bycatch

Leatherback Saved by Fisher-Researcher Collaboration in Sinaloa

Leatherback Saved by Fisher-Researcher Collaboration in Sinaloa

When fishermen and researchers collaborate, they create opportunities to amplify efforts for the research and conservation of sea turtles. This past spring, Upwell participated in these efforts by providing a satellite tag for Liam Neythan, a leatherback sea turtle that was saved in Sinaloa, Mexico. Our collaborators, the fishers Edmundo Rafael Garcías Burgos and Mariano García Olivas, as well as Dr. Alan Zavala Norzagaray and the CIIDIR IPN Unidad Sinaloa are the key collaborators and heroes in this story.

Press Release: Novel Research Takes Marine Conservation Tools to a New Dimension

Press Release: Novel Research Takes Marine Conservation Tools to a New Dimension

The new publication "Incorporating multidimensional behavior into a risk management tool for a critically endangered and migratory species," takes a look at how data on leatherback diving behavior can be used to improve the South Pacific TurtleWatch tool aimed at reducing bycatch.

Striving for Mutual Success with Artisanal Fishers in Sinaloa

Striving for Mutual Success with Artisanal Fishers in Sinaloa

La Reforma sits amidst a large lagoon complex lined with mangrove trees, desert islands, and colonies of seabirds. This fishing village is one of the largest in Mexico and fishers are taking a proactive stance in protecting sea turtles from bycatch. The Upwell team recently traveled to La Reforma to meet with several experienced fishers that partner with Grupo Tortuguero, such as Captain Adalberto Garcia. The data being collected here by Adalberto’s crew is instrumental in the future of sea turtle conservation within Northwest Mexico.

Ghosts in the Bay of La Paz

Ghosts in the Bay of La Paz

The Bay of La Paz, Mexico is filled with scattered mangrove forests, rocky reefs, and rugged coastlines. Bycatch is a pressing issue in the region. Although regulations exist to limit unselective fishing gear like gillnets, enforcement can be weak. Sea Turtle Spotters help Upwell as citizen scientists, reporting both live and dead sea turtles to Upwell researchers to help us learn more about the threats they face at sea.

Upwell Teams Up with Artisanal Fishers Seeking to Reduce Bycatch

Upwell Teams Up with Artisanal Fishers Seeking to Reduce Bycatch

A new generation of artisanal fishers in the El Pardito fishing cooperative of Baja California Sur is working to replenish overfished stocks and reduce sea turtle bycatch. Upwell researcher Stephanie Rousso has seen first-hand the threats posed by artisanal fisheries to sea turtles, mostly by entanglement in gillnets. In collaboration with fishers from the El Pardito cooperative, Stephanie is designing a pilot program to measure and reduce sea turtle bycatch.