Dear all, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to inform you that our article has been accepted by the Ocean & Coastal Management. Anyone clicking on this link before May 30, 2021 will be taken directly to the final version of our article on ScienceDirect, which then can be read or downloaded. No sign up, registration or fees are required. https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1ctpt3RKK-qOtE The DOI is this way: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2021.105606 thank you very much, Icha (Dr Putu Liza Mustika) On behalf of Prof Karim Erzini, Ms Elena Wonneberger and Ms Nuralim Pasisingi Marine megafauna bycatch in artisanal fisheries in Gorontalo, northern Sulawesi (Indonesia): An assessment based on fisher interviews Putu Liza Kusuma Mustika, Elena Wonneberger, Karim Erzini, Nuralim Pasisingi Abstract While bycatch, the unintentional catch of untargeted species, is one of the main threats to large marine species such as cetaceans, reef sharks and turtles, also known as megafauna, fishers can also be negatively impacted by bycatch. Understanding local fisheries profiles, fishers’ demography and their opinion is thus a necessary part of the strategy to mitigate marine megafauna bycatch in artisanal fisheries. Interviews with fishers were conducted in order to assess the magnitude of marine megafauna bycatch, the dependency of fishers on the fishery and the potential for implementation of bycatch mitigation measures in the artisanal fisheries in Gorontalo, northern Sulawesi (Indonesia). Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyse the data. Regression trees showed that cetacean and turtle bycatch were mainly influenced by the fishing location, while bycatch of reef sharks, whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) and mobulids was mainly influenced by the gear type. Cetaceans mostly escaped after being caught or were released. Reef sharks, which were often sold for their meat, were caught in the highest numbers followed by sea turtles. Interviewed fishers had large households, typically averaging more than five people, and mostly were dependent on the fishery, often with few other sources of income. Fishers were generally in favour of reducing bycatch as bycatch often posed a financial threat, due to lost catch and damaged gear. When implementing bycatch reduction measures, it is important to involve fishers in design and implementation of mitigation measures. As awareness on bycatch management and mitigation is growing in Indonesia, measures including recordings (official and self-reporting), capacity building on bycatch specimen handling and release and bycatch mitigation techniques (e.g. gear modifications) are some of the most important bycatch reduction strategies for the country. Stay safe and healthy, Dr. Putu Liza Mustika (“Icha”) putu.liza@my.jcu.edu.au https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5157-4635 <https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5157-4635> https://research.jcu.edu.au/portfolio/putu.liza/ <https://research.jcu.edu.au/portfolio/putu.liza/> Adjunct Researcher for the Tourism Discipline College of Business, Law and Governance James Cook University Australia Townsville Campus