Perspectives of fishers on turtle bycatch and conservation strategies in a small-scale inland commercial fyke net fishery

Abstract

We compiled information on the perspectives of fishers on turtle bycatch, turtle conservation, and turtle bycatch reduction strategies (BRSs). Our research efforts focused on a smallscale inland fyke net commercial fishery in Ontario, Canada, where turtle bycatch has been identified as a potential conservation concern. We conducted 18 complete and 3 partial telephone interviews with fishers (41% participation rate). Rates of turtle encounters varied between fishing behaviours (e.g. preferred depth of sets, habitat), and between water bodies, regions, and fishing seasons, resulting in varying perspectives with respect to turtle bycatch. There was a general lack of understanding as to the reasons why turtles are protected. None of the respondents recognized turtle bycatch as a conservation issue. They felt that threats to turtle populations were external to the fishery, resulting in negative feedback regarding various BRSs. Other barriers to adopting BRSs were costs (e.g. of reduced fishing opportunities, changes to gear, time and effort) and apprehension of potential changes to the fishery. Few fishers would voluntarily modify their gear; therefore, incentives (e.g. compensation, increased quota) may be needed to convince fishers to adopt mitigation strategies. Some fishers had already adopted their own BRS for turtles (e.g. moving nets upon encounter of turtles, using air spaces to improve turtle survival). Therefore, sharing fisher-driven, grass roots success stories with other fishers could promote support for changes in fishing practices. Greater awareness about the impacts of turtle mortalities may help build understanding and support for turtle conservation initiatives.

An interview-based approach to assess sea turtle bycatch in Italian waters

“…Over the past decade, social studies 93 have explored the fishermen's perspective in view of the design of innovative management 94 approaches (Griffin, 2009; Lucchetti et al, 2014; Santiago et al, 2015). More recently, the 95 bottom up-approach (fishermen's perspective and stakeholder engagement) has also been applied 96 in biological and ecological studies (Lewison et al, 2011; Kiszka, 2012;Nguyen et al, 2013) to 97 examine several issues, including fisheries bycatch.…”

“…Over the past decade, social studies 93 have explored the fishermen's perspective in view of the design of innovative management 94 approaches (Griffin, 2009; Lucchetti et al, 2014; Santiago et al, 2015). More recently, the 95 bottom up-approach (fishermen's perspective and stakeholder engagement) has also been applied 96 in biological and ecological studies (Lewison et al, 2011; Kiszka, 2012;Nguyen et al, 2013) to 97 examine several issues, including fisheries bycatch.98 The aim of this study is twofold: 1) to estimate sea turtle bycatch rates in the Italian waters 99 adopting an interview-based approach, with the involvement of fishermen; 2) to assess the 100 implicit risk of bycatch for each kind of fishing gear, identifying possible seasonal and spatial 101 bycatch hotspots. 174 Data from interviews were considered as valid only if, for each combination of gear-season-175 GSA, at least 5 interviews were performed.…”

An interview-based approach to assess sea turtle bycatch in Italian waters

“…Over the past decade, social studies (Griffin, 2009; Lucchetti et al, 2014; Santiago et al, 2015). More recently, the 95 bottom up-approach (fishermen's perspective and stakeholder engagement) has also been applied 96 in biological and ecological studies (Lewison et al, 2011; Kiszka, 2012;Nguyen et al, 2013) to 97 examine several issues, including fisheries bycatch.…”

“…Over the past decade, social studies (Griffin, 2009; Lucchetti et al, 2014; Santiago et al, 2015). More recently, the 95 bottom up-approach (fishermen's perspective and stakeholder engagement) has also been applied 96 in biological and ecological studies (Lewison et al, 2011; Kiszka, 2012;Nguyen et al, 2013) to 97 examine several issues, including fisheries bycatch.98 The aim of this study is twofold: 1) to estimate sea turtle bycatch rates in the Italian waters 99 adopting an interview-based approach, with the involvement of fishermen; 2) to assess the 100 implicit risk of bycatch for each kind of fishing gear, identifying possible seasonal and spatial 101 bycatch hotspots. 174 Data from interviews were considered as valid only if, for each combination of gear-season-175 GSA, at least 5 interviews were performed.…”

Incidental capture of sea turtles in the artisanal gillnet fishery in Sechura Bay, northern Peru

“…As part of experimental research carried out from 2011 to 2013, also in the Sechura Bay demersal gillnet fishery, Ortiz et al (2016) . Given these high rates of observed bycatch, in order to secure long-term population viability and to conform with international guidelines for responsible fisheries (FAO, 2009), sea turtle bycatch mitigation solutions for these fishery need to be identified to minimize the number of bycatch mortalities (Nguyen et al, 2013). While net modifications have, in some cases, resulted in megafauna bycatch mitigation in certain fisheries without substantial reductions in target catch, mitigating net bycatch has proven challenging because nets are inherently nonselective (Peckham et al, 2015& Gilman et al, 2010.…”