Dear colleagues,
On behalf the Organising Committee, I would like to
announce the publication of the following report:
Incidental catch of
non-targeted marine species in the western Indian Ocean:
problems and mitigation measures. Workshop proceeding. 13-15th
November 2006, Mayotte, France. Western
Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA). 111 p.
This report contains the report of the workshop as
well as contributions on bycatch of marine turtles and mammals in the western Indian Ocean. See the abstract below:
From 13 to 15 November 2006, representatives from
Western Indian Ocean (WIO) countries and from other regions (USA, Australia,
Sri Lanka)
participated in a workshop to collate available information and assess the
potential impact of bycatch on non-targeted marine species in the WIO, with a
focus on marine mammals and turtles. This workshop was organized by the NGO Sea Sense, based in Tanzania,
and by the University of La Rochelle, France. The three-day workshop was held
on the island of Mayotte
(France)
at Hôtel Sakouli and was funded
by the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association through a MASMA (Marine
Science for Management) grant. The aims of the workshop were to: 1- bring
together relevant marine mammal and turtle scientists, fishery biologists,
conservationists and managers in the region to share ideas and exchange
information on bycatch of non-targeted marine species in the WIO; 2- review the
level of threat from fisheries, both coastal and pelagic, in the WIO region; 3-
discuss and resolve common issues relating to bycatch; 4- discuss and resolve
common issues relating to data collection and analysis, survey techniques, and
specific threats (other than by-catch) such as eco-tourism, pollution, habitat
destruction/disturbance and boat collisions; and 5- produce recommendations for
research and management, fund-raising and future regional and international
collaboration. Presentations were given on the regional status and conservation
of turtles and marine mammals, in the context of fishery-related mortality. The
workshop agreed that the coastal gillnet fishery poses a serious threat to
turtles, dugongs and cetaceans in the WIO region. There are currently no
measures to reduce bycatch in this fishery. Prawn trawling also poses a threat,
particularly to turtles. It was acknowledged that while turtles, dugongs,
cetaceans and sharks are all impacted by fishing activities in the WIO region,
the highest priority is the dugong which is severely threatened from
gillnetting and habitat disturbance. The establishment of a regional dugong
research and conservation programme has been identified as a high priority. A
rapid regional assessment of gillnet and prawn trawl fisheries was also
considered a high priority to assess the level of threat from these gears on
non-targeted marine species. Practical ways to reduce bycatch were identified,
including convincing decision-makers pf the importance of reducing bycatch due
to the high tourism value placed on marine mammals and turtles.
Please contact me for pdf or hard copies [which are
limited in number (jeremy.kiszka@wanadoo.fr)].
Best wishes,
____________________________________________________
Jeremy
KISZKA (MSc, PhD cand.)
Centre de Recherche sur les Ecosystèmes Littoraux
Anthropisés (CRELA),
UMR 6217 CNRS-IFREMER-Université de La Rochelle. 17071 La
Rochelle
&
Direction de l'Environnement et du Développement Durable
Collectivité Départementale de Mayotte
BP 101, 97600 Mamoudzou.
Tel.: +262 (0)269.64.99.17
GSM: +262 (0)6.39.69.53.53
Skype: jeremy.kiszka
MSN: jeremay976@hotmail.fr