“Soy pescador y por eso protejo el mar” Campaña de formación e sensibilización para propiciar a colaboración de pescadores profesionais e deportivos do litoral andaluz na conservación das tartarugas mariñas

Abstract

Among the social instruments of intervention in order to effectively manage attention to sea turtles which have been injured alter being accidentally caught, and in order to optimize their recovery, it is of absolute importance to favour the collaboration and the implication of the sectors of pro fessional and sports fishers in the protection of sea turtles, making use of sustainable fishing practices and taking action when sighting injured or sick animals, or when accidentally catching sea turtles. To such an end the Aula del Mar in Málaga, in collaboration with the Environmental Commission of the Junta de Andalucía, has started the campaign entitled “I AM A FISHERMAN AND THAT IS WHY I PROTECT THE SEA” in which various working meetings and educational encounters have been held with fishing people in the fishing ports along the coast of Andalucía, backed up by informative and educational material. It is important to bear in mind the opinion held by the fishing people with regards to the problem of the protection of sea turtles and the coastal areas, given that often the value of their experience and habitual interaction with sea turtles is ignored. At the same time, in order to reach an effective collaboration with the fishing people with the Centre for the Recovery of Threatened Marine Species of Andalucía, it is of utmost importance to maintain a continuous personal contact with, and recognition of, the collaborations, as well as making this easier for them by offering them suitable education and equipment.