Project 'Tartalife' to start next fishing cruise

The last set of trials to test options for reducing turtle by-catch will be starting the next end of February in Ancona (North Adriatic Sea), on board the CNR-ISMAR R/V "G. Dallaporta"

The final set of sea trials for the optimization of the use of the TED (turtle excluder device) in fishing gears has been confirmed from 23 of February till 5 of March, onboard the research vessel "G. Dallaporta". The trials are aimed at demonstrating the suitability of the TED in bottom trawl fishery, without any relevant losses in catches. The set of tests planned are essential to ensure the possibility of the implementation of such device in commercial fishery and to furhter involve fishermen in the adoption of the TED. Results from the sea trials will be showed during the next project meetings.

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