Building Strong and Maintaining Collaborations between Observers and the Fishing Community

7TH MEDITERRANEAN CONFERENCE ON MARINE TURTLES TETOUAN/ MOROCCO 2022

BOOK OF ABSTRACT

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18 -21 OCTOBER 2022/ TETOUAN, MOROCCO

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Book of Abstract

7TH MEDITERRANEAN CONFERENCE ON MARINE TURTLES, TETOUAN, MOROCCO 2022

Book of Abstract 7th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles, Tetouan, Morocco 2022 ATOMM, Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences, BP 2121, Tétouan Morocco +212661953689 aksissou@yahoo.fr

PRESIDENT OF CONFERENCE Mustapha Aksissou (Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Morocco)

CONFERENCE SECRETARY Wafae Benhardouze (Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Morocco)

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE -Abderrahmane Merzouki (UAE, Morocco) -Ahmed Lamarti (UAE, Morocco) -Ahmed Taheri (UCD, Morocco) - Anass Louah (UAE, Morocco) - Assia Bouzerki (UAE, Morocco) - Bilal Mghili (UAE, Morocco) - Bouchra Trari (UAE, Morocco) - Boutaina Belqat (UAE, Morocco) - El Hassan Sakar (UAE, Morocco) - Fahd Darasi (UAE, Morocco) - Kawtar Kettani (UAE, Morocco)

- Majida El Alami (UAE, Morocco) -Mohamed Keznine (UAE, Morocco) -Mohamed Libiad (UAE, Morocco) -Mohamed Rami (UAE, Morocco) -Mohamed Rida Derdabi (UAE, Morocco) -Mustapha Aksissou (UAE, Morocco) -Nard Bennas (UAE, Morocco) -Rabia Ajana (UAE, Morocco) -Soumia Fahd (UAE, Morocco) -Wafae Benhardouze (UAE, Morocco) -Younes Saoud (UAE, Morocco)

STEERING COMMITTEE -Lobna Ben Nakhla (UNEP MAP-RAC/SPA) -Mustapha Aksissou (University Abdelmalek Essaadi) -Manjula Tiwari (NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service) -Nadia Saporito (Bern Convention)

HONORARY COMMITTEE - Bouchta El Moumni (President of University Abdelmalek Essaadi) - Hinde Cherkaoui (Vice President of University Abdelmalek Essaadi) - Jamal Eddine Benhayoun (Vice President of University Abdelmalek Essaadi) - Abdellatif Moukrim (Dean of Faculty of Sciences, Tetouan) - Noura Aknin (Vice Dean of Faculty of Sciences, Tetouan) - Ahmed Atlamsani (Vice Dean of Faculty of Sciences, Tetouan) - Mohammed Malouli Idrissi (INRH, Head Tanger Center)

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE - MUSTAPHA AKSISSOU (ABDELMALEK ESSAÂDI UNIVERSITY, MOROCCO) - BOJAN LAZAR (UNIVERSITY OF PRIMORSKA, SLOVENIA) - DANIELA FREGGI (LAMPEDUSA TURTLE RESCUE CENTER, ITALY) - FLEGRA BENTIVEGNA (ZOOLOGICAL STATION ANTON DOHRN, ITALY) - ABDULMAULA HAMZA (UNIVERSITY OF TRIPOLI, LIBYA) - JESÚS TOMÁS (UNIVERSITY OF VALENCIA, SPAIN) - IMED JRIBI (UNIVERSITY OF SFAX, TUNISIA) - OGUZ TURKOZAN (ADNAN MENDERES UNIVERSITY, TURKEY) - SANDRA HOCHSCHEID (ZOOLOGICAL STATION ANTON DOHRN, ITALY) - WAFAE BENHARDOUZE (ABDELMALEK ESSAÂDI UNIVERSITY, MOROCCO) - YAKUP KASKA (PAMUKKALE UNIVERSITY, TURKEY) - ALIKI PANAGOPOULOU (ARCHELON, THE SEA TURTLE PROTECTION SOCIETY OF GREECE)

TRAVEL GRANT CHAIR Wafae Benhardouze (ATOMM – Association de Protection des Tortues Marines au Maroc)

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Book of Abstract

7TH MEDITERRANEAN CONFERENCE ON MARINE TURTLES, TETOUAN, MOROCCO 2022

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

SESSION 6: Outreach, Conservation & Management

SESSION 6: Outreach, Conservation & Management

BUILDING STRONG AND MAINTAINING COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN OBSERVERS AND THE FISHING COMMUNITY Rae V.1, Gaidi W.2, Feltrup-Azafzaf C.2, Amaha Öztürk, A.3 1MEDASSET-Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles, 2AAO/ BirdLife in Tunisia, 14 Rue Ibn El Hani, Immeuble ERIS, Bureau No 4, 2080 Araina, Tunisia, 3TUDAV, Turkish Marine Research Foundation, Fıstıklı Yalı Sok. No 34/5 Beykoz-Istanbul, Turkey The incidental capture of sea turtles during fishing operations is widely acknowledged as the most significant threat to sea turtles today. In order to effectively address this threat, the involvement and collaboration with fishers is essential for awareness raising and training, the collection of valid data and the application of bycatch reduction tools. Forming trust and mutual benefits have been identified as key factors in establishing any relations between researchers and fishers, which has not always been easy. Through the MAVA funded, “Understanding Mediterranean Multi-Taxa Bycatch of Vulnerable Species and testing Mitigation – A Collaborative Approach” (MedBycatch), the overall goal is to provide knowledge, skills and tools to reduce the impact of selected fishing gears, specifically the incidental capture of vulnerable species and habitats. The forming of strong relations between fishers and observers is essential for the project to achieve its goal. Since the inception of the observer programme in

2018, observers have successfully collaborated with fishes to complete more than 3,600 on-board observations and over 12,100 port-based questionnaires across five Mediterranean countries. Funded under the MAVA Foundation’s ‘Learning and Sharing Grant’ scheme, fishers and observers involved in the above programme shared their experiences and knowledge via organised National workshops and questionnaires. In total, 60 fishers and 43 observers from three countries provided their feedback for (1) their participation (the issues and the successes) and (2) their recommendations on how to build trust and maintain strong relations. From their valuable feedback, key points were identified for building strong collaborations in how an observer should conduct themselves, how to approach fishers, expectations for conducting on-board observations and port-based questionnaires, and how to sustain collaborations even after the surveying has ended.

ZOOARCHAEOLOGY AS A COMPLEMENT TO SEA TURTLE RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN Willemien de Kock1,2 and Canan Çakırlar1 1Groningen Institute of Archaeology, University of Groningen, Poststraat 6, 9712 ER Groningen, The Netherlands 2Marine Evolution and Conservation, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen 11103, The Netherlands

Sea turtle remains have been found at coastal archaeological sites throughout the Levant, and in the Aegean. Presence of sea turtle bones dating up to ~5000 years before present raises interesting zooarchaeological research avenues into ancient turtle exploitation, however the remains themselves can also be viewed as archives of biological information. The often highly fragmented nature of the bones, requires that novel molecular tools be capitalised on. By applying methods such as protein fingerprinting and ancient population genetics, we can understand more about the species distribution or connectivity in the past. Stable Isotope

Analysis of bone collagen can inform us about any diet changes between past and present. By leveraging the potential for multidisciplinary research of this kind, we can gain a long-term perspective on the plasticity of Mediterranean sea turtles through time. This baseline information could help predict resilience to anthropogenic threats to some extent. In particular the geographic areas utilised by sea turtles throughout millenia can be identified. This contribution explores how bioarchaeological methods can complement or even inform aspects of sea turtle conservation biology. Every bone has a story to tell.

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AND THE FISHING COMMUNITY

catch project, ‘Understanding Mediterranean Multi-Taxa Bycatch of Vulnerable Species and testing Mitigation – A collaborative Approach’, works towards the overall goal to provide knowledge, skills and tools to ecifically the incidental capture (referred to as Bycatch) of vulnerable species and habitats. One of the key objectives of the MedBycatch programme is to implement the data collection through a collab this objective is the relationship created between the fishers and observers. Fishers’ participation for knowledge sharing and the collection of valid data is essential to inform and trial potential measures to mitig widely acknowledged that forming trust and mutual benefits are key factors in forming relations, however, these have typically been hard to establish between researchers and fishers.

ature is important for us, we make our money from sea, sustainability is important but the priority is always the environment and no one thinks about the fishermen’ (Turkish

– 2020) observer programme, national observer teams successfully engaged and established positive relations with fishers to complete over 3,630 questionnaires and over 12,100 on-board observations in fo an. The experiences and knowledge obtained through the observers and fishers participation of the MedBycatch programme for creating and sustaining relations is invaluable for the continuation and expa esearchers wanting to collaborate with fishers.

e MAVA Learning& Sharing Grant, 60 fishers and 45 Observers from Morocco, Tunisia and Türkiye provided their feedback and expertise from their e articipating within the MedBycatch Observer programme; the challenges, the successes and how to build and sustain strong working relationships.

d in the Field

Reasons why

How these were Overcome

  om the fishers to accept an   observer on-board  

Observers are seen as control officers Observers affiliated with NGO’s Fear of legal action Fear of increased regulations Hesitate to accommodate a female observer General reluctance

     

Initiate a conversation to primarily just introduce yourself and learn their names- do not hurry this exc Explaining fully the objectives & benefits of the project, not just for vulnerable species but also in term Gradually building relations through repeat visits to the ports / spending social time with the fishers Respecting fishers and not viewing them as data providers Providing small gifts of appreciation Fishers witnessing observers working hard on-board

   articipate in questionnaires 

Survey Fatigue and Fishers not informed about the results or conclusions of study/ project Fishers worried about consequences of legal actions Fishers working within a MPA and fear of more regulations If fishers had a bad day

 identification of vulnerable  species 

Fishers did not used the same terminology as the observers Local terms used by fishers to describe vulnerable species could vary from port to port Challenges for observers identifying a broad scope of species/ taxa

        

Develop a dialogue with the fishers If already established a collaboration with some fishers, conduct meetings to be introduced to other fi Knowing the questionnaire and asking the questions spontaneously and/ or as part of a normal conve Avoid asking repetitive questions Building relations with just having non- survey related conversations.

Bringing small gifts and offer to help with their boat maintenance Having a photo catalogue/ ID guide of vulnerable species to show to fishers to learn the local terms Training provided for observers, in addition to the production of location specific ID guides and a supp Fishers sharing photos of incidentally caught species with observers

 ollect data on board vessels    compliance or bad practices   on schedule with the fishers  priate time to complete the   questionnaire   complete data provided for   questionnaire 

Not hindering the fishers’ own work or operations Comprehensive data collection Some species are venomous and require extra care Fishers unsafe handling and releases of vulnerable species Non releases of undersized individuals Fishers operate and have varied duties at different times over a 24hr period Various factors contribute to when a fisher will fish e.g. weather If fishers have had a bad day Busy carrying out other duties e.g. landing catch or preparing to sell Other factors contributing to hard times e.g. fuel costs Fishers reluctant to share sensitive data, especially fishing areas Fishers not providing all information in the survey e.g. total yields Neglecting and avoiding to answer a question.

Fishers providing conflicting answers

   

Ensuring all equipment checks are completed before you board the vessel Being extremely organised with all your equipment and survey forms Being patient with fishers to foster good relations Informing the fishers, the importance of the species, and repeating this information as our relationshi



Create and maintain frequent personal contact with the fishers.

      

Form frequent communication with the fishers to establish a common schedule Re-visiting ports at different times of the day/ remaining at ports for long periods of time If possible, engage with fishing cooperatives to establish possible best times.

Explaining the purpose project and how the objectives benefit the fishers and fishery Communicate with sincerity and try repeat visits to the port Re- asking questions Through building relations with the fishers, observers received an increase in data quality

Building Relations

guage, don’t use academic or technical scientific terms ing] to the fishers in their own language instead of an academic language’ (Turkish Observer)

ose and how it benefits fishers & don’t approach with bias or blame the essential role that the fishermen play in the preservation of the biodiversity (Moroccan Workshop) and purpose of the project and telling them that we see fishermen as a part of the ecosystem’ (Turkish Observer)

be in a hurry, Be an attentive listener & have empathy for the fishers e to express the different problems and challenges that they confront in their work (Moroccan Workshop) ‘[Observers] should be helpful and listen to our problems’ (Turkish Fisher)

ak with superiority and all knowing Communicating with fishermen by expressing respect and empathy (Moroccan Workshop) deas for fishing techniques to increase production without catching vulnerable species’ (Tunisian Observer)

Sustaining Collaborations

he ports even when not conducting surveys & Not just talking about work ‘Be part of the vessel family’ (Moroccan Observer) le is very important. Also keeping in touch with the person that you met and stayed on his boat. Keeping the relationships constant makes the fishermen happy’ (Turkish Observer)

BEST PRACTISES / DO’s

AVOID / DON

Building Relations  Speak the language of the fishers x Use academic/ technical/ foreign  Explain the project objectives & importance of fishers x Talk directly about vulnerable sp contribution x Speak with superiority or all know  Explain how the project benefits fishers x Present yourself as an official or  Provide an introduction of yourself & any other fishers you x Have a bias approach or place bl may have collaborated with x Only talk about the project  Present yourself as a researcher/ student x Approach fishers if they appear  Learn the fishers’ name & about them or are in a hurry  Have respect and empathy for fishers x Approach fishers as they are boa  Actively listen and develop a good dialogue with the fishers x Approach fishers as they are land  Always ask permission to board a vessel  Approach fishers when resting or sorting their nets  Drinking tea/ coffee or eating with them in a café  Be flexible to the fishers’ schedule  Be patient  Get introduced by someone well known to fishers  Contacting Cooperatives

Sustaining Collaborations  Maintain in contact with the fishers x Stop the collaboration or contact  Provide assistance/ support x Make conversation only about w  Keep sensitive information a secret x End project without providing an providers. It is important to share the information of the project and its results  Share the project results and information directly with the x View fishers as data providers ‘Seeing them as statistics only and calling only when we need’ (Turkish Observer) fishers when you need something ‘Fishermen shouldn't be forgotten about’ (Turkish Fisher)  Respectful honest conversation  Being social and visiting the ports even when not conducting e fishers even after the project has finished surveys h, activities can be carried out, training sessions can be given, more practices can be done together’ (Turkish Fisher)  Sharing knowledge and photos ‘They should keep in touch and visit us’ (Turkish Fisher)

nformation for building & sustaining strong relations can be found in the KNOWLEDGE SHARING PACKAGE here

@medasset.org

INS:

Informative Videos Fishers & Observers Feedback & their Recommendations for • MedBycatch Fishers & Observers - ‘Salt in the Eyes’ borations (English & Turkish) • Fisher Testimonial Video - ‘My Daughter & The Sea’ actice Guide for Fishers & Observers (Arabic, English, French & • Animation video for the MedBycatch Project and its collaborative approach • Best practices video - ‘Amal: Hope For Mediterranean Fisheries’ n Guide • CNN Greece / Mission to Tunisia: Saving dolphins, sea turtles& other vulnerable catch project species through MedBycatch project The MAVA Foundation under the ‘Learning & Sharing Grants’, which aims to support partners to share their experiences and knowledge from their participation in MAVA funded projects funds this project ‘Building Strong and Maintaining Collaborations between Fishery Observers and the Fishing Community’. It is coordinated by MEDASSET and implemented with INRH, ACCOBAMS, AAO/ Birdlife in Tunisia, SPA/RAC,

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