Recommendation GFCM/35/2011/4 on the incidental bycatch of sea turtles in fisheries in the GFCM area of application.

Contracting parties and cooperating non-contracting parties shall implement fisheries management measures which strongly mitigate or eliminate the risk of incidental catch of sea turtles in fishing operations and/or the mortality associated with those incidental catches. Specimens of sea turtles accidentally caught in fishing gear shall be safely handled and released unharmed and alive, to the extent possible. The taking on board, transshipment and landing of sea turtles is prohibited, unless otherwise required to rescue and to secure assistance for the recovery of harmed and comatose animals. Any event of incidental catch as well as releasing or discarding shall be recorded by the ship-owner/master in the logbook. The monitoring and registration of incidental catch of sea turtles in fishing activities shall be carried out by the contracting parties and cooperating non-contracting parties. This Recommendation underlines that fishing vessels using purse seines for small pelagic species and using surrounding nets without purse line for pelagic species shall avoid encircling sea turtles and release encircled or incidentally entangled sea turtles.