• Reporting entanglements of leatherback t

    From ScienceDaily@1:317/3 to All on Thu Feb 24 21:30:40 2022
    Reporting entanglements of leatherback turtles is critical for survival
    Researchers analyze 15 years of data from Massachusetts waters to better understand sea turtle bycatch and mortality

    Date:
    February 24, 2022
    Source:
    New England Aquarium
    Summary:
    New research suggests that leatherback turtles entangled in
    fishing gear have a better chance of survival if the incident is
    reported quickly, giving trained responders the opportunity to
    fully disentangle the animals.



    FULL STORY ==========================================================================
    New research suggests that leatherback turtles entangled in fishing gear
    have a better chance of survival if the incident is reported quickly,
    giving trained responders the opportunity to fully disentangle the
    animals.


    ========================================================================== Researchers, led by Dr. Kara Dodge of the New England Aquarium, analyzed
    15 years of data collected by a network of disentanglement responders
    with the aim of better understanding sea turtle bycatch and mortality. Of
    the 280 confirmed sea turtle entanglements documented from 2005 to 2019
    in Massachusetts waters, 272 involved leatherback turtles, with most
    wrapped in rope around their necks and front flippers. The study in
    Endangered Species Research found that, for those cases with sufficient photo/video documentation, 88% of completely disentangled turtles were predicted to have a low or intermediate risk of death based on their
    degree of injury. Among those turtles that were equipped with tags to definitively follow their outcome, many were confirmed to be alive weeks
    to years after being disentangled.

    "This dataset gave us a unique opportunity to really dig into and
    understand leatherback turtle entanglement in buoy lines, which is
    critical to determining how entanglement happens and identifying workable solutions to solve this problem," said Dr. Dodge, Research Scientist
    in the Aquarium's Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life. "Bycatch of
    endangered species is rarely observed, so this dataset is an incredible testament to all the watchful mariners reporting these events and
    the disentanglement network consistently collecting high quality data
    for over 15 years." Leatherback turtles are the largest and one of
    the most endangered sea turtle species on earth, sometimes reaching
    six feet in length and weighing over 1000 lbs. They are often called
    "living dinosaurs" because they have existed for nearly 100 million
    years. Leatherbacks range widely throughout the global oceans, often
    visiting the coast of Massachusetts to feed on jellyfish during the
    summer and fall.

    "Our findings for leatherbacks mirrors what we have seen in whales. They
    are very likely to become entangled in whatever rope is most available
    to them.

    Reducing rope, which is not meant to mean reducing fishing, will be the
    best strategy for reducing entanglements," said coauthor Scott Landry
    from the Center for Coastal Studies, which leads entanglement response
    efforts in the region and collected the bulk of the data for the study.

    To support better survival rates, researchers noted the importance
    of sea turtles being completely and safely disentangled, as turtles
    have a low chance of survival when only partially disentangled. The disentanglement network works collaboratively with fishermen to
    quickly respond to entanglements. It also relies on boaters to report entanglements immediately and stand by at a safe distance while a trained
    team responds. Mariners should never attempt to disentangle a turtle or
    whale on their own due to the danger posed to both people and the animals.



    ==========================================================================
    "We really want boaters to inform us as soon as possible when they
    encounter an entangled turtle so that we can assess the turtle's condition
    and provide medical treatment if needed," said Dr. Charles Innis,
    Director of Animal Health at the New England Aquarium and a coauthor
    of the study. "We have a mobile veterinary team available to help
    these turtles. When injured turtles are released by well-intentioned
    boaters without medical assessment and treatment, it may reduce
    their chance of survival, and it prevents us from learning more about
    the effects of entanglement." The vast majority of turtles studied
    were caught in actively fished commercial gear, rather than ghost
    gear or debris. Potential solutions to reduce the risk of sea turtle entanglements include replacing single fixed-gear fishing traps with
    trawls to reduce the number of vertical lines in important feeding
    habitats for leatherbacks. The researchers also encourage the development
    of emerging technologies, particularly "ropeless" fishing, which could
    be the key to a future in which fishing and sea turtles can coexist.

    "Response by the trained and specially-equipped sea turtle disentanglement network has the highest chance of success in completely disentangling
    turtles, minimizing injury, and contributing to the survival of
    these endangered species," said Kate Sampson, Sea Turtle Stranding
    and Disentanglement Coordinator, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries
    Office, NOAA Fisheries. "The network also collects a great deal of data, including the type of gear involved, configuration of entanglement, and associated injuries, which are invaluable to understanding these events
    and informing potential management efforts. This information provides
    unique insight not available through other sources." While the study
    focused on entanglements in Massachusetts waters, researchers emphasize
    that the challenges facing sea turtles are not unique to this area.

    Similar studies have shown that entanglement is also a serious problem for leatherbacks in Canadian waters. Scientists hope the study can serve as
    a model for other areas across the globe where sea turtles and fixed-gear fisheries share the ocean.

    "The life-threatening entanglements observed locally are also seen
    around the world where turtles and fixed gear fisheries co-exist,"
    said Brian Sharp of the International Fund for Animal Welfare. "The
    findings from this study can help catalyze innovative solutions, such
    as ropeless fishing, that can be used globally to reduce bycatch and
    help ensure that both turtles and fishermen can survive and thrive."
    Dodge plans to compile more information about the survival of leatherbacks following disentanglement efforts. The New England Aquarium recently
    received funding from the NOAA Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program
    and the Massachusetts Environmental Trust to study post-release
    outcomes of disentangled leatherbacks on a larger scale, which will
    continue to include collaboration with the disentanglement network and commercial fishermen to both understand the problem and identify workable solutions. All entanglement sightings should be reported immediately
    to local responders, including the Center for Coastal Studies hotline (1-800-900-3622) off southern New England.

    Turtle disentanglement was authorized under NOAA 50 CFR 222.310, and
    tagging research was conducted under NMFS Permit #21301.

    ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by New_England_Aquarium. Note: Content
    may be edited for style and length.


    ========================================================================== Related Multimedia:
    * An_entangled_leatherback_sea_turtle ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
    1. KL Dodge, S Landry, B Lynch, CJ Innis, K Sampson, D Sandilands,
    B Sharp.

    Disentanglement network data to characterize leatherback sea turtle
    Dermochelys coriacea bycatch in fixed-gear fisheries. Endangered
    Species Research, 2022; 47: 155 DOI: 10.3354/esr01173 ==========================================================================

    Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220224112705.htm

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