Towards a co-designed conservation program to reduce sea turtle bycatch in artisanal fisheries from Buenos Aires

FONT D; GONZÁLEZ CARMAN V; ZAPATA MF; BERNINSONE, L; BRUNO IM

Congreso; 4th World Small-scale Fisheries Congress Latin America & the Caribbean; 2022

The artisanal fisheries from the Buenos Aires coast of Argentina are highly informal, and as a result, the fishing communities face many challenges, such as not having the proper port infrastructure, competition with bigger fleets for marine resources, and lack of engagement in management or governance by local fishery agencies. Despite not receiving governmental support, these fisheries can be severely sanctioned or even flagged as “anti-ecological” groups if they contribute to accidental capture (bycatch) of endangered species. Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacia), Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), and Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) are all particularly vulnerable to small-scale fisheries bycatch in Buenos Aires and are of high conservation priority. Spatial overlap in artisanal fishing efforts with seasonal feeding grounds of these species leads to instances of turtle entanglement in fishing gear. Because of the informal nature of the artisanal fishing activity, official catch rates of target and non-target species, types of fishing gear, and seasonal fishing activity are not well documented. To understand why, where, and when bycatch happens in Buenos Aires, this project will estimate the temporal and spatial variation of bycatch numbers between 2004 and 2018 using existing data. Results of this analysis will be shared with the local fisheries in order to initiate dialogue around sea turtle bycatch solutions that are co-produced and led by fishers. This research aims to recognize fishers´ critical roles in providing seafood to local communities, accumulating knowledge about their fisheries, and developing management solutions that lead to more sustainable, equitable, and enduring outcomes.