Incidental captures of sea turtles by coastal fisheries along the central Atlantic coast of Morocco

This study evaluated how coastal fishing affects sea turtles along the central Atlantic coast of Morocco, a globally significant biological region. Data were collected through structured interviews with fishers/captains, and a 15-month participatory monitoring programme involving selected captains. All participants operated within the Port of Agadir’s coastal fleet, which includes pelagic purse-seiners, demersal trawlers and demersal (bottom-set) longliners. To assess the 2021 sea turtle bycatch, data were gathered through structured interviews with 63 fishers, followed by participatory monitoring of 10 vessels from April 2022 to June 2023. Based on the participatory monitoring, we estimate that approximately 20 sea turtles were caught by demersal trawlers and pelagic purse-seiners during the study period. Sea turtle bycatch rates were slightly higher for demersal trawlers (mean 0.0221 captures/day) than for pelagic purse-seiners (mean 0.0144 captures/day). The only sea turtle species in the bycatch was the loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta, predominantly subadults. Based on the fisher survey, which also represented demersal longliners besides demersal trawlers and pelagic purse-seiners, we estimated ∼84 sea turtle captures occurred in 2021. Fishers perceived a decline in the loggerhead turtle population, and sea turtle captures were concentrated in spring and summer. Data from participatory monitoring with collaborating captains revealed notably high direct and potential mortality rates for loggerhead turtles in the region, emphasising the urgent need for conservation measures.