Bycatch of Amboina Box Turtle (<i>Cuora amboinensis</i>) by Fishermen in Rawa Aopa, Southeast Sulawesi

Abstract

Rawa Aopa is a permanent swamp ecosystem that serves as one of the suitable habitats for amboina box turtles (Cuora amboinensis). Some of the area is part of a national park (Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park) and is designated as a traditional zone for fishing activities, where local fishermen sometimes reported accidental catch C. amboinensis in their fishing gear. The aims of this study were to record the existence of C. amboinensis bycatch, size and age structure of bycatch, characteristic of fishing activity, and to discuss the conservation implication of bycatch. The number of bycatch was recorded by direct observation of 7 selected fishermen in 14 days. The C. amboinensis caught accidentally were measured and weighed. A total of 38 individuals of C. amboinensis were accidentally caught by fishermen during the study, having a size ranged of 7.4 to 18.5 cm (juveniles, young adults, and old adults; no hatchling), and weighed 248 to 996 g. Based on sex, there was no significant difference between morphological size of male and female, although bycatch for females (59%) tend to be slightly higher than males (41%). Most of fishermen lives in Pewutaa Village and used bubu traps to catch fishes. C. amboinensis are the most common bycatch compared to other species. In order to minimize the impact of bycatch of the C. amboinensis by fishermen, we need to ensure that the turtle that accidentally trapped in the fishermen’s fishing gear would be released unharmedly to their habitat.

Local harvest of pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) in the Kao River, Boven Digoel District, Southern Papua, Indonesia

“…Pig-nosed turtle egg collectors interviewed possess a relatively high level of education, which is seen as unusual as the harvesting of wild animals on land and in water is generally undertaken by individuals with lower education (Kusrini et al 2022;Nurazizah et al 2022) unless the activity is primarily recreational (Yudha et al 2022). This observation might be biased since the interviews were conducted with the leader of the hunting group, in contrast to the findings from another study in Vriendschap (Asmat), which revealed that most pig-nosed turtle egg collectors had no formal education or education below high school (Triantoro 2016).…”