Browsing by Author "Tiwari, Manjula"
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- Evaluating loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) bycatch in the small-scale fisheries of Cabo VerdePublication . Martins, Samir; Tiwari, Manjula; Rocha, Fernando; Rodrigues, Edson; Monteiro, Ravidson; Araújo, Sónia; Abella, Elena; Loureiro, Nuno de Santos; Clarke, Leo J.; Marco, AdolfoThe incidental or target capture of sea turtles by small-scale fisheries (SSF) has been receiving increasing attention in recent years due to its high impact. Here, we evaluated the impact of the SSF on sea turtles in Cabo Verde, which hosts the largest rookery of the endangered Eastern Atlantic loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) population. This is the most comprehensive study evaluating the impact of SSF on sea turtles in the Cabo Verde Archipelago involving more than 85% of boats and more than 20% of the fishermen registered in the archipelago. Between the years of 2011 and 2014, 763 artisanal fishermen were interviewed at all the main ports and fishing communities of seven islands. Artisanal fishermen reported a mean annual capture of 1.5 turtles per boat indicating that a minimum of 1675 sea turtles could be landed per year in this fishing sector alone, with 65% in Santiago Island (which host the country's capital, Praia). Most captures (95.7%) occurred from May to September and coincided with the loggerhead turtle nesting season. These results suggest a severe impact of the SSF on adult loggerheads turtles in Cabo Verde as well as green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) juvenile turtles. To mitigate this impact, measures such as revising the current legislation for fisheries, the supervision and control of landings, especially in the most remote ports of the Archipelago, the regulation of the SSF during the nesting season around the main nesting areas, awareness-raising campaigns, sustainable activities, and alternative sources of income in fishing communities are recommended.
- Green and hawksbill sea turtles of Eastern Atlantic: new insights into a globally important rookery in the Gulf of GuineaPublication . Ferreira-Airaud, Betania; Vieira, Sara; Branco, Maria; Pina, Antunes; Soares, Venceslau; Tiwari, Manjula; Witt, Matthew; Castilho, Rita; Teodosio, Maria; Hawkes, Lucy A.Sea turtles are critical components of marine ecosystems, and their conservation is important for Ocean Governance and Global Planet Health. However, there is limited knowledge of their ecology in the Gulf of Guinea. To fill this knowledge gap, this study presents the first integrative assessment of green and hawksbill turtles in the region, combining nesting surveys over 9 years and telemetry data, to offer insights into these population dynamics, and behaviours, including nesting preferences, morphological and reproductive parameters, diving patterns and inter-nesting core-use areas. Both green and hawksbill turtles are likely making a recovery on Sao Tome, potentially driven by sustained conservation efforts. There are preliminary indications of recovery, but we interpret this cautiously. Coupled with satellite tracking, this study estimated that 482 to 736 green turtles and 135 to 217 hawksbills nest on the beaches of Sao Tome. Their movements overlap significantly with a proposed Marine Protected Area (MPA), which suggests they may be well placed for conservation if managed appropriately. However, the presence of artisanal fisheries and emerging threats, such as sand mining and unregulated tourism, highlight the urgent need for robust management strategies that align global conservation objectives with local socioeconomic realities. This study significantly enhances our understanding of the ecology and conservation needs of the green and hawksbill turtles in the Gulf of Guinea. The insights gleaned here can contribute to the development of tailored conservation strategies that benefit these populations and the ecosystem services upon which they depend. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of green and hawksbill sea turtles in the Gulf of Guinea, combining 9 years of nesting area surveys with telemetry data. Our findings reveal promising signs of recovery for green and hawksbill turtles, driven by conservation efforts. Our research underscores the importance of effective conservation strategies, especially in the face of emerging threats, to protect these vital marine species and their ecosystems in the Eastern Atlantic.image
- Green and Hawksbill sea turtles of Eastern Atlantic: new insights into a globally important rookery in the Gulf of GuineaPublication . Ferreira-Airaud, Betânia; Vieira, Sara; Branco, Maria; Pina, Antunes; Soares, Venceslau; Tiwari, Manjula; Witt, Matthew; Castilho, Rita; Teodosio, Maria; Hawkes, Lucy A.Sea turtles are critical components of marine ecosystems, and their conservation is important for Ocean Governance and Global Planet Health. However, there is limited knowledge of their ecology in the Gulf of Guinea. To fill this knowledge gap, this study presents the first integrative assessment of green and hawksbill turtles in the region, combining nesting surveys over 9 years and telemetry data, to offer insights into these population dynamics, and behaviours, including nesting preferences, morphological and reproductive parameters, diving patterns and inter-nesting core-use areas. Both green and hawksbill turtles are likely making a recovery on São Tomé, potentially driven by sustained conservation efforts. There are preliminary indications of recovery, but we interpret this cautiously. Coupled with satellite tracking, this study estimated that 482 to 736 green turtles and 135 to 217 hawksbills nest on the beaches of São Tomé. Their movements overlap significantly with a proposed Marine Protected Area (MPA), which suggests they may be well placed for conservation if managed appropriately. However, the presence of artisanal fisheries and emerging threats, such as sand mining and unregulated tourism, highlight the urgent need for robust management strategies that align global conservation objectives with local socioeconomic realities. This study significantly enhances our understanding of the ecology and conservation needs of the green and hawksbill turtles in the Gulf of Guinea. The insights gleaned here can contribute to the development of tailored conservation strategies that benefit these populations and the ecosystem services upon which they depend.
- Perceived social benefits and drawbacks of sea turtle conservation efforts in a globally important sea turtle rookeryPublication . Vieira, Sara; Jiménez, Victor; Ferreira-Airaud, Betania; Pina, Antunes; Soares, Venceslau; Tiwari, Manjula; Teodosio, Maria; Castilho, Rita; Nuno, AnaConservation interventions have wide-ranging social impacts - both positive and negative. Yet a limited understanding of how conservation initiatives affect people's livelihoods often hinders our ability to learn from past efforts and design more effective and equitable conservation measures. This is particularly needed when there is a high degree of overlap between critical habitats and human activities or a high cultural and economic demand for products derived from the conservation target. Here, we explore the social impacts of sea turtle conservation initiatives implemented on Sao Tome Island (Gulf of Guinea) as a case study and consider how these might enhance or hinder future efforts. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key actors involved in the sea turtle trade in December 2014-February 2015 (prior to the implementation of key initiatives) and February-April 2022. Our findings suggest a clear reduction in the scale of the sea turtle trade and the number of main actors involved. However, most respondents previously involved in the trade had experienced economic displacement and several associated social impacts, such as the reduced ability to support family and friends and food insecurity, due to trade restrictions. Financial capital was the main barrier to transitioning to alternative livelihoods, followed by the lack of skills and peer pressure. Finally, this study highlights the importance of considering human dimensions during the planning and implementation phase of conservation actions and the need for more investment focused on the well-being of communities to ensure the long-term survival of endangered species.