Supporting turtles: a change in practices and perceptions
Although our coasts do not harbor nesting beaches, the Peruvian sea is a key habitat for the development of sea turtles, especially during their growth stage, since it provides a generous and varied source of food. This is important, considering that each turtle species seeks different foods, ranging from jellyfish and crustaceans to algae. Unfortunately, despite a ban on turtle capture, incidental capture by artisanal fishing is not an uncommon practice, especially when fishing for mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) and other species with longlines.
WWF Peru works – in the framework of a regional initiative in eight American Pacific countries – alongside hundreds of fishermen from the ports of Pucusana, Paita, Salaverry, Chimbote and Ilo developing local capacities to adopt improved fishing practices, such as circle hooks, which reduce the bycatch of turtles and other animals that play a key role in marine ecosystems.
Changes on board
Artisanal fishing is a tough and demanding activity. For this reason, promoting improved practices among fishermen is a complex and long-term task that WWF channels through valuable partners who live day to day with these men of sea, either on the harbor or aboard their boats.
Since 2004, WWF Peru works in some of the most important artisanal ports promoting the experimental replacement of common hooks with circle hooks, which drastically reduce bycatch by making it difficult for the turtles to become hooked when trying to take the bait. After training the fishermen on this new fishing gear, WWF observers come along during their long journeys in the open sea, where they combine training and monitoring tasks. This has allowed the collection of unprecedented information regarding fishing practices and turtle bycatch in Peru and also has led to the first crafts adopting these improved hooks which allow the reduction of turtle bycatch up to a 90% without significantly affecting targeted fishing.
Conscience and rescue
The circle hooks are only part of the strategy. The team of coordinators and observers – technicians or fishing professionals – has trained around 200 fishermen from 100 crafts, in five Peruvian ports, on the importance of sea turtles and the need for their conservation. To achieve this, they receive training on the use of turtle release gear which facilitates the liberation of hooked turtles, reducing risks of disease and death for the animals. Similarly, dozens of workers from the ports, fishermen spouses and above all, students and teachers also receive training on turtles and on the efforts carried out by the fishermen to conserve them, closing a cycle that promotes the conservation of some of the most beloved but threatened marine animals in our seas.
Key facts:
With valuable support from: United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Packard Foundation, Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (CIAT) and WWF US.
WWF Peru works – in the framework of a regional initiative in eight American Pacific countries – alongside hundreds of fishermen from the ports of Pucusana, Paita, Salaverry, Chimbote and Ilo developing local capacities to adopt improved fishing practices, such as circle hooks, which reduce the bycatch of turtles and other animals that play a key role in marine ecosystems.
Changes on board
Artisanal fishing is a tough and demanding activity. For this reason, promoting improved practices among fishermen is a complex and long-term task that WWF channels through valuable partners who live day to day with these men of sea, either on the harbor or aboard their boats.
Since 2004, WWF Peru works in some of the most important artisanal ports promoting the experimental replacement of common hooks with circle hooks, which drastically reduce bycatch by making it difficult for the turtles to become hooked when trying to take the bait. After training the fishermen on this new fishing gear, WWF observers come along during their long journeys in the open sea, where they combine training and monitoring tasks. This has allowed the collection of unprecedented information regarding fishing practices and turtle bycatch in Peru and also has led to the first crafts adopting these improved hooks which allow the reduction of turtle bycatch up to a 90% without significantly affecting targeted fishing.
Conscience and rescue
The circle hooks are only part of the strategy. The team of coordinators and observers – technicians or fishing professionals – has trained around 200 fishermen from 100 crafts, in five Peruvian ports, on the importance of sea turtles and the need for their conservation. To achieve this, they receive training on the use of turtle release gear which facilitates the liberation of hooked turtles, reducing risks of disease and death for the animals. Similarly, dozens of workers from the ports, fishermen spouses and above all, students and teachers also receive training on turtles and on the efforts carried out by the fishermen to conserve them, closing a cycle that promotes the conservation of some of the most beloved but threatened marine animals in our seas.
Key facts:
- This program is one of the first in monitoring turtle bycatch in Peru directly aboard the fishing crafts.
- For the first time, fishermen have adopted improved hooks as part of a regional turtle conservation initiative backed by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), among others.
- Peru houses 5 sea turtle species: the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), the olive or pacific ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) and the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), the largest and most threatened species within our seas.
With valuable support from: United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Packard Foundation, Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (CIAT) and WWF US.
A través de la capacitación a los pescadores en los principales puertos artesanales del Perú, se viene reduciendo la captura incidental de tortugas y se asegura la liberación de los ejemplares capturados accidentalmente.
