Dear Marmam, We are pleased to announce another publication from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and Sarawak Dolphin Project entitled "Utilizing interview-based data to measure interactions of artisanal fishing communities and cetacean populations in Kuching Bay, Sarawak, East Malaysia". Citation: Samantha A., Peter, C., Minton, G., Ngeian, J., Zulkifli Poh, A.N., Mujahid, A., and Tuen, A.A. 2023. Utilizing interview-based data to measure interactions of artisanal fishing communities and cetacean populations in Kuching Bay, Sarawak, East Malaysia. Ocean & Coastal Management 239: 106592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106592. Abstract Kuching Bay is a significant area for artisanal fishing activities as well as an Important Marine Mammal <https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/marine-mammal> Area (IMMA) for coastal cetaceans. A total of 286 fishers from eight fishing communities were interviewed between 2011 and 2019 to determine the nature and extent of cetacean-fishery interactions in the area. The main types of fishing gears recorded were gillnets <https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/gillnet>, trammel nets, trawl nets <https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/trawl-net>, longlines, handlines and crab traps, with the use of gears varying by season and target species. Depredation, net damage, and entanglements <https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/entanglement> in fishing gear were the most frequently reported negative interactions with cetaceans. Thirty-six percent of fishers reported having experienced a cetacean entanglement in their fishing gear at least once. More than half (58.1%) of the respondents who experienced bycatch <https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/by-catch> were able to disentangle and release the animals alive. The more conservative calculated bycatch rate of 0.36 cetaceans per fisher over a fishing career indicates that a minimum estimated average of 19 cetaceans are involved in bycatch annually in Kuching Bay, with as many as nine of these incidents likely resulting in mortality. However, a less conservative method yields a bycatch rate of 0.57 per fisher, and estimated an average of 30 bycaught cetaceans per year. Irrawaddy dolphins (*Orcaella brevirostris*) were reported to be at the highest risk (72.9% of reported incidents), with an estimated minimum of seven individuals caught and killed per year. Despite the negative interactions, 77.2% of respondents reported a generally positive attitude toward cetaceans based on their value for tourism and as indicators of fish presence and a healthy ecosystem. Mutualistic relationships between fishers and cetaceans were documented, with 53% of respondents reporting that they feed discarded fish to cetaceans. The results of this study can be used to guide effective mitigation measures <https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/mitigation-measure>, which should focus on training fishers in safe handling and release of entangled cetaceans, and, more importantly, methods to prevent interactions with gillnets. Elsevier has provided the authors with a Share Link which gives free access to the article until 2 June 2023. Just click on the link to download the pdf: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1gvYc3RKK-y1DN Do not hesitate to contact me (pcindy@unimas.my) in case of further questions! Happy Reading!! Regards, -- Cindy Peter, MSc (Marine Ecology) Research Fellow and Lecturer Sarawak Dolphin Project Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation University Malaysia Sarawak https://www.facebook.com/SarawakDolphinProject <http://www.ibec.unimas.my/SDP2008> Office: +60 82 583 069 Mobile: +60 16 892 6027