Interaction between marine turtles and artisanal fisheries in the eastern mediterranean: A probable cause for concern?

Date

1998-01-01

Author

Godley, Brendan J.
Broderick, Annette C.
Furness, Robert W.
Gücü, Ali Cemal
Solomon, Sarah E.

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A survey of the levels of marine turtle bycatch in the small-boat based fisheries in northern Cyprus and the Turkish Mediterranean (Alanya to Mersin) was undertaken by questioning a sample of fishermen (n = 54) in all harbours in the survey region. Fishermen in Turkey caught an estimated 2.5 turtles/boat/year versus an estimated 4.0 turtles/boat/year in Cyprus. This yielded a likely minimum bycatch estimate of over 2,000 marine turtles per year in the region. An estimated 10% of turtles were thought to be dead at the point of capture. Turtles were caught in both nets and on long-lines and were perceived as detrimental to the livelihood of fishermen either by damaging nets, spoiling catch or removing bait. Although few fishermen admitted to deliberately killing turtles, a larger proportion thought others did so. Given the likelihood that a proportion of sea turtles caught will be Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas), and due to the highly endangered status of this species in this region, interaction with these fisheries is thought to constitute a real threat to marine turtles in the eastern Mediterranean.

Subject Keywords

Chelonia mydas., Green turtle, Caretta caretta, Loggerhead turtle, Northern Cyprus, Turkey, Incidental catch, Mortality

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/31791

Journal

Zoology in the Middle East

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/09397140.1998.10637754

Collections

Graduate School of Marine Sciences, Article

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Citation Formats

B. J. Godley, A. C. Broderick, R. W. Furness, A. C. Gücü, and S. E. Solomon, “Interaction between marine turtles and artisanal fisheries in the eastern mediterranean: A probable cause for concern?,” Zoology in the Middle East, pp. 49–64, 1998, Accessed: 00, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://hdl.handle.net/11511/31791.