Tartalife at sea on May 2014 for testing new TEDs (turtle excluder devices)

Furhter set of sea trials on board the R/V "G. Dallaporta" to test new TEDs (Turtle excluder devices)

As one of the aims of the TARTALIFE project (www.tartalife.eu), funded by EU through LIFE+ NATURA 2012 program, co-funded by MIPAAF, General Directorate of Fisheries and Marche Regional Authority, promoted by all the 15 Italian coastal regions and coordinated by CNR-ISMAR di Ancona, furhter sea trials on board the R/V "G. Dallaporta" have been scheduled for the period May 17-25, to test new TEDs (turtle excluder devices)

In order to contribute to the spreading of kwnoledge and awarness, the sea trials, under the scientific coordination of dott. Alessandro Lucchetti, will simulate real fishing operations to test and verify some technical specifications for the implementation of such grids in commercial otter trawl nets.

During the next cruises a new FLEX-GRID, will be tested on a demersal two-faces otter trawl net, commonly used in the Mediterranean Sea. Such new TED is caractherized by low weigth and high flexibility, thank to a particular polymeric blend. Such properties allow the grid to be hauled directly by the net winch, without the need to remove the grid after each haul.

objective

reduction of sea turtle mortality in the professional fishing

project in brief

The conservation of Caretta caretta, a priority species included in App. II/IV of the Habitat Directive and protected in various international Conventions, has been representing a strategic issue for the whole Mediterranean basin, with professional fishing being the main threat for the survival of marine turtles: every year about 130000 turtles can be accidentally caught accidentally in the Mediterranean.

The project TartaLife, involving all 15 Italian regions overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, aims at reducing:
- bycatches caused by pelagic longline, bottom trawl and fixed nets by disseminating technical innovations of the fishing gears;
- post-capture mortality through trainings for fishermen and strengthening the marine turtles First Aid/Rescue Centres

TartaLife project

Life+ programme

The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment. The general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental policy and legislation by co-financing pilot or demonstration projects with European added value.

LIFE began in 1992 and to date there have been four complete phases of the programme (LIFE I: 1992-1995, LIFE II: 1996-1999, LIFE III: 2000-2006 and LIFE+: 2007-2013). During this period, LIFE has co-financed some 3954 projects across the EU, contributing approximately €3.1 billion to the protection of the environment.

Life+ programme