Saving Cyprus’s Green Turtles: One Light at a Time
Imagine a majestic green turtle, over a meter long and weighing more than 100kg, gracefully gliding through the Mediterranean. These gentle giants nest on Alagadi beach in Cyprus, but their journey to adulthood is fraught with peril. A staggering 999 out of every 1000 hatchlings will never reach maturity, many falling victim to a silent killer: fishing bycatch.
Fishing nets pose a devastating threat to these incredible creatures. But what if we could illuminate a path to survival? For the past decade, I and a team of marine biologists have been pioneering a revolutionary solution: green LED lights. Sea turtles are remarkably sensitive to green light, making them less likely to become entangled in nets equipped with these lights. Our latest research reveals a remarkable 40% reduction in bycatch thanks to this simple yet powerful innovation.
The scale of the problem is heartbreaking. Thousands of turtles perish annually, primarily due to the activities of the Turkish Cypriot fleet. Declining fish stocks are forcing fishermen to use more nets, exacerbating the issue and undermining existing conservation efforts. Kilometers of nets are left on the seabed overnight in crucial seagrass habitats – the very feeding grounds of young turtles – resulting in countless drowned and entangled victims.
Quantifying this bycatch is a herculean task in Cyprus, with its hundreds of small fishing boats and diverse fishing practices. Working closely with local fishermen and marine authorities, we’ve implemented onboard observers and catch reporting programs to better understand the impact on marine life, including turtles, dolphins, sharks, and monk seals.
Our initial trials with prototype lights yielded positive results, mirroring successes in Mexico. However, these prototypes presented significant challenges for fishermen: cumbersome moving parts, frequent malfunctions, and a hefty price tag of US$40 (£30) per light.
To overcome these hurdles, we partnered with FishTek, a Devon-based marine engineering company. The result? NetLights: robust, cost-effective (US$8 per light), easily attachable battery-powered lights specifically designed for set nets.
NetLights: Illuminating Hope
NetLights have already been deployed on the nets of 50 Cypriot fishermen, reducing turtle bycatch by approximately 40%. While further trials are needed due to the low numbers of remaining turtles in the area, initial feedback is overwhelmingly positive. Fishermen are impressed with the catch rates and actively requesting more lights, particularly with cost subsidies or potential legalization of such bycatch reduction technology. Ongoing refinements focus on creating smaller, lighter, and more buoyant lights that can seamlessly integrate into existing net systems.
Beyond NetLights: A Multi-pronged Approach
NetLights represent a vital piece of the puzzle. But other solutions exist, including turtle excluder devices (TEDs) for trawl nets and the adoption of circular hooks, which have shown some success in larger commercial fleets, although their economic viability can be variable. Supermarkets can play a key role by requesting bycatch audits from their suppliers to promote best practice throughout the supply chain.
The recent updates to northern Cyprus’ fisheries policy include the creation of no-take zones and restricted areas. Such measures, when properly enforced, will safeguard both fish stocks and vulnerable species like sea turtles.
By expanding the NetLights program, rigorously monitoring its effectiveness, and reinforcing existing conservation strategies, we can significantly increase the survival odds of Cyprus’s precious green turtles, securing their place in the Mediterranean for generations to come.
