Marine Turtle By-catch Reduction in Long-line Fisheries in the Eastern Pacific Ocean Moises Mug (1), Carlos Drews (2) (1) Fisheries Program Leader for LAC (2) Marine Program & Species Coordinator for LAC WWF - Marine & Species Program for Latin America and The Caribbean

48% of fish stocks in South American Pacific waters are overexploited (FAO) Global fish crisis Mahi-mahi Yellow-fin tuna

WWF Carlos Drews

Marine Turtles Fisheries Bycatch LAC Fisheries Program Leader Mois é s Mug LAC Fisheries Program Leader Mois é s Mug When marine turtles meet fisheries … Sandra Andraka Senior Bycatch Officer Sandra Andraka Senior Bycatch Officer loggerheads and leatherbacks caught yearly in longlines globally.

Critically endangered leatherbacks - a bycatch mitigation response Working principles (after Martin Hall) Working principles (after Martin Hall) No one wants to catch turtles No one wants to catch turtles No one wants to put fishermen out of business No one wants to put fishermen out of business Working principles (after Martin Hall) Working principles (after Martin Hall) No one wants to catch turtles No one wants to catch turtles No one wants to put fishermen out of business No one wants to put fishermen out of business Data courtesy of Rotney Piedra MINAE 98% decline in 20 years!

Longline fisheries J- hooks Circle hooks Up to 70 miles long - 8,000 hooks Large circle hooks reduce marine turtle catch rates by over 60% (NOAA/NMFS in the Atlantic).

© Michael Patrick O´Neill Pacific Longlines: Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Swordfish…. and turtles!. Turtles and fisherman together leading transformation! 1. New gear 2. Fisherman take the lead 3. Governments and markets Outcomes: Transform 20% of Eastern Pacific fleet to better fishing gear Save the Pacific leatherback turtle Set a ground-breaking precedent in a powerful tuna fishery management body (IATTC) Stimulate fisherman lead reform across 11 Pacific countries Outcomes: Transform 20% of Eastern Pacific fleet to better fishing gear Save the Pacific leatherback turtle Set a ground-breaking precedent in a powerful tuna fishery management body (IATTC) Stimulate fisherman lead reform across 11 Pacific countries

The largest, field based, fisheries conservation project in the history of marine conservation Region-wide collaborative work (8 countries) A team led by WWF and IATTC: Industry, artisanal sector, exporters, fisheries authorities, NGOs from Mexico Guatemala El Salvador Costa Rica Panama Colombia Ecuador Peru Partners: WWF, IATTC, NOAA, USAID, US State Department, WCPFC, Japan, Ocean Conservancy, Mustad, Packard, Royal Caribbean, OSPESCA, … Region-wide collaborative work (8 countries) A team led by WWF and IATTC: Industry, artisanal sector, exporters, fisheries authorities, NGOs from Mexico Guatemala El Salvador Costa Rica Panama Colombia Ecuador Peru Partners: WWF, IATTC, NOAA, USAID, US State Department, WCPFC, Japan, Ocean Conservancy, Mustad, Packard, Royal Caribbean, OSPESCA, …

SOLUTION: Large Circle hooks and Best- Fishing Practices TECHNOLOGY: substitute J hooks with large C hooks across Pacific fisheries TECHNOLOGY: substitute J hooks with large C hooks across Pacific fisheries BEST FISHING PRACTICES - Marine stewardship: rescue & release techniques for turtles BEST FISHING PRACTICES - Marine stewardship: rescue & release techniques for turtles VOLUNTARY ADOPTION: hook exchange VOLUNTARY ADOPTION: hook exchange Time/area management: next steps Time/area management: next steps Source: IATTC

1,229 industrial fishing vessels in the EPO (10% EPO coastal countries) (larger than 24 m long, mean size is 45.5 m). Fishing trip duration 4-6 months. 1,229 industrial fishing vessels in the EPO (10% EPO coastal countries) (larger than 24 m long, mean size is 45.5 m). Fishing trip duration 4-6 months. More than 3,800 fishing vessels, including artisanal smaller than 24 m. Plus thousands of outboard motor boats that fish with long-lines (16,000 only in Ecuador). Fishing trip duration 5 to 30 days. More than 3,800 fishing vessels, including artisanal smaller than 24 m. Plus thousands of outboard motor boats that fish with long-lines (16,000 only in Ecuador). Fishing trip duration 5 to 30 days. IATTC covers industrial long-line fisheries. Artisanal long-line fleet in LAC is an opportunity. IATTC covers industrial long-line fisheries. Artisanal long-line fleet in LAC is an opportunity. OUR CHALLENGE in the Eastern Pacific Ocean 211 Donwon (Korea) Chen Chieh 21 (Taiwan) Fong Kuo 6 (Vanuatu) Altar 11 (Ecuador) Don Jorge (Costa Rica) Artisanal fleet - Manta, Ecuador Our goal: 2,000 vessels in 3 years … the tipping point.

 > 80,000 J hooks replaced  > 1,000 experimental fishing trips in all countries.  > 3,800 fishermen and 138 on- board observers trained  > 300 captains and their fishing vessels in the program  > 86 vessels completely transformed.  Working relationships with NOAA and Mustad (200,000 hooks donated).  > 80,000 J hooks replaced  > 1,000 experimental fishing trips in all countries.  > 3,800 fishermen and 138 on- board observers trained  > 300 captains and their fishing vessels in the program  > 86 vessels completely transformed.  Working relationships with NOAA and Mustad (200,000 hooks donated). Almost 4 years of work ( ) No fisherman has ever returned to using J-hooks Central American fishers forming sustainable fisheries foundation Programme acknowledged as excellent model Wal-Mart Central America prepared to preferentially source fish caught on circle hooks

- 60% - 27% Hall et al. Crete 2006

+ 22% - 20%

First voluntary, multi-national observers program with artisanal fishermen in the world

TRUST The greatest assett

Bycatch mitigation Selective gear Best practices CompetitivemarketsCompetitivemarkets Data collection, monitoring & evaluation On-board observer program Sustainable fisheries CapacityCapacity Access rights ManagementManagement