Monitoring of Sea Turtle Interactions with Fisheries in the Kingdom of Morocco Loggerhead turtle shells used to produce tourist merchadise in Morocco.
The overall objective is to initiate a sea turtle monitoring project in conjunction with fisheries based in Morocco to quantify the impact of the intensive fisheries in the region on sea turtles. We propose to conduct wide-ranging surveys with help from fishermen and fisheries personnel to collect information about sea turtle sightings and interactions.
Potential solutions for reduction of sea turtle capture will be recommended, based on data collected, while simultaneously raising awareness through environmental education activities. Research opportunities will be maximised whenever possible. We will act in conjunction with local organisations, aiming to transfer knowledge and skills.
Contact the team at mtiwari@zoo.ufl.edu
2nd RSG Grant Awarded A 2nd RSG grant has been awarded for the continuation of this project.
Project Report: July 2006 Since receiving funding from the Rufford Small Grant in 2004, the sea turtle study in Morocco has been evaluating the bycatch of turtles in Moroccan waters, involving local fishermen in bycatch studies, conducting market surveys for sea turtle products, and surveying the coastline for potential nesting beaches. This work is done in collaboration with Professor Mustapha Aksissou and Wafae Benhardouze at the University of Tetouan in Morocco and with researchers at the National Institute for Fisheries Research in Morocco. The project has greatly expanded with funding from the Rufford Small Grant and continues to function on this funding as the grant goes a very long way in countries like Morocco.
Some of the preliminary bycatch data are presented in the attached poster, “Capture of sea turtles in the fisheries around Tangier, Morocco,” presented at the 25th International Sea Turtle Symposium. Bycatch work in Morocco has necessitated collaborations with local fishermen. Three workshops have been held at major Moroccan ports—Tangier, Casablanca, and Laayoune—to educate and train fishermen to collect turtle bycatch data for the project. These workshops are described the online African Turtle Newsletter:
Workshop in Laayoune November 2006: http://www.seaturtle.org/blog/africa/000503.html http://www.seaturtle.org/blog/africa/000486.html http://www.seaturtle.org/blog/africa/000462.html
More workshops are being planned at other Moroccan ports to establish a sea turtle bycatch project along the entire Atlantic coast of Morocco. A more extensive paper on turtle bycatch is currently being prepared for publication.
Results of market surveys in northern Morocco are presented in the attached publication, “Notes from Preliminary Market Surveys in Morocco.”
A survey of nesting beaches was recently undertaken in southern Morocco and the results are presented in the attached report, “Sea Turtle Surveys in Southern Morocco (Plage Blanche – Porto Rico) in July 2006.”
Finally, some of the activities are summarized in the poster, “The status of marine turtles in Atlantic Morocco,” presented at the 26th International Sea Turtle Symposium.
Final Report Read about the activities undertaken and findings of this project in the final report, newsletter and powerpoint presentations below.
