Influences of conservation action on attitudes and knowledge of fishermen towards sea turtles along the southeastern Brazil

This study describes the local ecological knowledge (LEK) about the sea turtles of fishermen from the communities of São Francisco de Itabapoana (SFI), Atafona (ATF), Farol de São Tomé (FST) and Cabo Frio (CF), southeastern Brazil (~ 21-23°S). The influence of the National Program for the Conservation of Sea Turtles on the fishermen's perception of and attitudes towards sea turtles were also evaluated. The results based in 80 interviews showed that the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is the species most frequently observed and incidentally captured in bottom trawl nets, gillnets and fishing lines along the region. In general, fishermen know about occurrence and preferential diet of the sea turtles along the study area. Fishing and pollution were the main threats. In SFI and FST (where the Program is present) and in CF (where the Program is absent), most interviewees reported that when the capture occurs and the sea turtle 'appears' to be dead, they release it immediately in the sea, which is bad for turtles as they may drown. In ATF (where the Program is absent), most interviewees reported that they attempt to resuscitate the sea turtle when it 'appears' to be dead. The 15+ year presence of the Program in the region (SFI and FST) and its local strategies have discrete influence about fishermen's perception of and attitudes towards sea turtles; instead, knowledge of sea turtles derives from regional fishing practices. This study proposes redirecting the Program's strategies so that the fishing communities act as local conservation agents.