Future research on sperm whale and longline fishing include:

• Determining how far away a whale can hear a fishing vessel hauling gear.
  • If further than 10nm, listening won’t work for avoidance
    
    
• Gain a better understanding of the number of fish that normally are released alive (dropped or ‘spin-offs’) and if audio ‘creaks’ indicate feeding.
  • This information will help refine depredation rates
    
    
• Test various gear modifications and hauling behaviors to prevent depredation
  • Gangion lengths
  • Acoustic reflectors along groundline
  • Haul in circle without changing gear
    
    
• Test acoustic deterrents

Pending future funding:

• Acoustic profiles of SEASWAP vessels
• Are certain vessels ‘more attractive’ to whales?
• Begin to understand mechanics of depredation
• Depth of depredation, cues used by whales
• Test deterrents
• Modify fishing behavior, vessel behavior, acoustic masking/dampening, acoustic reflectors