2. THE END OF THE LINE: Artisanal bycatch and exploitation of marine megafauna

Timeframe: 2007-2010

Location: Union of the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius

Assessing relative levels of bycatch and intentional capture of dugongs, turtles, cetaceans and sharks in small-scale fisheries

Developing solutions to bycatch with local stakeholders

Assessing fishing, poaching and trade of marine endangered species and potential management solutions

Poonian CNS, Hauzer MD and Ben Alloui A (2009) ARTISANAL BYCATCH OF TURTLES IN THE UNION OF THE COMOROS, WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN – ARE GEAR RESTRICTIONS ALWAYS EFFECTIVE? In Project GloBAL. Workshop Proceedings: Tackling Fisheries Bycatch: Managing and reducing sea turtle bycatch in gillnets. Project GloBAL Technical Memorandum No. 1, 57pp.

Poonian CNS, Hauzer MD and Ben Alloui A (2009) CAPTURA INCIDENTAL ARTESANAL DE TORTUGAS EN LA UNION DE COMOROS, EN EL OCEANO ÍNDICO - ¿SON LAS RESTRICCIONES DE EQUIPO SIEMPRE EFECTIVAS? In Project GloBAL. Workshop Proceedings: Tackling Fisheries Bycatch: Managing and reducing sea turtle bycatch in gillnets. Project GloBAL Technical Memorandum No. 1, 57pp.

Poonian CNS , Hauzer MD , Ben Allaoui A, Cox TM, Moore JE, Read AJ, Lewison RL, Crowder LB (2008) RAPID ASSESSMENT OF SEA TURTLE AND MARINE MAMMAL BYCATCH IN THE UNION OF THE COMOROS. Western Indian Ocean J. Mar. Sci. 7:207–216.

Kiszka J, Muir M, Poonian C, Cox T, Amir OA, Bourjea J, Razafindrakoto Y, Wambiji N, Bristol N (2008) MARINE MAMMAL BYCATCH IN THE SOUTHWEST INDIAN OCEAN: REVIEW AND NEED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE STATUS ASSESSMENT. Western Indian Ocean J. Mar. Sci. 7:119–136

Kiszka JJ, Muir CE, Amir OA, Drouot-Dulau V, Poonian C, Razafindrakoto Y,Wambiji N (2008) INCIDENTAL CATCH OF MARINE MAMMALS IN THE SOUTHWEST INDIAN OCEAN: A PRELIMINARY REVIEW. International Whaling Commission Report SC/60/SM13

Moore JE, Cox TM, Bjorkland R, Lewison RL, Read AJ, Aruna E, Ayissi I, Espeut P, Kiszka J, Muir C, Ngatunga B, Parchment I, Pilcher N, Poonian C, Solarin B, Crowder LB (2008) RAPID ASSESSMENT OF SEA TURTLE AND MARINE MAMMAL BYCATCH IN ARTISANAL FISHERIES: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.  Speed Presentation, International Sea Turtle Symposium, Loreto, Mexico. January 2008.

Cox TM, Muir C, Moore J, Read A, Lewison R, Aruna E, Ayissi I, Kiszka J, Ngatunga B, Pilcher N, Poonian C, Solarin B (2007) EVALUATION OF A PROTOCOL TO CONDUCT A RAPID ASSESSMENT OF MARINE MAMMAL BYCATCH IN GLOBAL FISHERIES. Oral presentation at 17th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Cape Town, South Africa.

Davis PZR, Poonian CNS (2007) INCIDENTAL CAPTURE OF THE DUGONG, DUGONG DUGON IN GILLNETS, MOHÉLI, UNION OF THE COMOROS. In Kiska J, Muir C (Eds) 1st Regional Workshop on Incidental Catches of Non-targeted Marine Species in the Western Indian Ocean, Workshop proceeding. 13-15th November 2006, Mayotte, France.

Project partners:

C3-Comores is grateful to Project GloBAL and their donors, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation for providing the funding and impetus to initiate this work.