An overview of Projeto TAMAR-IBAMA'S activities in relation to the incidental capture of sea turtles in the Brazilian fisheries.

Abstract

Projeto TAMAR-IBAMA, the Brazilian Sea Turtle Conservation Program, is a network of 20 conservation stations that together protect over 1,000 km of Brazilian coastline on the mainland and on three oceanic islands. TAMAR was created in 1980, and initially focused its efforts on nesting beaches. Since 1990, a significant proportion of TAMAR's field activities have been focused on sea turtle feeding areas. Five species of sea turtles are found and nest in Brazil: the green turtle (Chelonia mydas, CM), the loggerhead (Caretta caretta, CC), the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata, El), the olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea, LO) and the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea, DC). Several nesting beaches and feeding areas are located near important fishing and/or shrimping grounds, where sizeable industrial fishing fleets operate. Moreover, artisanal fishing is a key livelihood for many coastal communities. Therefore, there is significant interaction between sea turtles and fishing gear around those areas, and the successful conservation of sea turtles by TAMAR must also involve actions to reduce incidental captures of sea turtles in fishing activities. Furthermore, since 1998 TAMAR has been collecting data on the level of sea turtle capture by the pelagic longline fishery off the Brazilian coast, which is a new frontier for conservation activities. Different actions have been implemented by TAMAR in each region in Brazil, depending on local conditions and available funds. Here, we present an overview of TAMAR's activities regarding the incidental capture of sea turtles by Brazilian fisheries.