins spend a lot of time near the nets, both inside and outside. Inside, they seem to be looking for food. Outside, they play and interact with the nets. Some dolphins even come back to the nets multiple times. This suggests that some dolphins have learned to enter the nets on purpose. The study also tested devices to reduce dolphin catches and found that they were effective. Overall, the research shows that dolphins are attracted to trawl nets for various reasons, and certain individuals may have specialized in entering them.