Dear MARMAM and ECS members, We are looking for information on entanglement of dolphins in bottom trawl lazy line. In Israel the local bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are frequently feeding behind bottom trawl boats. Unfortunately, during this interaction some get by-caught, and of these, about a third get entangled in the lazy line (lazy decky, hauling rope). Seemingly, as a result of playing and rubbing against the rope, it gets bound around their body between the flippers and the fluke, preventing their surfacing. Conservatism in fishing methodology, has so far precluded gear modification. Lately, we have accumulated enough cases to persuade Fishery Department officials to hold a meeting on the problem. In preparation, we would have liked to come up with some references from the Mediterranean Sea and elsewhere in the world, but could not find much information about this in the literature. Is anyone familiar with this problem and if and how was it solved? We understand that there are a few ways in which the lazy line is being used worldwide. The Israeli bottom trawl fleet is using a floating rope with about 6-8 meters extra length, which is tied outside the net, between the its wings and the cod end. A definite reply that this is not a problem with the local fleet would also be much appreciated, but please refer to the way the lazy line is being used in your area. Thank you for your help. Aviad Scheinin scheinin@research.haifa.ac.il / scheinin@013.net.il http://immrac.haifa.ac.il/ Chairman, IMMRAC - Israel Marine Mammal Research & Assistance center Ph.D Student, Department of Maritime Civilizations, Haifa University. The Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies, Haifa University Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905 Israel Home address: Tirat Shalom, P.B. 1356, Nes-Ziona 74052, Israel Tel 972-8-9406584 Mobile 052-3571193 Fax: 972-4-8240493