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Marine Turtle Newsletter 98:8, © 2002
Observation of Accidental Capture of a Loggerhead Turtle by Hand-line Fishing in Kefalonia, Greece
Michael White
Department of Zoology & Animal Ecology, University College Cork, Lee Maltings,
Prospect Row, Cork, Ireland. (E-mail: mzr69@hotmail.com)
Fishing with monofilament handlines, either for recreation or for artisanal commerce, is widespread throughout the Mediterranean. Typically a weighted, baited hook is cast into the sea and the spool, holding the nylon line, placed on structures such as a harbour wall. A fisher may have several lines deployed simultaneously, none of which may be attended. Waterside market traders have been observed with lines deployed whilst serving customers at their stalls. As is the case with industrial longline fisheries (e.g. Gerosa & Casale 1999), hand-line fishing is a source of injury and possible mortality of sea turtles, as evidenced by the following observation. A loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta was seen in the harbour at Argostoli, Kefalonia, Greece, on 14 May 2002, and it was exhibiting erratic swimming movements. When the turtle neared the surface, a plastic spool containing monofilament hand-line was seen just anterior to its right hind flipper. The turtle had difficulty in diving, and remained floating on the surface for the 30-minute observation period. Even if the turtle did not die directly as a result of this hand-line, the possibility of being struck by a boat was increased. The overall level of threat posed to sea turtles by hand-line fishing is not known, but this fishing is extremely common (probably several thousands of fishers active each day) in the Mediterranean region.
GEROSA, G. & P. CASALE. (1999). Interaction of marine turtles with fisheries in the Mediterranean. Mediterranean Action plan – UNEP. Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas, Tunis. 59pp.