Sea turtles are among the most extraordinary, charismatic and fascinating creatures, and are some of the world’s greatest nomads, sometimes navigating thousands of miles between feeding and nesting grounds. They are long-lived animals, having a complex life history, low reproductive capacity due to high juvenile mortality rates, and they travel long distances and thus encounter many fishing operations, making them vulnerable to overexploitation and fishing mortality (Spotila, 2004).
Five species of sea turtles have been documented as occurring within Kenyan waters including the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the leatherback …show more content…
In contrast, very little research has been conducted in the open ocean, where the majority of these animals’ life cycle transpires. It is in that environment that sea turtles frequently interact with various types of fishing vessels, which gives rise to incidental capture with high rate of mortality. This interaction causes problems not only for turtles, but it also generates financial losses for the fishermen and fisheries (Domingo et al., 2006). Fisheries by-catch (both coastal and high seas) among other reasons have been identified to cause mortality and decline of sea turtle populations. Sea turtles have been existing for 110 million years and are known to have survived the extinction of dinosaurs by 65 million years (Mast et al. …show more content…
Incidental capture of non-target species in the fishing gears has been a concern by environmentalists due to high incidences of sea turtle by-catch from trawlers, estimated at 500-1000 annually (Wamukoya et al. 1995).
The major threats that affect the viability of turtles worldwide include: egg and turtle harvesting; turtle poaching or illegal hunting; loss of nesting and foraging habitats; exposure to coastal gill net, trawl, set net and trap fisheries; exposure to pelagic longline fisheries; injuries caused by boat propellers; tourism impacts related to excess lighting on nesting beaches and noise; and ingestion of plastic (FAO 2007).
The dependence of coastal people on fisheries and turtle egg consumption creates conflict between human use and sea turtle conservation goals. This underscores the importance of understanding the human impacts to sea turtle populations and at the same time the perception of local communities and fisheries industry on turtle conservation efforts to devise management options and garner acceptance of the relevant stakeholders (Yeo et al,
Five species of sea turtles have been documented as occurring within Kenyan waters including the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the leatherback …show more content…
In contrast, very little research has been conducted in the open ocean, where the majority of these animals’ life cycle transpires. It is in that environment that sea turtles frequently interact with various types of fishing vessels, which gives rise to incidental capture with high rate of mortality. This interaction causes problems not only for turtles, but it also generates financial losses for the fishermen and fisheries (Domingo et al., 2006). Fisheries by-catch (both coastal and high seas) among other reasons have been identified to cause mortality and decline of sea turtle populations. Sea turtles have been existing for 110 million years and are known to have survived the extinction of dinosaurs by 65 million years (Mast et al. …show more content…
Incidental capture of non-target species in the fishing gears has been a concern by environmentalists due to high incidences of sea turtle by-catch from trawlers, estimated at 500-1000 annually (Wamukoya et al. 1995).
The major threats that affect the viability of turtles worldwide include: egg and turtle harvesting; turtle poaching or illegal hunting; loss of nesting and foraging habitats; exposure to coastal gill net, trawl, set net and trap fisheries; exposure to pelagic longline fisheries; injuries caused by boat propellers; tourism impacts related to excess lighting on nesting beaches and noise; and ingestion of plastic (FAO 2007).
The dependence of coastal people on fisheries and turtle egg consumption creates conflict between human use and sea turtle conservation goals. This underscores the importance of understanding the human impacts to sea turtle populations and at the same time the perception of local communities and fisheries industry on turtle conservation efforts to devise management options and garner acceptance of the relevant stakeholders (Yeo et al,