Groups lauded for saving sea turtles, seabirds

Fisheries groups in Hawaii and Japan were recognized late last month for their efforts to save sea turtles and seabirds during an international forum held July 27 to 28 in Japan.

Hawaii Longline Association and Japan Tuna Fisheries Cooperative Association were given honors during the 3rd International Fishers Forum in Yokohama, Japan. The Hawaii Longline Association was given the Jade Seat Turtle Award.

Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council executive director Kitty Simonds said the award is given to a fisher or a group of fishers who have been a shining example to other fishers in reducing sea turtle interactions. She said the forum recognized the Hawaii longline fleet for dealing with the Pacific-wide impact of all fisheries on turtles as well as the land-based impacts on turtles on their nesting beaches.

The Hawaiian fleet’s fishermen were restricted in their ability to shallow set for swordfish for more than three years and were forbidden to shallow set for one year.

After losing tens of millions of dollars, the fishery was reopened in late 2004 with strict regulations on hook types, gear configuration and set times; a 50-percent reduction in its allowable annual swordfish sets; hard caps on incidental turtles; 100 percent observer coverage; and, requirements to carry approved dehookers to release any caught sea turtles.

WPRFMC said under the stringent conditions, the reopened fishery group has experienced excellent catch ranges of swordfish while incidentally catching only about 50 percent of its anticipated take of sea turtles.

“The new requirements, particularly the night setting requirement, have also reduced seabird interactions to approximately 2 percent of their previous levels,” said Simmonds.

The Japanese fishery group was presented the second Golden Albatross Award for developing the “tori” pole, which reduces longline interactions with seabirds and has proven so effective that it is now used in vessels worldwide.

Simonds added that the two awards presented to the two groups epitomize the spirit of the International Fishers Forum, in the pursuit of environmentally friendly and responsible tuna fisheries, which catch tuna and not turtles or seabirds.

She said about 250 fishermen and other stakeholders participated in the forum that aimed to identify, discuss, plan and implement effective practices and approaches to reduce seabird and sea turtle interactions in longline fisheries. (PR)