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Interactions Project | Mitigating interactions between endangered marine species and fishing activities
The "Mitigating interactions between endangered marine species and fishing activities" project ran from 2015 to 2018 in the western and central Mediterranean. It aimed to improve efforts to conserve vulnerable species listed in Annex II of the Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean by promoting responsible fishing practices and reducing negative interactions (incidental catches and depredation) between vulnerable species and fishing activities.
The Interactions project was coordinated by the Secretariats of the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic area (ACCOBAMS) and the GFCM, in collaboration with the Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre (SPA/RAC) of the UN Environment Mediterranean Action Plan.
OBJECTIVES
- Improve knowledge on the interactions – both incidental catch and depredation – between fisheries and vulnerable species (mainly cetaceans, sea turtles and seabirds) through specific pilot actions, and support the identification of potential mitigation measures
- Promote responsible fishing practices in the Mediterranean with a view to enhancing the conservation of vulnerable species
- Raise awareness among fishers and civil society through ecotourism-oriented activities such as the observation of wild marine fauna, and build capacity of stakeholders and institutions in the understanding and mitigation of the phenomena
RESULTS
- Implemented eight pilot actions in selected central and western Mediterranean fisheries to serve as practical case studies, creating a base of preliminary information:
- Interactions between orcas and artisanal bluefin tuna fisheries in the Strait of Gibraltar (Morocco and Spain)
- Interactions between endangered species and swordfish longline fisheries in southern Spain
- Interactions between pelagic longline and gillnet fisheries and sea turtles around the Balearic Islands (Spain)
- Interactions between gillnet fisheries and sea turtles in southern France
- Dolphin and seabird interactions with small-pelagic purse seine fisheries in Kelibia (Tunisia)
- Interactions between bottom and surface longline fisheries and endangered species in the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia)
- Preliminary study of the interactions between cetaceans and artisanal fisheries in Algeria
- Dolphin interactions with sardine purse seine fisheries in the Moroccan Mediterranean
- Promoted fishing tourism and whale watching as a way of generating additional income for fishers, reducing fishing pressure on targeted stocks and decreasing negative interactions, including ecotourism demonstration activities in Morocco and Tunisia
- Produced good practice guides for the safe handling of sea turtles, seabirds, pelagic sharks and rays, and cetaceans caught incidentally in Mediterranean fisheries, illustrating simple techniques to release them from fishing gear and handle them safely on board
- Published the Overview of mitigation measures to reduce the incidental catch of vulnerable species in fisheries, providing a detailed description – by fleet segment and group of species – of relevant fishing techniques that have been tested worldwide, with insights on their feasibility in the Mediterranean
- Conducted preliminary identification and testing of potential mitigation measures (reinforced fishing gear and acoustic devices) in select case studies
- Organized capacity-building and awareness actions, including ad hoc trainings and study visits, organized for pilot action coordinators and other stakeholders (e.g. ministries of tourism, ministries in charge of fisheries) : Training workshop on technical measures to mitigate interactions of endangered species with fisheries and to reduce post-capture mortality (14-16 September 2015, Barcelona, Spain)
NATIONAL PARTNERS
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CONTACT
Fishery officer
Fisheries and Environment Specialist
With the financial support of:
