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Marine Turtle Newsletter 103:19, © 2004

Marine Turtle Newsletter-Online

MTSG NEWS FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN/NORTH EAST ATLANTIC REGION

Dimitris Margaritoulis, Regional Vice Chair

1. A Workshop on Marine Turtle Bycatch in Longline Fisheries took place in Malaga (30-31 October 2003). It was organized by the Spanish Cetacean Society and hosted by the IUCN Mediterranean Office, in the context of LIFE Nature project, co-funded by the European Commission. The Workshop tackled the following topics: Analysing the identity of affected turtle populations and their migration routes, factors affecting higher bycatch (hook size, bait used, depth of hook, light sticks) and solutions to minimize bycatch, management plans (SACs for loggerhead turtles), cooperation with fishermen and recovery of accidentally caught turtles.

2. At the Sixth Meeting of National Focal Points for SPAs, organized by UNEP-RAC/SPA in Marseilles (17-20 June 2003), the implementation of the Action Plan for the Conservation of Mediterranean Marine Turtles was discussed. Two specific issues were presented: the Standarization of Tagging Techniques and Guidelines for Sea Turtle Rescue Centres. Further, the existing manual on sea turtles for fishermen should be adapted and translated to other Mediterranean languages. Finally, the second Mediterranean Conference was decided and three international conventions (Barcelona, Bern and Bonn Conventions) were asked to work jointly for its implementation.

3. A national Sea Turtle Symposium was organised in Turkey (Istanbul, 4-5 December). See Oruç pp15-16 this issue.