ENHANCE SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN PERU THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING AND FISHERS AWARENESS UNDER THE NATIONAL CONSERVATION PLAN FOR SEA TURTLES IN PERU FRAMEWORK

FIVE SPECIES OF MARINE TURTLES OCCUR IN PERUVIAN WATERS, INCLUDING GREEN, OLIVE RIDLEY AND HAWKSBILL TURTLES, THAT ORIGINATE FROM THE EASTERN PACIFIC REGION, LOGGERHEAD TURTLES FROM THE WESTERN PACIFIC, AND LEATHERBACK TURTLES FROM BOTH THE EASTERN AND WESTERN PACIFIC.TO CONSERVE AND PROTECT THESE SPECIES IN PERUS WATERS AND TO REDUCE THE MORTALITY OF SEA TURTLES GENERATED BY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS INCIDENTAL OR DIRECTED CAPTURE, THE PERU GOVERNMENT DEVELOPED THE NATIONAL CONSERVATION PLAN (NCP) FOR SEA TURTLES IN PERU.

PERUS FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE NATIONAL SERVICE SERFOR IS THE ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE NCP.

THERE IS A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO REACH THE NCP GOAL OF MINIMIZING SEA TURTLE MORTALITY ORIGINATING FROM ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES.

MOREOVER, WHILE RECENT FISHERIES REGULATIONS REQUIRE TRAINING OF MAHI-MAHI LONGLINE FISHERS IN SEA TURTLE HANDLING AND RELEASE METHODS, GILLNET FISHERIES IN PERU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO CERTIFY THEIR BEST PRACTICES NOR ARE THEY MANDATED TO TAKE TRAINING REGARDING SEA TURTLES.THIS PROJECT AIMS TO PROMOTE SERFORS ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY REDUCE SEA TURTLE BYCATCH BY INCREASING ITS CAPACITY AND THAT OF FISHERS TO REDUCE SEA TURTLE BYCATCH IN SMALL-SCALE GILLNET FISHERIES OF PERU.

THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY (1) INCREASING CAPACITY OF SERFOR OFFICERS AND GILLNET FISHER