CAPTURA INCIDENTAL DE TORTUGAS MARINAS POR LAS FLOTAS DE PALANGRE PELÁGICO DE BRASIL Y URUGUAY (1998 - 2010)

Abstract

Sea turtles are highly migratory species and during their long life cycle they face different threats. One of the biggest threats is the incidental captures by fisheries, thus longline fisheries has been pointed out as a great concern due to the high capture rates. This work summarizes the incidental capture of sea turtles by Brazilian and Uruguayan longline fleet, taking account different aspects to be considered in sea turtles productivity and susceptibility analyses - PSA. The data analyzed were collected by observers of the Programa Nacional de Observadores a Bordo de la Flota Atunera Uruguaya (PNOFA) from Uruguay, and the Programa Nacional de Observadores de Bordo da Frota Pesqueira do Brasil (PROBORDO), Fundação Pró-TAMAR, Instituto ALBATROZ and Núcleo de Educação e Monitoramento Ambiental (NEMA) from Brazil. A total of 25,164.089 hooks were sampled by Brazil and Uruguay between 2008 and 2010. On average, the sampled effort represented 1,5% of total effort applied at the same area by ICCAT CPCs. Loggerhead was the species most captured (n = 6.594), followed by Leatherback (n = 1.379) and Olive ridley (n = 600). All species nest in Brazil. Regarding productivity aspects, the Brazilian population of loggerhead, leatherback and Olive ridley are increasing. For the susceptibility analyses and considering availability, seven different RMUs are being impacted by longline. As regards encounterability, the three turtle species spent most of the time at the same depth range as Brazilian and Uruguayan longline toward to catch swordfish. For selectivity, juveniles of the loggerhead turtle are the most captured, while for Olive ridley and leatherback, sub-adult and adult have been most captured by longline fleet for both countries.