Testing of TED launched!

Sea trials for testing TED on bottom trawl nets started last 26th of February.

Experimental sea trials aimed at the testing performances and potential implementation in traditional bottom trawl nets of the TED (Turtle Excluder Devices) has been carried out on board the R/V "G. Dallaporta by CNR-ISMAR of Ancona in the period 26 of February - 16 of March, 2014. The research trials have been characterized by adverse weather and sea conditions.

Installation of the TED grid on a bottom trawl net

The grid used to reduce unwated catch of the Caretta caretta on bottom trawl nets

Underwater video of theTED grid during sea trials in North Adriatic sea

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