Marie-Clémence BURG

One of the causes of marine turtle mortality in the French West Indies is accidental capture by certain fishing gear, particularly bottom-set gillnets. These accidental catches also have a negative impact on the fishing industry, through the deterioration of their fishing gear, a drop in their fishing yield and fears linked to unwanted interactions with these protected species. Marine turtles are the subject of a National Action Plan for the French West Indies (the PNATMAF, 2018-2027) which defines the actions to be implemented to improve their conservation status.

The RECAPTED project (RÉduction des CAPTures accidentelles pour une pêche Efficiente et Durable) falls within this framework and meets several of the PNATMAF's objectives, particularly that of ‘supporting professionals in researching and implementing alternative fishing techniques’. Starting in October 2024, this project, led by the CNRS, is financed by the Green Funds (DEAL Martinique & DEAL Guadeloupe). Its aim is to reduce the impact of fishing on marine turtles by involving the various coastal fishing communities along the Martinique and Guadeloupe coasts in a process to develop innovative solutions to limit accidental catches, and to come up with concrete proposals to try out in terms of fishing gear and practices.

Deployed in Guadeloupe and Martinique, the project has 4 specific objectives:

• Establish a sustainable partnership with professional fishermen;
• Propose innovative fishing gear to limit the impact of fishing on sea turtles and their habitat;
• Propose innovative fishing practices to reduce the incidence of accidental catches of marine turtles;
• Ensure that these practices are implemented over the long term, across both territories.