Approaches to Reduce Bycatch

Our approach to reducing bycatch in small-scale fisheries in Mexico is based on the premise that solutions must be developed in collaboration with fishers and their communities.
It is also vital to count on the support and partnership of all the relevant government agencies, academic institutions, and N.G.O.s in the U.S. and Mexico directly interacting with sea turtles.
MarEs Comunidad is an inclusive, collaborative effort to ensure that solutions can be implemented successfully and over the long term.
The most significant challenge is to reduce bycatch while supporting sustainable livelihoods for small-scale fishermen and their communities.

APPROACHES AND GOALS

  1. Collect information through rapid bycatch assessments.
  2. Provide a platform for peer-to-peer experience exchange opportunities through fishery learning exchanges (FLEs).
  3. Test bycatch mitigation technologies on fishing gear at small-scale fisheries.
  4. Explore and develop alternative income sources to reduce fishing pressure.
  5. Assess what strategies work best at a regional level to reduce bycatch.

1. RAPID BYCATCH ASSESSMENT (RBA) - COLLECTING INFORMATION

Information is being collected via standardized surveys regarding artisanal fisheries and turtle bycatch in strategically chosen coastal communities.
The goals for these activities are:
  1. Evaluate the characteristics of fishing activities in the region.
  2. Improve understanding of the location and causes of bycatch mortality of loggerhead and leatherback turtles (and other species).
  3. Identify communities and fishers willing to collaborate in other project activities to reduce bycatch.
  4. Disseminate results with the communities, authorities, and interested groups.
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2. FISHERIES LEARNING exchanges (FLE)

Spaces are being facilitated to meet with receptive communities to discuss, exchange, and learn new ideas to reduce bycatch. The goal is that everyone feels comfortable sharing their experiences and that their recommendations are heard and considered.
The goals for these activities are:
  1. Convene members of different communities.
  2. Exchange experiences and recommendations.
  3. Promote activities to reduce bycatch.
  4. Disseminate the results and knowledge produced during these exchanges with other communities, authorities, etc.
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3. BYCATCH REDUCTION TECHNOLOGIES (BRT) AND BYCATCH MITIGATION FIELD TESTS

Develop, test, and begin implementing gear modification and techniques identified during the community and fisherfolk experience exchanges.
The goals for these activities are:
  1. Collaborate with fishers in developing techniques and equipment modifications.
  2. Implement robust experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation techniques.
  3. Disseminate results with other fishing communities, authorities, etc.
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4. SUPPORTING COMMUNITY PROJECTS TO REDUCE HEAVY FISHING PRESSURE

A way to mitigate bycatch is to support the coastal communities to develop alternative economic activities to fishing that ultimately reduce unsustainable fishing pressure. The communities collaborating in the project have proposed their ongoing alternative activities or the activities they want to carry out. Our role in their alternative activities is mainly of support and advice.
The goals for these activities are:
  1. Support ongoing economic activities that communities want and decrease unsustainable fishing efforts.
  2. Collaborate with fishers and community members to develop economic activities as alternatives to fishing.
  3. Disseminate results with fishing communities, authorities, etc.
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Reducing sea turtle bycatch mortality in Mexico will involve numerous government, academic, and N.G.O. stakeholders in the U.S. and Mexico and communities and fishers that directly interact with turtles. The ultimate goal of this effort is to develop approaches that promote sustainable fishing practices and livelihood opportunities that result in healthier sea turtle populations and marine resources to support coastal communities throughout Pacific Mexico.

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MEET THE TURTLES

Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) turtles are two of the five sea turtle species present in the Eastern Pacific. Both species are endangered for several reasons, with bycatch in artisanal fisheries as a primary threat.

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WHAT IS BYCATCH? WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Bycatch refers to the incidental hooking or entanglement of non-target species such as sea turtles, marine mammals, and seabirds in commercial and artisanal fishing gear. These animals are usually discarded because they are often protected and rarely have food or commercial value.

Bycatch is one of the most severe threats to the recovery and conservation of sea turtle populations.

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WHAT ARE ARTISANAL FISHERIES?

Artisanal or small-scale fishers and fisheries use smaller open-skiff boats and primarily operate within a day's boat drive from the coast. These fisheries employ different gear types that target species consumed locally and mainly distributed to domestic markets.

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