26/09/2005 – WWF is working
with Mustad, the world’s largest manufacturer
of fishing hooks, to reduce the accidental
catch of millions of marine turtles. By producing
circle hooks for commercial fishermen, WWF
and Mustad hope to reduce the accidental catch
of turtles by as much as 90 per cent.
According to WWF, accidental catch — or bycatch
— is probably the single greatest threat to
marine turtles. As many as 200,000 loggerheads
and 50,000 leatherback turtles are caught
annually by commercial long-line tuna, swordfish,
and similar fisheries.
“Circle hooks are an easy and effective solution
that contribute to saving turtles, while normal
fishing activity can be upheld,” said Rasmus
Hansson, CEO of WWF-Norway. “We do not want
the fishermen to stop fishing, so it is important
that companies like Mustad take responsibility
and create viable alternatives.”
The circle hook has proven to be better than
the traditionally-used “J” shaped hook, which
can be snagged by turtles, leading to suffocation
or internal bleeding if swallowed. The circle
hook is also designed not to damage fish.
“Circle hooks also result in better catch,”
added Hansson. “Dependent on water depth,
shape and type of fish, the circle hooks normally
give 20 per cent more catch than the J-hooks.”
Mustad has developed circle hooks for the
last 60 years and is now leading the fishing
hook industry with new, specially designed
products which are already being used in several
markets. Today, for example, it is forbidden
to use anything but circle hooks for commercial
line fishing in the United States. Additionally,
many sports fishermen use circle hooks to
avoid bycatch, particularly when fishing for
swordfish, tuna, sailfish, and blue marlin,
and species that are normally released after
being caught. Due to its design, the circle
hook from Mustad only fastens itself at the
side of the mouth of the fish, where it can
easily be removed and the fish released.
Mustad is providing WWF with 250,000 circle
hooks to be distributed to WWF projects in
areas where turtle bycatch present a serious
problem. This includes working with fishermen
in Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, and
Ecuador. Additionally, Mustad wants WWF to
test how these circle hooks reduce the by-catch
of sea birds, which in many areas of the world
is as big a problem as turtle bycatch.
“If we are to ensure the continued survival
of turtles, we must work to transform fisheries
around the world to make long-line fishing
more turtle-friendly,” said Katherine Short,
a fisheries officer with WWF's Global Marine
Programme.
"Wherever there is fishing, there is
bycatch, one of the greatest and most pervasive
threats to the marine environment in general,
and marine turtles in particular. We must
work with local partners and the fishing industry
to minimize by-catch to the greatest extent
possible."
END NOTES:
• Mustad is the world’s leading producer
of fishing hooks with nearly 1,200 employees
worldwide, of which 335 is based in Norway.
Mustad has factories in Norway, Singapore,
Malaysia, The Philippines, Portugal, and China,
and its products exported to 160 countries.
• Marine turtles are one of the oldest creatures
on earth, but today most are threatened with
extinction as a result of getting caught in
fish hooks and nets, as well as from the illegal
poaching and sale of turtle shell, leather,
and meat. Turtle eggs are also collected in
large numbers. As a result, all seven species
of marine turtles — hawksbill, green, Kemp’s
ridley, Olive ridley, leatherback, loggerhead,
and flatback — are listed on Appendix I of
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), while
six of the seven species are listed as “Endangered”
or “Critically Endangered”.
