So excellent a fishe: a global overview of legal marine turtle fisheries

摘要: Aim We provide a global assessment of the current legal direct take marine turtles, including scale and species breakdown at country level, investigate significance to turtle populations within wider context threats. Location World-wide. Methods We undertook comprehensive review literature (> 500 publications) contacted over 150 in-country experts collate data for countries that permit turtles (as 1 January 2013). Current annual each was estimated, estimates were generated 1980s, 1990s 2000s. Results Currently, 42 territories collectively in excess 42,000 turtles per year, majority which (> 80%) are green Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus 1758). Ten account more than 90% year with Papua New Guinea (36.1%) Nicaragua (22.3%) accounting half total take. Since 1980, we estimate 2 million have been legally taken these countries, levels < 60% those 1980s. Main conclusions Our results most synthesis recent years suggest has potential be driver population dynamics, comparable mortality through recorded bycatch. However, it is likely illegal take, along bycatch, significantly under-recorded far greater level directed This hampers ability assess relative impacts threats turtles.