AquaDocs (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) · 2004 · 68 citations · 0 references
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Natural ResourcesFisheriesZoologyMarine FisheriesMarine MammalogyMarine ZoologyMarine Fisheries ConservationMarine Mammal ConservationMarine Species ConservationMarine Wildlife ManagementSea Turtle ConservationWildlife ConservationConservation FisheriesLongline FishingMarine Turtle ConservationSea Turtle BiologySea Turtle EcologySeabird Conservation
Incidental capture in fishing gear is one of the main sources of injury and mortality of juvenile and adult sea turtles (NRC, 1990; Lutcavage et al., 1997; Oravetz, 1999). Six out of the seven extant species of sea turtles — the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), the loggerhead (Caretta caretta), the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), the olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), and the Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) — are currently classified as endangered or critically endangered by the World Conservation Union (IUCN, formerly the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources), which makes the assessment and reduction of incidental capture and mortality of these species in fisheries priority conservation issues (IUCN/Species Survival Commission, 1995).