JUSTSEA Foundation (2024)

Fisheries bycatch is a major factor driving the decline of the eastern Pacific leatherback turtle population. In response, JUSTSEA launched a scalable project in 2016 to assess the frequency and impact of fishing interactions on leatherbacks in Colombia while fostering collaboration with fishers to promote data sharing and sustainable fishing practices. As the first study of its kind in Colombia, this initiative has laid the foundation for further research and outreach efforts.

JUSTSEA has contributed to regional assessments by conducting over 1,000 interviews with fishers in Panama and Colombia, helping to identify bycatch trends. Their findings have been published in scientific literature and have provided critical insights into habitat use, demographic aspects, and the interaction between leatherbacks and fisheries. Notably, Buenaventura port has emerged as a high-risk area due to frequent entanglements in gillnets.

To address this issue, JUSTSEA proposes a pilot experiment in Buenaventura to test LED lights as a bycatch reduction tool. These lights will be attached to artisanal gillnets to minimize leatherback interactions without affecting commercial fish catch rates. This experiment marks a crucial step in implementing sustainable management strategies in an area with limited governance. The study will involve collaboration with trained local fishers who will deploy both illuminated and non-illuminated nets in traditional fishing zones. Data collected will include catch per unit of effort, biomass of target species, and market value assessments. By evaluating the effectiveness of LED lights, this project aims to provide viable solutions for reducing bycatch and protecting the critically endangered leatherback population.