FAVOMAR II – Fishermen in favour of the sea (Phase II): actions for the recovery and conservation of the different species of sea turtle in the Sites of Community Interest in the province of Tarragona
Pleamar program
Description:
In the previous call for the Pleamar Programme, the CRAM Foundation undertook the project Fishermen in favour of the sea: actions for the recovery and conservation of the different species of sea turtle in the protected area of the Ebro Delta, focused on the involvement of trawlers in the protected area of the Ebro Delta. The reception of the project was very positive among the agents involved in the fishing sector, with about twenty boats actively collaborating, which have collaborated in the recovery of a large number of sea turtle specimens. This project is a continuation of the project, extended to new ports in the Delta area and incorporating the southern coast of Tarragona and the Garraf Coasts into the distribution area of the Ebro Delta.
The project contemplates the formation of a network of volunteers in favor of the sea to improve communication and favor work with fishermen. These volunteers will be trained to receive the animals in port while the CRAM personnel arrive.
The project, which works with loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) – the most found in the study area – green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), is developed in the following protected areas:
– SCIs, SACs and SPAs ES0000020 the Ebro Delta (48385.09 ha)
– SPA ES0000512 Ebro-Columbretes Delta Marine Area (901708 ha)
– SCI and SAC ES5140001 southern coast of Tarragona (4903.83 ha)
– SCI and SAC ES5140007 Costas del Tarragonés (1110.7 ha)
Line of action:
Marine ecosystemsStatus:
FinalizadoExecution date:
2018To increase the survival of sea turtles accidentally caught by trawlers near the areas of the Ebro Delta, the southern coast of Tarragona and the Garraf Coasts.
The actions carried out have served to increase the survival of sea turtles accidentally caught by trawlers near the areas of the Ebro Delta, the southern coast of Tarragona and the Garraf Coasts.
The following conclusions stand out:
- Half (48.6%) of the trawling fishing fleet in the entire province of Tarragona is collaborating in the recovery of sea turtles. However, there are still boats that have not joined the initiative.
- There is still a long way to go to strengthen and stimulate fishing collaboration in this area in the event of accidental catches.
- Awareness-raising actions complementary to training meetings are key to progressively increasing the interest and collaboration of fishermen in the rescue of sea turtles.
- The winter season is when there is more interaction between sea turtles and trawling, a conclusion that was already evident in the first phase of this project.
- There is a high incidence of accidental catches in the Ebro Delta area compared to other ports in the same province of Tarragona. 96.3% of the total catches recorded have been made in the ports of Sant Carles de la Ràpita and Les Cases d’Alcanar.
- The importance of decompression treatment is corroborated, since 68.5% of the turtles treated have gas embolism due to decompression sickness, of which more than 70% have been considered moderate to severe, which makes a hyperbaric chamber necessary for their proper recovery.
FAVOMAR II – Fishermen in favour of the sea (Phase II): actions for the recovery and conservation of the different species of sea turtle in the Sites of Community Interest in the province of Tarragona
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