(01-03-10) In nothern Chile, the industrial fishery for swordfish is done with surface longline and carries a high level of bycatch of sea turtles, among other species. To alleviate this problem, the Senate Chamber has completed the ratification of the American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles.

At the sitting held in the Chilean Senate Chamber, corresponded the last constitutional procedure for the adoption of the Convention, they were obtained 17 votes in favour of the ratification, with no abstentions or votes against.

The American Convention on the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles, which dates from 1994 as part of a regional effort to protect marine turtles, was strongly driven by Oceana in Chile since last year because, as the organization believes, it constitutes an important tool for the implementation and coordination of actions to fight the threats affecting these species.

“If Chile does not constitute a nesting place, many turtles arrive to our coasts searching for food. Unfortunately, they have been affected by bycatch due to the use of non-selective fishing methods” said Maximiliano Bello, Oceana's campaign manager.

In nothern Chile, they say in Oceana, industrial fishing of sword fish is made with surface longline and carries a high level of bycatch of sea turtle, among other species. Official figures from the Instituto de Fomento Pesquero FIFG say that during the study they registered 183 specimens of marine turtles incidentally caught, mainly of species leatherback, loggerhead, olive and green.

“The decision of the Chilean State is an important signal of support for the conservation of these animals. We hope now that the Government continues taking concrete measures, especially to monitor and prevent bycatch” said Alex Muñoz, Executive Director of Oceana.

It is important to point out that of the seven species of marine turtles existing in the World, the Southern Cone has six. All of them are endangered because of the different human activities.