Evidence of hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) depredation on fish caught in gillnets
[摘要] Bycatch is a major global threat to marine megafauna and occurs in nearly all fishing fleets, including small-scale fisheries that use gillnets. Gillnets represent a threat to endangered air-breathing megafauna, who incidentally entangle in bottom-set gillnets and suffocate after being attracted by bait that is secured on fishing gear. We here provide the first evidence that hawksbill turtles feed on trapped fish in gillnets, suggesting that potential prey items trapped in gillnets may act as additional bait, attracting carnivorous sea turtles towards this threat. This overlooked depredating behaviour potentially explains and increases the likelihood of critically endangered hawksbill turtle bycatch in gillnet fisheries, calling for technological and management solutions.
[发布日期] 2023-10-20 [发布机构]
[效力级别] [学科分类]
[关键词] incidental bycatch;food source;small-scale fishery;depredation;sea turtle;marine megafauna bycatch;marine megafauna [时效性]