PESCAretta. Compatibility of fishing with the nesting of Caretta caretta in the Spanish Mediterranean.

Pleamar program

The nesting of the Caretta caretta turtle on the Spanish coast has gone from being practically non-existent to forming the foundations of a new population. As a result, there is a certain concentration of offspring and breeding individuals in the waters, in addition to the juveniles already historically present in the area. On the other hand, fishing activity in these areas is intense and is a source of sea turtle bycatch, although its role in the context of nesting has never been evaluated.

The PESCAretta project aims to study the dynamics of the emerging turtle population in relation to fishing activity. It will also evaluate different measures to mitigate the potential impact of fishing on the new population, including the use of turtle excluder devices (TEDs) or the redistribution of fishing effort, and will promote awareness-raising actions to seek to make turtle nesting compatible with fishing activity.

INTEMARES complementary project.

The following collaborating entities act: Fundació Oceanográfic, Associació Catalana de Dones de la Mar, Direcció General de Politiques Ambientals i Medi Natural-Parc Natural del Delta de l’Ebre, Confraria de Pescadors de l’Ampolla, Confraria de Pescadors Port de Llançà, Confraria de Pescadors Port de la Selva and Direcció General de Politiques Ambientals i Medi Natural.

Project

Line of action:

Marine ecosystems

Status:

En ejecución

Location

Andalusia, Catalonia, Valencian Community, Balearic Islands, Region of Murcia

Research line

Axis 2. Protection of the Marine Environment

Execution date:

2026

End date:

2028

Project web page:

https://www.programapleamar.es/proyectos/pescaretta-compatibilidad-de-la-pesca-con-la-anidacion-de-caretta-caretta-en-el

Objectives

The general objective of the project is to evaluate the compatibility between fishing activity and the nesting activity of the Caretta caretta turtle on the Spanish coasts and to analyze potential actions to improve it. Specifically, it is proposed to know the demographic relevance of the accidental catches of Caretta caretta in waters of Spanish jurisdiction in the Mediterranean, in relation to the viability of the incipient breeding population in Spain and, if relevant, to identify effective mitigation measures.

This general objective is broken down into the following specific objectives:

OE1. To inform and raise awareness among citizens and actors in the fishing sector of the coexistence between the nesting population of sea turtles on the Spanish coasts and fishing. Report on the results of the project.
OE2. To know the demographic characteristics of the nesting population of Caretta caretta in Spain through modelling, using key parameters.
OE3. To know the updated causes of mortality in Caretta caretta and their impact on the nesting population.
OE4. Modelling of the projection of the nesting population of Caretta caretta on the Spanish coasts in various scenarios of interaction with fishing.
OE5. Evaluation of the suitability of turtle excluder devices (TEDs) on the Spanish coasts.
OE6. Evaluation of the effectiveness of adjusting the distribution of turtle effort as a measure to mitigate the impact of fishing on the nesting population of Caretta caretta.