Trawl fisheries in the eastern Mediterranean and their impact on marine turtles

• Published in: Zoology in the Middle East Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 119 - 125
• Main Author: Oruc, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01-01-2001
• Subjects: Caretta caretta; Chelonia mydas; Green Turtle; Loggerhead Turtle; Mediterranean; Middle East; Nile Soft-shelled Turtle; Sea turtles; Trionyx triunguis; MED, Turkey
• ISSN: 0939-7140; 2326-2680
• DOI: 10.1080/09397140.2001.10637890

The region between Mersin and İskenderun was selected for studying marine turtles in the Turkish waters of the Mediterranean sea, as the most important nesting grounds of Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Mediterranean are situated there. In the 1995-96 fishing season, the 5 trawl boats taking part in the project reported that nets in the Eastern Mediterranean trapped 160 Green Turtles and 26 Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta). In the following trawling season (1996/97), 306 Green Turtles, 116 Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta) and 437 Nile Soft-shelled Turtles (Trionyx triunguis) were found to be trapped as a by-catch in the trawling nets. 87% of these turtles were captured by mid-trawling nets, the rest by bottom-trawling nets, mostly at depths of 11-30 m. 95% of all turtles were caught alive and healthy, and were usually released back into the sea immediately after capture by the fishermen. Training measures were given to local fishermen in order to raise their awareness of the threats to marine turtles.