Fishermen-Based Marine Turtle Bycatch Reduction - WWF Conservation Projects (sitios de interés)

Costa Rican observer trying a new dipnet. © WWF Central America / Alvaro Segura

In 2004 WWF started a joint venture project with the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) to save marine turtles from long-line fisheries by-catch in Ecuador. From there it has expanded to 7 other countries: Mexico; Guatemala; El Salvador; Costa Rica; Panama; Colombia; and Peru. The project relied on the use of circle hooks, which reduce the capture of sea turtles by 70-90% and do not affect the catch of commercial species. The project has proved successful in building up a network of support, showing that with proper training and help, fishermen can improve their practices to save turtles and protect life in the seas. The challenge is now to achieve a massive technological transformation of the fleet to circle hooks and better fishing practices toward sustainable fisheries in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

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