Fisher-based assessments of sea turtle bycatch in small-scale fisheries in Pacific Mexico

Details

• Journal Title:
  Endangered Species Research
• Personal Author:
  Grimm, Kerry E ; Mancini, Agnese ; Seminoff, Jeffrey A ; Alfaro-Shigueto, Joanna ; Andrade Valencia, Victoria ; Barragán Rocha, Ana Rebeca ; Briseño Dueñas, Raquel ; Comer Santos, Katherine ; Dávalos Alonso, Nestor A ; Delgado Trejo, Carlos ; Hart, Catherine E ; Leal Sepúlveda, Valeria ; Ley-Quiñónez, César P ; Lucero Romero, Jesús S ; Miranda Marin, María Isabel ; Oceguera, Karen ; Oceguera, Helga ; Ortíz-Alvarez, Clara ; Ramos de la Torre, Diana Arely ; Santana Hernández, Heriberto ; Sarti Martínez, Adriana Laura ; Tello-Sahagún, Luis Ángel ; Zavala Norzagaray, Alan A ; Zavala Fèlix, Kevin A ; Wallace, Bryan P
• NOAA Program & Office:
  NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) ; SWFSC (Southwest Fisheries Science Center)
• Description:
  Reducing bycatch of sea turtles and other protected species in artisanal fisheries depends on first understanding where, how, and to what extent bycatch is occurring. We implemented rapid bycatch assessments (RBAs)—i.e. port-based surveys with fishers—along the Pacific coast of Mexico and combined results with those from a previous RBA effort. Results obtained from 1357 respondents across 99 communities in 11 states provided valuable insights about fishing gear and operations as well as bycatch of 5 different sea turtle species. Fishing gears varied geographically, but gillnets, followed by hook and line gears, were most commonly used. Species-specific and seasonal patterns of sea turtle bycatch also varied geographically, with olive ridleys Lepidochelysolivacea, followed by green turtles Cheloniamydas, being the most commonly reported bycatch species, especially in known feeding and breeding areas and periods. Loggerhead Carettacaretta bycatch was reported only in northwest Mexico, an area known to support foraging and developmental areas for juvenile and subadult North Pacific loggerheads. Leatherback Dermochelyscoriacea bycatch was most frequently reported in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), a documented feeding area, and southern Mexico, off nesting beaches. Most respondents indicated that turtles captured incidentally were released alive, but mortality, as well as consumption and sale, were also reported fates of bycaught turtles. Our results provide a robust baseline of valuable information about characteristics of small-scale fishing and turtle bycatch in Pacific Mexico and highlight ample opportunities for informing strategies to promote sustainable fishing and bycatch reduction.
• Source:
  Endangered Species Research (2025)
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01446
• ISSN:
  1863-5407 ; 1613-4796
• Format:
  pdf
• Publisher:
  Inter-Research Science Center
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• License:
  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Rights Information:
  CC BY
• Compliance:
  Submitted
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:cb67990a32bd8bd3034bbfb7c7b2d1f83d929dd11e236d252d999ba0d6de019d9f6a33d79d758684aea4ad1d9b5f4cb6a4dd480ee3dcab0957ce8d8cd8986693
• Download URL:
  https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/72371/noaa_72371_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 623.18 KB ]