Modeling juvenile sea turtle bycatch risk in commercial and recreational fisheries

Putman, Nathan F.; Richards, Paul M.; Dufault, Susan G; Scott-Dention, Elizabeth; McCarthy, Kevin; Beyea, R Taylor; Caillouet, Charles W.; Heyman, William D.; Seney, Erin E.; Mansfield, Katherine; Gallaway, Benny J.

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.105977

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 63 publications

(102 reference statements)

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“…, more or fewer days spent at sea), gear, target species of capture and pressures on accessory species. In coastal fisheries along the southeastern coast of the USA, higher bycatch rates of juvenile sea turtles were found in recreational fisheries, which indicates the importance of considering other fishing categories in future studies ( Putman et al, 2023 ). Although expensive, the satellite telemetry studies would complement the information acquired by participatory monitoring, broadening the knowledge of how individuals use areas with fishing activity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Critical areas for sea turtles in Northeast Brazil: a participatory approach for a data-poor context

Oliveira,

Nazareth Rivera,

Carramaschi de Alagão Querido

et al. 2024

PeerJ

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Fishing is one of the main threats to sea turtles due to the risk of entanglement in lost nets, vessel collision and mortality due to incidental catches. In Brazil, most of the studies regarding fishing interactions with sea turtles are focused on pelagic longline fisheries in the South and Southeast regions. However, their main reproductive areas in Southwest Atlantic RMU occur in Northeast Brazil, which overlaps small-scale coastal gillnet fisheries. Here, we aimed to use ethnobiology and participatory approaches as simple and cost-effective methods to identify areas for sea turtle conservation where impacts from small-scale fisheries are most likely. Expert captains were trained to recording sea turtle sightings during navigations from the landing port to the fishing grounds, informing their folk nomenclatures. By interpolation of environmental data (chlorophyll and bathymetry) and ecological data, we predicted habitats of 3,459.96 km² for Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas, and Eretmochelys imbricata and fishing zones of 1,087 km² for management in 20 m and 50 m depths. Our results contributes to ongoing discussions of bycatch mitigation for sea turtle species and identification of habitats. We highlights the importance of considering particularities of overlapped areas in marine spatial planning and co-management arrangements.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Critical areas for sea turtles in Northeast Brazil: a participatory approach for a data-poor context

Oliveira,

Nazareth Rivera,

Carramaschi de Alagão Querido

et al. 2024

PeerJ

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“…This also resulted in a generalized perspective of green sea turtle life history, which did not incorporate all traits or trait values for green sea turtles. More specific information is necessary when assessing risk [ 76 ] or management [ 77 ] of green sea turtles. Future studies that aim to better understand the vulnerability to and impacts from stressors for green sea turtles could implement a more detailed approach of the species’ life history.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and life history variation in a trait-based species vulnerability and impact model

Fleury,

O’Hara,

Butt

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Anthropogenic pressures threaten biodiversity, necessitating conservation actions founded on robust ecological models. However, prevailing models inadequately capture the spatiotemporal variation in environmental pressures faced by species with high mobility or complex life histories, as data are often aggregated across species’ life histories or spatial distributions. We highlight the limitations of static models for dynamic species and incorporate life history variation and spatial distributions for species and stressors into a trait-based vulnerability and impact model. We use green sea turtles in the Greater Caribbean Region to demonstrate how vulnerability and anthropogenic impact for a dynamic species change across four life stages. By incorporating life stages into a trait-based vulnerability model, we observed life stage-specific vulnerabilities that were otherwise unnoticed when using an aggregated trait value set. Early life stages were more vulnerable to some stressors, such as inorganic pollution or marine heat waves, and less vulnerable to others, such as bycatch. Incorporating spatial distributions of stressors and life stages revealed impacts differ for each life stage across spatial areas, emphasizing the importance of stage-specific conservation measures. Our approach showcases the importance of incorporating dynamic processes into ecological models and will enable better and more targeted conservation actions for species with complex life histories and high mobility.

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“…Overall, little to no information is available on fishing effort and observed bycatch in NW African coastal fisheries from which to infer conservation efforts that could have the greatest potential to help recover turtle populations (Putman et al, 2023). However, current regional bycatch levels are likely unsustainable in the long term and there is an urgent need to establish and implement a bycatch mitigation framework to manage and reduce this risk across most gear types.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nowhere to hide: Sea turtle bycatch in Northwest Africa

de la Hoz Schilling,

Diame,

Hernández Ríos

et al. 2023

Aquatic Conservation

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Fisheries bycatch is considered the largest threat to sea turtle populations globally. However, it has been challenging to assess the impact of bycatch on sea turtles in some regions such as Northwest Africa (i.e. Cabo Verde, Guinea, Guinea–Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal, Sierra Leone and The Gambia) owing to large data gaps. This hampers effective management actions and interferes with conservation efforts in the region. Five sea turtle species occur in Northwest Africa (i.e. green turtle Chelonia mydas, hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata, leatherback Dermochelys coriacea, loggerhead Caretta caretta and olive ridley Lepidochelys olivacea). The region has regionally and globally important sea turtle nesting and foraging habitats and is a global fishing hotspot, with high and increasing fishing pressure. Available information on sea turtle bycatch in Northwest Africa was compiled from peer‐reviewed and grey literature from 2010 onwards to determine the impact of artisanal and industrial fisheries (by gear type) on regional sea turtle populations and assess the level of threat to individual species. All sea turtle species occurring in the region are impacted by bycatch. Reports suggest that green turtles and loggerheads have the highest bycatch rates, probably owing to their regional abundance and widespread distribution. Some of the potentially highest reported global bycatch rates (14,000–90,000 turtles/year/country) are noted, particularly in gillnets, longlines and handlines. However, further research is needed to understand mortality levels from artisanal fisheries and assess the impact of trawl fisheries operating in the region. Additional sources of mortality include deliberate capture for consumption or trade. To strengthen regional sea turtle conservation and reduce sea turtle bycatch and mortality, urgent action is needed to implement and enforce national protection, establish a bycatch reduction framework (including gear modifications and spatio‐temporal closures), improve fisheries data collection and build capacity.

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Modeling juvenile sea turtle bycatch risk in commercial and recreational fisheries

Cited by 6 publications

References 63 publications

Critical areas for sea turtles in Northeast Brazil: a participatory approach for a data-poor context

Critical areas for sea turtles in Northeast Brazil: a participatory approach for a data-poor context

Spatial and life history variation in a trait-based species vulnerability and impact model

Nowhere to hide: Sea turtle bycatch in Northwest Africa

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