Wildseas — Ghana (2016)

Wildseas has worked with artisanal fishermen since 2011 to secure the release of sea turtles captured by fishers in the Gulf of Guinea. Fisheries bycatch is the single largest threat to the four sea turtle species that occur in the area.

A 2016 SWOT grant supported the expansion of the organization’s Safe Release Program, which increases fisher awareness of sea turtle conservation and bycatch release methods. More than 700 adult turtles have already been successfully released through the program. The Safe Release Program will expand to the Shama fishing port, where an estimated 150 adult turtles are captured annually. Educational meetings were held with the chief fishermen and with local boat owners to explain the project’s objectives and benefits and to inform them of their crucial role in ensuring the program’s success.