A first estimate of sea turtle bycatch in the industrial trawling fishery of Gabon |
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Authors: | Paolo Casale Gaspard Abitsi Marie Pierre Aboro Pierre Didier Agamboue Laureen Agbode Nontsé Lois Allela Davy Angueko Jean Noel Bibang Bi Nguema François Boussamba Floriane Cardiec Emmanuel Chartrain Claudio Ciofi Yves Armand Emane J Michael Fay Brendan J Godley Carmen Karen Kouerey Oliwiwina Jean de Dieu Lewembe Donatien Leyoko Georges Mba Asseko Pulcherie Mengue M’adzaba Jean Hervé Mve Beh Chiara Natali Clauvice Nyama-Mouketou Jacob Nzegoue Carole Ogandagas Richard J Parnell Guy Anicet Rerambyath Micheline Schummer Gnandji Guy-Philippe Sounguet Manjula Tiwari Bas Verhage Raul Vilela Lee White Matthew J Witt Angela Formia |
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Institution: | 1.Department of Biology,University of Pisa,Pisa,Italy;2.Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Program,Libreville,Gabon;3.Aventures Sans Frontieres,Libreville,Gabon;4.Direction Generale des Peches et de l’AquacultureMinistere de l’Agriculturede l’Elevagede la Peche et de la Sercurité Alimentaire,Libreville,Gabon;5.Agence Nationale des Peches et de l’Aquaculture,Libreville,Gabon;6.Department of Biology,University of Florence,Florence,Italy;7.Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux,Libreville,Gabon;8.College of Life & Environmental Sciences,University of Exeter,Cornwall,UK;9.Institut de Recherches Agronomiques et Forestieres,Libreville,Gabon;10.NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service,Southwest Fisheries Science Center,La Jolla,USA;11.WWF,Libreville,Gabon |
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Abstract: | Gabon hosts nesting grounds for several sea turtle species, including the world’s largest rookery for the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), Africa’s largest rookery for the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) and smaller aggregations of the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and green turtle (Chelonia mydas). To assess the level of incidental captures of turtles by the Gabonese trawl fishery, an onboard observer program was conducted in the period 2012–2013. A total of 143 turtles were captured by 15 trawlers during 271 fishing days. The olive ridley turtle was the main species captured (80% of bycaught turtles), with mostly adult-sized individuals. The remaining 20% included green turtles, hawksbill turtles, leatherback turtles and undetermined species. Bycatch per unit of effort (BPUE) of olive ridley turtles varied greatly depending on the period of the year (range of means: 0.261–2.270). Dead and comatose turtles were 6.2 and 24.6% respectively (n = 65). By applying the available fishing effort to two BPUE scenarios (excluding or considering a seasonal peak), the total annual number of captures was estimated as ranging between 1026 (CI 95% 746–1343) and 2581 (CI 95% 1641–3788) olive ridley turtles, with a mortality ranging from 63 (CI 95% 13–135) to 794 (CI 95% 415–1282) turtles per year depending on the scenario and on the fate of comatose turtles. Such a potential mortality may be reason for concern for the local breeding population of olive ridley turtles and recommendations in terms of possible conservation measures and further research are given. |
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