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Published on: May 18, 2019
Assessing Loggerhead Turtle Exposure to Fisheries in Northwest Africa: Predicted Risk and Management Gaps.
Amy Isabelle Bowler1, Annette C Broderick2, Michael S Coyne3
1School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences University of Exeter Exeter UK.
Ecology and Evolution
|June 8, 2026
Summary
Loggerhead turtles in Northwest Africa face high bycatch risk due to extensive overlap with fishing gear, especially trawling. Urgent conservation measures are needed to protect these vulnerable marine animals.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Conservation Science
- Fisheries Management
Background:
- Bycatch, the accidental capture of non-target species, poses a significant threat to wildlife populations, particularly sea turtles.
- Northwest Africa, especially Cabo Verde, supports a major loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) population, yet high-risk bycatch areas remain understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the spatial and vertical overlap between loggerhead turtles and fishing activities in the Northeast Atlantic.
- To identify high-risk areas and fishing methods contributing to loggerhead turtle bycatch.
- To inform conservation strategies for mitigating turtle bycatch.
Main Methods:
- Biologging data from 26 loggerhead turtles were analyzed.
- Spatial and vertical distribution of turtles were quantified in relation to fishing activities.
- Overlap was assessed across seven countries in the Northeast Atlantic.
Main Results:
- Loggerhead turtles showed extensive overlap with fishing activities across seven countries, with hotspots in Cabo Verde, Senegal, and Mauritania.
- Turtles frequently occupied the same depths as fishing gear, increasing bycatch risk.
- Trawling exhibited the greatest overlap with loggerhead turtles, and current conservation measures appear insufficient.
Conclusions:
- Significant bycatch risk for loggerhead turtles exists in Northwest Africa, driven by fishing overlap, particularly with trawling.
- Existing conservation measures do not adequately address the identified bycatch hotspots and risks.
- Strengthened conservation, including gear modifications (e.g., turtle excluder devices) and spatial-temporal fisheries management, is crucial. Improved bycatch reporting is essential for future assessments.
