HONOLULU, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- The Hawaii-based Blue Ocean Institute has published a booklet on the importance of testing new hooks and fishing methods to conserve rare marine turtles.
The group says fishermen who use large circular hooks baited with fish, rather than with squid, may not only boost their catches, they may also reduce the number of endangered turtles killed and harmed in fishing gear.
The so-called "circle hooks" that are baited with mackerel were found to have 90 percent fewer leatherback turtles and more than 60 percent fewer loggerhead turtles caught. as compared with the use of traditional J-shaped hooks that are baited with squid, according to the institute.
The booklet was produced in conjunction with the U.N.'s Environment Regional Seas Program, the Indian Ocean-South East Asian Marine Turtle Secretariat, and numerous fisheries and research bodies.
