Introduction

The Portuguese fisheries always were an important economic activity, particularly in coastal communities. Considering the strong traditional character of fishing in Portugal, there are numerous types of fishing methods, which vary regionally, with respect to technology and fishing method.

The interactions between fishing gear and cetaceans have been frequently recorded involving almost all types of gears, with damaging consequences to the fishing economy and also to the conservation of several cetacean species. Such interactions may refer to two different situations:

1. the incidental capture of cetaceans during fishing operations and
2. predation by cetaceans upon fish in fishing gears,

The SAFESEA Project, through the direct participation of local fishermen associations, aims, attaining information, for a period of two and a half years, at:

• evaluation of status of small cetaceans populations,
• evaluation of incidental capture of cetaceans in gillnets, purse-seine and beach purse-seine fisheries, and
• implementation of a pilot essay of deterrent devices (pingers and acoustic enhanced nets),

in order to decrease incidental capture of cetaceans.

The SAFESEA Project will ultimately contribute to allow fishing activities to become compatible with cetacean conservation and therefore contribute to sustainable development of local fisheries.