FISHERIES IMPACT MITIGATION

The project will tackle the problem of sea turtle by-catch through four multiple and synergic actions. First, the project will reduce the post-release mortality of turtles, i.e. the mortality suffered by turtles that are released alive by fishermen but that will die later on. This represent a large proportion on the total mortality induced by the capture and can be largely diminished through simple best practice that fishermen may ignore (see section “How fishermen can help”). Hence, the project will provide fishermen with information about (i) the conservation problem represented by the sea turtle mortality induced by the specific fishing gears used by the fishermen (e.g. trawl nets, longlines, gill nets), (ii) the specific mortality factors associated with the different fishing gears, (iii) the simple treatment techniques fishermen can adopt on board in order to dramatically reduce the mortality of sea turtles after their release (outlined above). In Greece, the project will supply long-liners with a special tool –line cutter- which allows fishermen to cut the line close to the mouth of a captured turtle without bringing it onboard. Second, the project will reduce interaction of fishing and turtles in 8 areas in 5 countries previously identified as key foraging or internesting grounds frequented by high numbers of sea turtles and where turtles are subjected to a high anthropogenic mortality due to fisheries interaction. Fishers will be contacted to participate in the project on a voluntary basis, in order to help collect data on the location of captured turtles – also through a specifically designed App for smartphones – and avoid the areas where turtle catch rate is higher (hot-spots) if in alternative areas the catch rate of target species is equivalent. Additional information about hot-spot areas will be obtained through aerial surveys with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), traditional airplanes or underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and by tracking about 100 turtles by-caught during the fishing activities of the collaborating boats or found while nesting. Third, the project will introduce a new methods for reduction of sea turtle bycatch in the fisheries of all 5 project countries. Target fishing gears for this action are set nets and trawl nets (all countries) and also longliners in Tunisia. All of them represent major threats to sea turtles. Fourth, the project will reduce the number of incidental entanglement and death of sea turtles in “ghost gears” (fishing gears being lost or discarded by fishermen, but continuing to catch and kill marine animals) on areas in all 5 countries of the project which are frequented by sea turtles (both Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas in Albania and Turkey) and where sea turtle mortality is suspected due to entanglement in ghost gear. These areas will be surveyed in order to identify the exact location of ghost gear and determine to what extend their removal is possible by divers or fishers. Local diver groups and fishermen will be contacted in order to remove the ghost gears. Collection bins will be placed on land in order to be used by the professional fishermen for placing their unwanted fishing gear they wish to discard. The ghost gear will be separated into categories according to type, and a proper disposal/recycle strategy will be developed. Discussion with fishermen for ways to minimize the loss and abandonment of fishing gear will be conducted. Further, a report with a Code of Conduct for fishermen in regards to fishing gear loss and abandonment will be produced. Awareness campaigns at the local ports, to raise awareness among fishermen on the impact of ghost gear, will be carried out.