By: Handayani (Fishermen Facilitator of Turtle Bycatch Program in Paloh)

"On one hand, sea turtles are protected, but on the other hand, sea turtles can be considered the enemy of fishermen because they damage the nets," complained one of the Paloh fishermen to us, the compliance assistance team for the implementation of Better Management Practices (BMP) - Guidelines for Handling Bycatch Sea Turtles on board for Paloh fishermen, Sambas Regency, West Kalimantan.

The three-month assistance by WWF-Indonesia to Paloh fishermen began with observations in March 2017. It was found that many sea turtles were caught in fishing gear with meshes of 5-8 inches. This size of mesh is commonly used by fishermen to catch pomfret as the main target.

Data from observers who conducted LED trials to mitigate turtle bycatch on board revealed that at least 500 turtles were caught in Paloh fishermen's nets in one year. This figure shows that there is still a high level of turtle bycatch here.

In one trip, fishermen take 4 days and 3 nights. "There are always turtles caught, on every trip," they said. They usually set the net in the afternoon, and lift it eight hours later.

The condition of the snagged turtles is mostly alive. However, whether small or large, fishermen prefer to cut the trawl or rattle the trawl rather than lifting the turtle onto the boat.

This reluctance to "disturb" bycatch turtles is partly influenced by the beliefs of Paloh fishermen towards this marine animal. "According to the beliefs of our ancestors, turtles should not be disturbed," said one Chinese Hoa fisherman who owns a toke (boat) at Liku Harbor.

"Never take eggs, catch, let alone hit turtles. Our grandmothers said that turtles once saved humans," he continued.

Another belief is also expressed by Malay ethnic fishermen in Paloh. "The turtle is a friend of the sea ghost, so if for example the turtle is disturbed, it must be bad weather. But this depends on each person's belief."

Indeed, most Paloh fishermen have understood that sea turtles are protected from any form of utilization. However, their ignorance on how to treat bycatch turtles can actually be fatal to the life expectancy of turtles caught accidentally. In addition, the beliefs of each fisherman often make them not dare to lift the turtle on the boat when the turtle is caught in the net, and prefer to damage the net.

In fact, this can lead to death if the turtle is not handled properly. Therefore, direct assistance to fishermen on the boat is important to ensure that fishermen handle turtle bycatch appropriately, and reduce the mortality rate of turtles.

During these three months, we saw for ourselves that Paloh fishermen have learned a lot. Slowly, they understand how to handle and ensure the turtles released into the ocean are in good condition.

However, Paloh fishermen still need to improve their compliance and consistency with turtle handling practices while on board. The low compliance rating of fishers noted that fishers still need strong motivation to make their nets and boats a more hospitable place for the endangered Paloh turtle.