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Sustainable Fisheries Entrepreneurship:

A citizen based approach to saving Pakistan’s unique marine environment

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TRAINING ON SAFE RELEASES OF BY-CATCH SPECIES

Muhammad Moazzam Khan

Technical Advisor (Marine Fisheries)

WWF-Pakistan

December 2016

TRAINING ON SAFE RELEASES OF BY-CATCH SPECIES

Preamble

A project titled ‘Sustainable fisheries entrepreneurship: a citizen based approach to saving Pakistan’s unique marine environment.’ Was being implemented by WWF- Pakistan since June 2016. This project was sponsored by Engro Foundation for a period of two years. The project aims to support and promote improved fisheries management in 3 coastal union councils of Karachi, Pakistan i.e. Ibrahim Hyderi, Rehri Goth and Kaka Pir communities in Karachi. This is to be achieved through the reform of governance and management of the fisheries sector to combat illegal fishing and reduce pressure on marine ecosystems through increased awareness.

The project inter alia envisages community mobilization and organization through establishment of , fisher groups within the target areas. Fisher folk groups will be formed under male and female categories in order to compartmentalize experiences, as well as to allow attention to be dedicated towards specific social problems each gender may face. These fisher groups are entrusted to ensure community participation in the effective management of marine resources and fisheries, and to bring improvements in their livelihoods. The groups are to undergo a number of extensive trainings to develop their capacity for positive management.

It is well known that during fishing operations fishermen targets specific species for capture. Unfortunately, other animals become hooked or trapped when attracted to the bait or target catch, or are simply unable to avoid capture or entanglement in fishing gear. Such bycatch is a widespread problem in all fisheries and in all seas, sparing no group of animals. Often the scale of mortality is so high that it threatens the very survival of species and their environments. Every year, at least 7.3 million tons of marine life are caught incidentally, as bycatch. Some of the species which are considered Protected, Threatened and Endangered can survive entanglement in the fishing nets, if released as soon as they are brought on the fishing vessels. However, this requires training, as during the release process these animals may get endangered.

Bycatch is also a serious issue in the fisheries based in three Union Councils i.e. Ibrahim Hayderi, Rehri and Mauripur. Considering the seriousness of the bycatch issues, it is envisaged to train the observers that were deputed on the fishing vessels for safe release of Protected, Threatened and Endangered species that entangled in the fishing gears.

Context

Under the outs and objectives of the Engro Project, component 1 deals with “Developing Sustainable Fisheries (2016-2018 Target) – Phase I” which as its 1st Objective as “by 2018,build capacity of fisher folk to reduce harmful fishing practices in

3 coastal areas of Pakistan”. An output of this objective (1.4) envisages deployment of voluntary crew-based observers on fishing vessels in 3 union councils to safely release bycatch species. To achieve this objective, the observers were planned to be train to safely release bycatch species.

Methodology

Since the observers are posted on fishing vessels, therefore, it was possible to hold one training course on safe release for all observers, therefore, the training was held in two batches. The training of safe released was held in the office of WWF-Pakistan and fishermen, in addition to theoretical knowledge, also trained shown a series of training clips and movies. These training session were held on 13 December and 20 December

2016.

Results

All the observers recruited through Engro Project participated in the training which was held in two catches in the WWF-Pakistan office.

TRAINING ON SAFE RELEASES OF ETP (ENDANGERED, THREATENED, AND PROTECTED) SPECIES

The observers were informed that the bycatch is a fish or other marine species that is caught unintentionally while catching certain target species and target sizes of fish, shrimp, crabs etc. Bycatch is either of a different species, the wrong sex, or is undersized or juvenile individuals of the target species. Bycatch is also the capture of non-target ocean wildlife as well as what is discarded at sea, dead or dying. It was emphasized that the bycatch is one of the biggest threats to the oceans and has contributed to overfishing and the dramatic decline of fish populations around the world.

Stressing on the importance of bycatch it was pointed out that as much as 40 percent of global catch is discarded overboard. Among the bycatch are included the dolphins that are encircled in catching tuna, the sea turtles caught in shrimp trawls, the endangered whales migrating thousands of miles only to become entangled in gillnets Much of these captured wildlife is treated as waste, thrown overboard dead or dying. Capture of these ETP (endangered, threatened, and protected) species is serious affecting their population. It was also informed to the observers that the bycatch include:

a) Catch which is retained and sold but which is not the target species for the fishery

b) Species/sizes/sexes of fish which fishermen discard.

c) Non-target fish, whether retained and sold or discarded.

d) Unwanted invertebrate species, such as non-commercial crustaceans, and various vulnerable species groups, including seabirds, sea turtles, marine mammals and elasmobranchs (sharks and their relatives).

Use of gears and methodologies which minimize bycatch is the best strategy to reduce the mortality of the non-target animals including endangered, threatened, and protected species. However, so far no effective gear has been designed which stops bycatch, however, use of some of the bycatch reducing devices can effectively control catching of non-target species. Safe handling and release is best way to handle bycatch. In this process best practice methods are used for dealing with bycatch species, to maximise their chances of survival after interacting with fishing gear. It can also include vessel maneuvering to avoid taking bycatch species, for example, avoiding setting on whale sharks.

From some of the gears safe releasing of bycatch is effectively possible such as iIn purse seine operations, bycatch can be released from the net whilst in the water or released once brought on deck and free from the brailer. Dolphins can also be released

from purse seine nets using a 'Medina panel' and 'back down maneuver'. For whale sharks, if they can be brought close to the hull, crew may be able to 'stand' the animal on the net and roll it outside the bunt. Large sharks or manta rays, can be returned to the sea from the deck using a piece of net or a piece of plastic canvas that can be lifted by the crane.

From the longline and handline line fishing operations bycatch may either be released from the side of the vessel or after being brought on board, depending on size. In case of small turtle or any other ETP animals a dip net can be used to bring them onboard, after which the hook or line can be cut and animal can be carefully released from the side of the vessel.

In case of gillnet which is most popular gear in the three union councils, high mortality of some ETP are noticed. For example, all dolphins that are enmeshed in the gillnet may die because of drowning whereas other animals can be injured or exhausted. Fishermen were trained the methods that they can adopt to release the ETP species. In the process firstly the attempts may be made to release the animal when it is still in the sea. For the purpose net can be turned, rolled, jerked or a piece of it may be cut so that the animal may escape while the net is still in the sea. This is done in all cases where animal is too big to be heaved. Whale sharks, whales, mobulids, sunfish and in some cases turtle can be release through this method. In this process fishermen can go in the water to help the animal in the release or maneuver the net in the way that the animal escapes.

In case the animal can get itself released or cannot be maneuvered or helped by fishermen to escape while still in the sea, then it has to be heaved on board. It was trained that such enmeshed animals may not be heaved through the net hauler because in the process the animals may get hurt. The animal may be hauled from side of the net hauler and then placed gently on the deck. All efforts may be made to keep the animal calm because in the struggle to escape from the net they may injure themselves or inflict injury to fishermen helping them in disentanglement.

Entangled animal may be quickly disentangled from the net by turning around or cutting a part of the net. In case of turtles, the net gets entangled in the limbs or around the neck which may be careful cut to get the turtle free. Animals may not be allowed to struggle because it can exhaust or further entrapped in the net. Once it is separated from the net it may released from the side of fishing vessel by lowering it down as far as possible. Dolphins being aggressive can be thrown overboard. Birds may be allowed to recovered from exhaustion and encourage to fly on their own.

The process of release from gillnet is effectively been used by fishermen operating in the high seas in Pakistan. Observers from their union councils may benefit from their experience and they may learn from these fishermen while still operating in high seas.

DISCUSSIONS

The observers were trained to safely release the endangered, threatened and protected species if they are entangled in their fishing gears. In the process they may maneuver or cut the fishing nets while the entangled animal is still in the sea. They may, otherwise, heave the animal onboard and after careful disentanglement may safely release the ETP from side of the vessel by lowering it down. The observers keenly learned the process and promised to use in case of entanglement of ETP species.

ANNEXURE-I RELEASE OF ENDAGERED, THREATENED AND PROTECTED ANIMALS

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Fig. 1. Standard method of releasing sea turtle

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Fig. 2. Sea turtle properly release by fishermen in Pakistan

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Fig. 3. Fisherman helping mobulid ray to escape from the fishing net while still in sea

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Fig. 4. Fisherman releasing a big dolphin safely released in the sea. It required many fishermen to lift the dolphin

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Fig. 5. Careful handling of animal is required before release

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Fig. 6. Careful maneuvering of fishing net is required for release giant sunfish when it is still in the sea.

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Fig. 7. Mishandling or hanging sea turtles should not be done

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Fig. 8. Bottlenose dolphin being safely release while still in the sea

ANNEXURE-II TRAINING SESSIONS

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Fig.9. Training of observers of first batch on 13 December 2016

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Fig. 10. Training of observers on safe release on 13 December 2016

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Fig. 11. Training of observers of Second Batch on 20 December 2016

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Fig. 11. Observers took keen interest in safe release of ETP animals

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