Cook Islands Ministry of Marine Resources Action Plan for Sea Turtle Mitigation

1. Undertake collection and monitoring of fishery data to improve understanding of the nature, scope and scale of sea turtle/ tuna fishery interactions in order to develop appropriate responses. Action: Regional National Action Implementation Responsibility Funding Action Response Status Source Item 1.1 Provide data and advice Data to be Focal Point National to assist FFA and SPC provided as part develop specialized of regular competency-based reporting process training modules and observer debriefing procedures. 1.2 Participate in Regional Pam trained by Focal Point FFA for sea turtle mitigation- Mike McCoy (US Regional related training of national assistance MOU) Training observers. Observer guide NOAA (observer produced by guide, training McCoy (Guide and tools) outline Attachment 1). National Initial training of observers, vessel operators and crew conducted in May 2008. Annual refreshers planned. 1.2.1 Conduct national Conducted in Focal Point National mitigation training courses June 2008. Future for Observers. refresher training as required. 1.3 Produce a guide to hook SPC material Focal Point Regional and other longline gear distributed to types for observers Observers and (waterproof card style) to vessel operators assist in improving May/June 2008. observer data. 1.4 purchase and provide mitigation tools, Focal Point NOAA necessary equipment education (de-hookers, line cutters awareness National etc. as well as cameras, materials provided safety gear and other to vessels and items) for observers in observers, and association with sea turtle other fisheries mitigation training officers. Plan is to activities. provide to Outer islands officers as they pass through HQ. 1.5 Participate in the Difficult to retain Focal Point SPC Regional expanded FFA observer local observers. Observer program to ensure that the Observer Program national observer program Development meets required observer strategy being National coverage obligations. developed. In meantime hired SI observer thru SPC 1.7 Conduct national studies Very little Focal Point National to extract information on historical turtle-fishery interactions Observer data from historical and recent exists. Initial observer reports, forms, studies have been diaries and improved conducted. debriefing processes . 1.8 Improve longline vessel Program of Focal Point Regional (for logsheet recording informing vessel logsheet) interactions with turtles operators crucial. and other species of Observer National concern (sea birds, summaries (awareness) sharks), already provided to operators to improve reporting. 1.9 Participate in the Data Pam to participate Focal Point Regional (travel) Collection Committee as required (DCC) efforts to revise National (data logsheets to improve transfers) Species of Special Interest (SSI) reporting. 1.10 Obtain and use informal Begun in 2007. Focal Point National information and data On-going from fishing vessel skippers and crew Annual report to (including descriptions of WCPFC fishing gears used) to better understand incidences of sea turtle interactions. Information should be collected by fisheries officers, port samplers, observers and others, and collated and reported annually to the WCPFC.

2. Conduct research and investigations to obtain information that cannot be acquired ugh monitoring, and test possible mitigation measures. Action Regional National Action Implementation Responsibility Funding Source Action Response Status Item 2.1 Document technical Documented in Focal Point National details (particularly hook Steve Beverly’s type and size, bait type, 2007 report of line Southern zone specifications etc.) of LL. current longline fishing operations. Visit PagoPago to inspect fleet and assess logsheets on an annual basis 2.2 Coordinated hook- Planned for Focal Point SPC (Beverly) exchange program in September 2008 longline fishing operations with Steve NOAA (circle hooks to replace Beverly & Yonat (Swimmer) other hook types) and Swimmer associated collection of (NOAA) National (gear, catch information to trial accommodation) circle hooks. Activity New legislation could be associated with an option bait trials and/ or following distribution of research results. demonstration hooks to further encourage voluntary adoption. Legislate hook type 2.3 Participate in the regional National trial Focal Point National project: quantitative at- planned for sea circle hook trials to 2008/2009. assess affect of use of Need to cater for circle hooks all species linter- on catch rates of target actions species. 2.4 Encourage development June 2008 Focal Point National and trial of innovative sea adopted turtle mitigation appropriate equipment and NOAA, NZ and technology through pilot Aust mitigation testing and awareness technology. activities. (SPC Fisheries Results will be Newsletter, SPC/ FFA reported to websites, publicity for WCPFC Smart Gear competition, etc.). 2.5-2.7 Participate in the regional Plans to conduct Focal Point with Regional DNA training and this in outer Inshore (Regional W/S) sampling project. islands nesting Fisheries National (Outer areas Islands) 2.8-2.9 Participate in the Tagging of Focal Point with National FFA/SPC SPREP turtle turtles has Inshore tagging program occurred since Fisheries

2006.(SPREP tags) 2.11 Examine coastal fishery 2006 Report Focal Point with National statistics and research produced by Inshore reports for information on Inshore fisheries Fisheries turtle fishery interactions Division. in artisanal and Reports from subsistence fisheries and outer islands report annually to the fisheries officers. WCPFC. Annual Reports I I

3. Introduce mitigation measures to encourage/ require that fishers take steps to reduce (a) turtle/fishery interactions and (b) mortality rates resulting from such interactions. Action Regional National Action Implementation Responsibility Funding Action Response Status Source Item 3.1 Incorporate requirements To be made a Focal Point National for sea turtle by-catch condition of mitigation (e.g. carriage license but and use of release already equipment) in foreign and operational thru domestic license cooperation with arrangements. industry 3.2 Participate in the Regional Pam trained Focal Point National training of trainers (TOT) through NOAA course for fisheries/ SSI program. maritime training institutions is required for Local training delivery of sea turtle by- conducted catch mitigation awareness (May/June 2008) and training programmes to and to continue fishers, especially in annually and longline when new fisheries. After TOT course fishers enter delivery the development of fishery. ongoing funding mechanisms (government funds, grants, fisher levies, etc.) will be needed to support national fisheries/maritime training institutions to deliver sea turtle by-catch mitigation awareness and training programs to fishers. 3.4 Demonstrate circle hooks Hook exchange Focal Point SPC via hook exchange program planned SPC NOAA programs in countries with for September NOAA National predominantly domestic 2008. fleets (linked to Research activities –see 2.2 above). Depending on results plan to introduce legislative requirement for circle hooks for shallow setting LL 3.5 Licensing and access Awareness Focal Point NOAA agreements to require program fully conduct of protected participated in by National species workshops / sea captains and turtle by-catch mitigation crew. awareness and training programmes, withAll vessels mandatory participation by based in Pago fishermen (linked to 3.2 are required to above). undertake the NOAA course in Species of Special Interest (part of CI/USA MOU) 3.6 Utilize observer programs On-going Focal Point National as a conduit for information on uptake and problems with existing and new turtle by- catch mitigation measures and techniques. 3.7 Create ownership and A healthy Focal Point National encourage voluntary relationship of participation in turtle by- inter-action catch mitigation activities exists between by involving fishers in industry and research MMR. activities, especially tangible and easily Any turtle catch communicated activities is to be reported. such as tagging, and Tagging part of ensuring that research awareness results are fed back to program them. International Cooperation SPC, FFA, SPREP and WCPFC The Ministry will continue to work closely with the regional agencies involved with turtle mitigation as part of its wider work on species of special interest. SPC has already provided turtle identification cards and de-hooking guides which have been distributed to vessel operators. A relationship has also been developed with SPREP with regards to tagging. In general the plan is to maintain close communications and cooperation with the regional bodies to ensure the best possible mitigation methods are practiced and that accurate and timely information is available to all stakeholders. United States: The Cook Islands shares a border with the United States (American Samoa to the northwest of Rarotonga) and currently has 20 longline vessels based in PagoPago. In March 2008 the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in fisheries management matters and this has led to the provision of assistance with respect to turtle mitigation. In May 2008 Mike McCoy was contracted by NOAA to visit Rarotonga in order to establish a turtle mitigation program based on the NOAA Species of Interest program. An Observer Syllabus (Attachment 1) was developed and training of MMR personnel in turtle mitigation took place. This was followed by a training program involving vessel operators and crew firstly in Rarotonga and then PagoPago. The NOAA project also allowed for the distribution of awareness material and mitigation tools for each longline vessel. NOAA will continue to provide assistance to the Cook Islands in this area the next phase of which involves circle hook trials in September 2008. The Offshore Division will conduct annual visits to PagoPago in order to inspect licensed vessels including with respect to turtle mitigation. Attachment 1 SEA TURTLE – TUNA FISHERY INTERACTION IN COOK ISLANDS A GUIDE FOR FISHERY OBSERVERS

1. TERMINOLOGY AND ABBREVIATIONS

2. IDENTIFICATION OF SEA TURTLE SPECIES IN COOK ISLANDS

3. A SUMMARY OF SEA TURTLE BIOLOGY LIFE CYCLES DETERMINING THE SEX OF SEA TURTLES USING DNA TO HELP SOLVE MYSTERIES OF SEA TURTLE LIFE HISTORY AND IDENTIFY SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

4. INFORMATION ON SEA TURTLE SPECIES FOUND IN COOK ISLANDS

5. INFORMATION ON OTHER TURTLE SPECIES THAT MIGHT BE ENCOUNTERED BY FISHERY OBSERVERS

6. SEA TURTLES AND TUNA LONGLINE FISHING IN THE WCPO

7. THREATS TO SEA TURTLE SURVIVAL OTHER THAN COMMERCIAL TUNA FISHING

8. THE IMPORTANCE OF RECORDING ALL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN COMMERCIAL FISHING AND SEA TURTLES

9. INSTRUCTIONS FOR LONGLINE VESSEL CAPTAINS IN HANDLING SEA TURTLE INTERACTIONS

10. HANDLING TURTLES HOOKED OR ENTANGLED DURING FISHING OPERATIONS EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS TO TAKE ONBOARD

11. TAGGING SEA TURTLES AT SEA TAGS AND TAGGING EQUIPMENT PLACING TAGS ON TURTLES DATA FROM TAGGED TURTLES

12. OBSERVER ACTIVITIES AND FORMS RELATING TO SEA TURTLES ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OBSERVERS FOR FILLING OUT THE GEN-2 FORM: TAGS: WHAT TO DO IF A TURTLE IS CAUGHT AND ALREADY HAS A TAG OR TAGS ATTACHED TO IT: DESCRIPTION OF INTERACTIONS WITH VESSEL OR VESSEL GEAR:

13. INSTRUCTIONS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF SEA TURTLES