ABSTRACT1. Sea turtles may migrate vast distances from their feeding areas to home rookeries where they nest. During these migrations sea turtles are subject to many threats, among which are interactions with pelagic longlines.2. This gear is used frequently in the summer period in the Gulf of Gabes targeting mainly the sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus). Hooks are baited with mackerel (Scomber scombrus) or pieces of stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca).3. Twenty-one fishing trips (48 sets with a total of 35 950 hooks deployed) were conducted using onboard observers in the south of the Gulf of Gabes during the months of July, August and September in 2007 and 2008. Stingray and mackerel bait were used in 19 and 29 sets, respectively.4. In total, 29 loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) were captured; the majority of them were juvenile and active. Turtles were caught at a statistically greater frequency on sets with hooks baited with mackerel than on sets with hooks baited with pieces of stingray.5. The type of bait also affected the catch of the target species by increasing the efficiency when pieces of stingrays were used.6. These results encourage further research into new baits to mitigate turtle catch by longline fisheries without affecting the catch of target species.

Summary Elasmobranchs are an important catch component in Tunisian artisanal fisheries. Generally, species‐specific information is largely unavailable for artisanal fisheries; an increase in knowledge thereof is essential to ensure proper management of these species. The study analyzed the gillnet fishery elasmobranch catches in the Gulf of Gabès, whereby 45 fishing trips were conducted from April to June 2007 and 2008 for the capture of a total of six species: three Rajiformes and three Carchariniformes. Rhinobatos cemiculus was the most important species (52%; 4.588 ind km−2 net per day). Among shark species, Mustelus mustelus was the most important (66.8%; 2.21 ind km−2 net per day). Discards represented 6.87% of total catch in weight and 14.28% in number of specimens caught. Size composition of captures varied by species, but usually mature, mainly gravid females were abundant. Further investigations are needed to obtain more information on such fragile species for the development of protective measures.

In Tunisia, elasmobranch landings have decreased substantially in recent years. Generally, species-specific information is largely unavailable for artisanal fisheries, but it is essential to increase knowledge and to ensure proper management of these species. This study analysed elasmobranch catches with longline fishery in the Gulf of Gabès. In total, 21 and 20 pelagic and bottom longline fishing trips were conducted, respectively, from July to September in 2007 and 2008. A total of eight elasmobranch species were caught: four batoids and four sharks. Pelagic longline captures were hooked externally while a high number of individuals captured with bottom longline were hooked internally. Discards due essentially to low commercial value and size represented 7.6% of total number of elasmobranch specimens caught. Longline landings in the Gulf of Gabès were principally composed of sandbar shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus, representing, respectively, 94.14% and 21.17% in number of pelagic and bottom longline captures. The importance of rhinobatids and Mustelus capture with bottom longline reflect their abundance in this area compared to other Mediterranean zones. Juveniles, including neonates with umbilical scars, dominated carcharhnids specimens, while smoothhound and guitarfish captures were dominated by mature individuals. Mitigation measures based on gear modifications, size limits and delineated nursery areas in the Gulf of Gabès should be developed to protect these vulnerable species.