Marine megafauna bycatch in artisanal fisheries in Gorontalo, northern Sulawesi (Indonesia): An assessment based on fisher interviews

While bycatch, the unintentional catch of untargeted species, is one of the main threats to large marine species such as cetaceans, reef sharks and turtles, also known as megafauna, fishers can also be negatively impacted by bycatch. Understanding local fisheries profiles, fishers' demography and their opinion is thus a necessary part of the strategy to mitigate marine megafauna bycatch in artisanal fisheries. Interviews with fishers were conducted in order to assess the magnitude of marine megafauna bycatch, the dependency of fishers on the fishery and the potential for implementation of bycatch mitigation measures in the artisanal fisheries in Gorontalo, northern Sulawesi (Indonesia). Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyse the data. Regression trees showed that cetacean and turtle bycatch were mainly influenced by the fishing location, while bycatch of reef sharks, whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) and mobulids was mainly influenced by the gear type. Cetaceans mostly escaped after being caught or were released. Reef sharks, which were often sold for their meat, were caught in the highest numbers followed by sea turtles. Interviewed fishers had large households, typically averaging more than five people, and mostly were dependent on the fishery, often with few other sources of income. Fishers were generally in favour of reducing bycatch as bycatch often posed a financial threat, due to lost catch and damaged gear. When implementing bycatch reduction measures, it is important to involve fishers in design and implementation of mitigation measures. As awareness on bycatch management and mitigation is growing in Indonesia, measures including recordings (official and self-reporting), capacity building on bycatch specimen handling and release and bycatch mitigation techniques (e.g. gear modifications) are some of the most important bycatch reduction strategies for the country.

Automated summary

The study found that the capture of marine megafauna is mainly influenced by fishing location and gear type, with the number of cetaceans and sea turtles caught being affected by location, while the capture of reef sharks, whale sharks, and mobulids is influenced by gear type. Fishers generally support reducing bycatch as it is seen as beneficial for their fisheries and economic interests.