Circle hooks diminish capture of sea turtles

Research shows that replacing the so-called “J” and tuna hooks with circle hooks reduce the severity of injury to sea turtles. Circle hooks have points that curve inwards toward the shank of the hook.

This was one of the findings presented during the recently concluded technical workshop on mitigating sea turtle captures in the world.

Twelve countries gathered in Honolulu, Hawaii last April 11 to 14 for the “1st Technical Assistance Workshop on Sea Turtle by Catch Reduction Experiments in Longline Fisheries.”

Sylvia Spalding, a consultant from the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, said that using larger sizes of circle hooks that are wider than about 4.9 cm. or by using fish bait instead of squid could substantially reduce sea turtle bycatch.

Representatives from several international and regional organizations and many local interests attended the event and a total of 43 participants from those organizations from the 12 countries expressed concerns and interests in conservation of the sea turtles around the world.

Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, and the Philippines sent delegations to the workshop. Some nongovernment organization researchers from Italy, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Spain, Solomon Islands, Vietnam, and the United States also participated.

The workshop reviewed all research on turtle bycatch reduction in longline fisheries being conducted around the world, said Spalding. The council hosted the event, which also was sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center.

Spalding said the United States has been the leader in these efforts with significant research contributions also coming from the Azores, Japan, and Ecuador.

NOAA-Pacific Islands Regional Office provided a comprehensive presentation on turtle de-hooking, handling and release procedures, also in efforts to enhance the capacity of the Western Pacific observer programs to address sea turtle issues.

They also provided the participants with de-hookers, longline bycatch information CDs and copies of the Hawaii longline observer manual. The workshop, said Spalding, also reviewed the style of longline fishing operations and the amount of turtles caught in fisheries and the opportunities and costs for conducting bycatch reduction experiments and providing scientific observer coverage.

The workshop was a follow-up to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s technical consultation on sea turtle conservation and fisheries that was held last Nov. 29 to Dec. 2, 2004 in Bangkok, Thailand. Spalding said related discussions would also take place at the 3rd International Fisheries Forum on July 25 to 29 in Yokohoma, Japan.(PR)