Sea turtle by catch analysis revealed that site infl uenced mortality more than net types along the coast of Togo

Mortality of sea turtles in fisheries bycatch was studied along the coast of Togo, West Africa, in the period 2012-2015. Five species of sea turtles were observed: Lepidochelys olivacea and Chelonia mydas were the commonest species, whereas Caretta caretta, Eretmochelys imbricata and Dermochelys coriacea were much rarer. Turtles captured in fishing nets represented 72% of caught individuals, followed by strandings (6.5 %; mostly due to collisions with motor boats) and animals that were intentionally killed on beach by the human population (0.6 %). Thus, fishing nets represented the main conservation problem for Togolese sea turtles. Bottom gillnets and floating nets represented the main threat for sea turtles, as they captured about 33 % and 28 % of all specimens caught at sea. A General Linear Model (GLM) revealed that both site and net type affected significantly the number of dead turtles in fishing nets, and a variance components estimation indicated that site had a much higher effect than net type. In the GLM, the interaction term 'net type × site' had an even higher effect than the two pure variables. In conservation terms, our data suggest that it would be more important for local agencies to focus management strategies especially on site-specific actions, by using a combination of actions, including awareness campaigns to local populations, economic compensation to fishermen for damages caused by marine turtles to fishing materials, better enforcement of the law, and ecotourism promotion to enhance local income.