Bycatch of sea turtles in the artisanal gillnet fleet on the central coast of São Paulo.

• Grant number: 23/16976-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Biological Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Carolina Pacheco Bertozzi
• Grantee: Bruno Henrique Rigo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB-CLP). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus Experimental do Litoral Paulista. São Vicente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Fishing, a vital source of food, inadvertently threatens marine biodiversity through the incidental capture of non-target species. The increase in global fishing in recent decades has impacted marine megafauna, especially sea turtles, as they are long-lived, migratory animals. In particular, artisanal gillnet fishing has proven to be a critical problem for the conservation of sea turtles, especially in Brazil, where there is little monitoring and studies on the topic. This study aims to evaluate the accidental capture of turtles by the artisanal gillnet fleet on the central coast of São Paulo. The study comprehend the description of fishing gear and methods, the quantification of accidental catches, the calculation of the Catch per Unit of Fishing Effort (CPUE) and the identification of the areas and fishnet most susceptible to these catches. Data will be collected in fishing communities in the municipalities of Praia Grande and Mongaguá through interviews with fishermen and weekly visits to fishing locations. The expected results will contribute to a better understanding of the interaction between artisanal gillnet fishing and sea turtles, providing essential information for the conservation of species and the sustainable management of fishing activities, helping to formulate and adapt effective public policies in this context.