IUCN Pakistan under its 'Balochistan Partnerships for Sustainable Development Program' organised one-day training for fishermen for using Turtle Exclusion Device (TED). The training was conducted by Dr Nicloas Pilcher at Marine Fisheries Department, Government of Pakistan, where around 40 fishermen including representatives of the other organisations participated in the training.
Dr Pilcher mentioned that his device was invented by a fisherman around 30 years ago, but still its usage had not become common. The primary purpose of TED was reducing the mortality of sea turtles in fishing nets, while safeguarding the livelihoods of the local fishermen, he added.
The fishermen would benefit from installation of a TED in the trawl net due to higher catch values and reduction of large by-catch which damaged the shrimp; shortened sorting times, lowered fuel costs due to reduced net drag as the cod end would fill more slowly, and higher catches of shrimps, stated Dr Pilcher. He said that setting up hatcheries for turtle was a positive step, but not the best solution. He suggested that the natural conservation of the turtles' eggs was the best option, which could be implemented with awareness of the masses.-PR