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Over the last few decades, freshwater turtles have become more common in the global illegal wildlife trade because of the growing demand in the pet trade. Illegally traded turtles may be intercepted and deposited by a number of agencies. However, when turtles are confiscated, many uncertainties and risks make releasing them back to the wild difficult. Therefore, we used tools from decision analysis to achieve the following three objectives: (1) to identify points of intervention in illegal turtle trade using conceptual models, (2) to outline the linked decisions for turtle confiscation and repatriation using decision trees, and (3) to evaluate the decision trees for two example scenarios, one with complete information and one with uncertainty. We used the wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) as a case study, which is a species of conservation concern, in part due to illegal wildlife trafficking. We conducted informational interviews of biologists, law enforcement, land managers, and zoo staff, which we refer to as a decision makers. Interviews revealed that decisions regarding the disposition of confiscated turtles are complicated by uncertainty in disease status and potential differences in origin and confiscation locations. Decision makers that handle confiscated turtles also recognize that their decisions are linked, where linkages rely on personal contacts. In evaluating our decision trees, we found that despite different amounts and kinds of uncertainties, release of the confiscated wood turtles to the wild provided the highest conservation value. Collectively, our research shows how the use of decision trees can help improve decision making in the face of uncertainty.

In April of 1990 the Sebastian Inlet Tax District received a long-term (25 year) permit to conduct maintenance dredging of the navigation channel at Sebastian Inlet, Florida. Approximately 105,150 cubic meters of sediment will be removed every two years and pumped to a feeder beach immediately south of the inlet. The renourished beach, a high density nesting beach for loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles, is within the proposed Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge and will play a critical role in the long-term maintenance of Sebastian Inlet as a navigable waterway. A turtle monitoring program was implemented by the District at the request of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The monitoring program was designed to investigate nesting behavior, reproductive success and physical characteristics of the nesting habitat on the renourished beach at Sebastian Inlet and on a control beach (Wabasso Beach). Daily nesting surveys were conducted to record all sea turtle nests and non-nesting emergences in each study area. All nests were marked, monitored throughout incubation and inventoried to determine hatching and emergence success. Data on physical parameters were collected in monthly profiles of each beach. Compaction values were recorded with a cone penetrometer along transects from the dune to mean high water line. Temperature of the ambient beach was recorded at 30 and 60-cm depths along two transects from the dune to mean high water line. Moisture and sand grain analysis were conducted monthly in 1991. Sea turtle nesting and hatching success were similar on the renourished and control beaches in 1990 and 1991, suggesting that renourishment had no adverse effect on sea turtle reproductive success. Nesting success on the renourished and control beaches, respectively, was 42.0% (N = 104) and 45.0% (N = 65) in 1990, and 62.9% (N = 165) and 62.4% (N = 118) in 1991. Hatching success on the renourished and control beaches, respectively, was 80.7% (N = 85) and 79.3% (N = 59) in 1990, and 69.1% (N = 118) and 66.7% (N = 102) in 1991. Compaction values averaged 500 PSI on the renourished beach, while values on the control were approximately 250 PSI. The higher level of compaction on the renourished beach resulted in a lack of complete nest covering, and aberrant nest chamber configurations on the renourished beach. Grain size and moisture content were similar on the renourished and control beaches. Compaction levels were not related to incompatible fill, implying that the manner in which the material was deposited resulted in the increased compaction. Beach temperatures measured at 30-cm and 60-cm depths indicated that the renourished beach was consistently 0.5°C warmer than the control beach. If the physical parameters of a subsequent renourishment project are within the findings of 1990 and 1991, there should be no adverse effect on sea turtle nesting and hatching success. The results of this project cannot be applied to other beach renourishment projects however, but should be restricted to future dredging projects at Sebastian Inlet. Although the results are not applicable to other locations, the methodologies developed to study the effects of renourishment on sea turtles could be applied to other beach renourishment situations. Future research should focus on how the physical parameters of a renourished beach affect the micro-environment within the actual nest chamber and embryonic development. / Master of Science

Submitted by Mariana Dornelles Vargas (marianadv) on 2015-03-17T19:15:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 caracterizacao_demografica.pdf: 744506 bytes, checksum: 42673cbee87c239733082fd6c361167a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-17T19:15:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 caracterizacao_demografica.pdf: 744506 bytes, checksum: 42673cbee87c239733082fd6c361167a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Nenhuma / No presente estudo são apresentados os primeiros parâmetros populacionais para a população de Phrynops hilarii do Lago dos Pedalinhos no Parque Farroupilha (30º02'13"S; 51º13'03"W), Porto Alegre, Brasil. Esta população foi analisada quanto a sua estrutura, abundância, razão sexual e existência de dimorfismo sexual em tamanho. As capturas dos espécimes foram realizadas semanalmente entre 8:30h e 15:00h, em dois dias consecutivos, entre maio e dezembro de 2009. Todos os indivíduos capturados foram pesados, sexados (sempre que possível) e marcados com um número individual de identificação. Em adição, em cada espécime capturado foram realizadas nove medidas lineares externas. Após o fim do procedimento, todos os indivíduos capturados foram liberados no mesmo local onde foram coletados. A abundância da população foi estimada através do método para populações abertas de Jolly-Seber e a razão sexual foi obtida através da divisão do número total de machos pelo total de fêmeas. A existência de dimorfismo sexual nas medidas externas foi testada pelo teste-t, apenas para os indivíduos sabidamente adultos e de sexo conhecido. Como resultados foram capturados 53 espécimes de P. hilarii durante o período de estudo, dos quais 16 eram machos, 25 eram fêmeas e 12 indivíduos tiveram o sexo não determinado. Além disso, 77% eram adultos e 22% subadultos. A abundância populacional de P. hilarii no Lago dos Pedalinhos foi estimada em 282,67 indivíduos e a razão sexual foi significativamente diferente de 1:1 e inclinada a favor das fêmeas, com a existência de um macho para cada 1,56 fêmeas. O resultado do teste-t indicou a existência de um acentuado dimorfismo sexual no tamanho, sendo as fêmeas, de uma maneira geral, maiores que os machos, à exceção das medidas da distância máxima da base da cauda ao orifício cloacal e da distância máxima da base à ponta da cauda. Nos quelônios o dimorfismo sexual no tamanho é comum e isto poderia ser um dos fatores que influenciam na maturação e no crescimento diferencial entre os sexos de uma mesma espécie. Acredita-se que a população de P. hilarii do Lago dos Pedalinhos é resultante, principalmente, de indivíduos descartados pela comunidade local, após terem sido mantidos em cativeiro (como animais de estimação) por algum período. Os dados obtidos no presente estudo demonstram que apesar das populações de quelônios de parques urbanos estarem vivendo em áreas altamente antropizadas, elas ainda seriam capazes de manter parâmetros populacionais semelhantes aos das populações naturais de vida livre, sugerindo que estes animais seriam extremamente resistentes às pressões antrópicas. A maior causa de mortalidade dos quelônios em parques urbanos é em decorrência de maus-tratos, atropelamentos, predação e ataque de animais domésticos, bem como por poluição e competição com espécies afins que ocupam o mesmo ambiente (Trachemys dorbigni e T. scripta elegans). Por fim, as populações de P. hilarii de parques urbanos também poderiam servir de modelo na compreensão dos reais efeitos da atividade humana sob quelônios de vida livre em outras áreas impactadas. / In this study is presented the first population parameters to the population of Phrynops hilarii from “Lago dos Pedalinhos” (30º02'13"S; 51º13'03"W), an urban lake from the city of Porto Alegre – Brazil. The population structure, size, abundance, and sex ratio as well sexual dimorphism in size were analyzed. The captures and data collection were conduced weekly, between May and December 2009. All the captured specimens were weighed, sexed (whenever possible) and marked with a number of identification. In order to evaluate the differences in size between sexes nine body measurements were taken from adult males and females. After completed the procedure, all individuals captured were released in the same place that they were caught. The population abundance was estimated by Jolly-Seber method for open populations and the sex ratio was calculated by the division between the total number of males and females. The sexual dimorphism in body measurements were tested between sexes using t-test, just for adult individuals with known sex. As a result, 53 specimens of P. hilarii were captured, which 77% were adults and 22% subadults. From this total, 16 were males, 25 females and 12 were of unknown sex. The population abundance of P. hilarii in the study area was estimated in 282.67 specimens. The sex ratio was statistically different from the expected ratio 1:1 and was biased in favor of females (1 male to 1.56 females). The t-test results revealed pronounced sexual dimorphism in body size, with females being larger than males, with the exception of the tail’s measurements (CCD1 and CCD2). In chelonians the sexual dimorphism in size is common and it may be one of the factors that influence the maturation and differential growth between the sexes. It is believed that studied population is formed, mainly, by animals released by the local co mmunity, after being kept in captivity, like pets. The observed results suggest that the ch elonian populations that live in urban parks are able to keep the regular population parameters similar to the wild populations of the species, even living in highly impacted areas. In addition, it indicates that this population is extremely resistant to anthropogenic pressure. The mortality of chelonians in urban parks generally is due to direct human actions, such as maltreatment, running over, predation and by the attack of domestic animals, as well pollution and competition with related species that live in the same area (Trachemys dorbigni and T. scripta elegans). Finally, the study of chelonians from urban parks could be used as a model for under standing the real effects of the human activity on the wild populations of freshwater turtles

Dentro do contexto de crise global pesqueira que afeta tanto a pesca industrial quanto a artesanal, este trabalho visa descrever e analisar a pesca artesanal de emalhe no sul do Brasil, além de estudar a interação entre essa pesca artesanal e as tartarugas marinhas. O capítulo 1 consiste na caracterização social, econômica e operacional da pesca artesanal, avaliando o esforço pesqueiro de suas diferentes modalidades. A análise dos dados fornecidos por pescadores revelou a diferenciação na captura e esforço entre dois grupos de embarcações: barcos até 12,5 metros de comprimento total e barcos acima de 12,5 metros. As entrevistas também geraram uma ilustração que demonstra a sobreposição da área de atuação dos pescadores. Neste capítulo são propostas medidas de gestão da pesca artesanal de emalhe que consideram o rendimento dos pescadores e preservam os recursos pesqueiros. No capítulo 2 foram analisados fatores sociais e operacionais da pesca relacionados à captura incidental de tartarugas marinhas. Entrevistas com pescadores (n=92) e desembarques monitorados pelos pescadores (n=320) registrados em locais de pesca dentro e fora de Unidades de Conservação Marinhas no Rio Grande do Sul e Santa Catarina verificaram a influência do manejo espacial sobre as capturas incidentais. Analisou-se também o conhecimento ecológico local (CEL) dos pescadores sobre as tartarugas marinhas. A criação de zonas exclusivas para a pesca artesanal e o aumento de vistorias às redes de pesca são propostas para reduzir as capturas incidentais pela pesca artesanal de emalhe no sul do Brasil, através do envolvimento dos pescadores nas pesquisas e do co-manejo dos recursos pesqueiros. / Within the context of global fishing crisis that affects both industrial and artisanal fisheries, this survey aims to describe and analyze the artisanal gillnet fishery in southern Brazil and study the interaction between this fishing and sea turtles. The chapter 1 consists in social, economic and operational characterization of artisanal fisheries, assessing the fishing effort of different kinds of fisheries. The analysis of data provided by fishermen revealed the differentiation in catch and effort between two vessel’s groups: boats up to 12.5 meters long and boats over 12.5 meters. The interviews also show the spatial overlap of areas of operation of fishers. In this chapter we proposed measures for the management of small-scale gillnet fishing that consider the income of fishermen and preserve fish stocks. In chapter 2 we analyzed social and operational fishing factors related to bycatch of sea turtles. Interviews (n=92) and landings (n=320) recorded in fishing grounds inside and outside of Marine Protected Areas in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina assessed the influence of the spatial management on bycatch. It analyzed also the local ecological knowledge (LEK) of fishers about sea turtles. The creation of exclusive zones for artisanal fishing and to increase inspections of fishing nets are presented to reduce incidental catches by artisanal gillnet fishing in southern Brazil, such as the involvement of fishermen in research and co-management of resources.

An ecological study was undertaken on four populations of Krefft�s River Turtle Emydura krefftii inhabiting the Townsville Area of Tropical North Queensland. Two sites were located in the Ross River, which runs through the urban areas of Townsville, and two sites were in rural areas at Alligator Creek and Stuart Creek (known as the Townsville Creeks). Earlier studies of the populations in Ross River had determined that the turtles existed at an exceptionally high density, that is, they were superabundant, and so the Townsville Creek sites were chosen as low abundance sites for comparison. The first aim of this study was to determine if there had been any demographic consequences caused by the abundance of turtle populations of the Ross River. Secondly, the project aimed to determine if the impoundments in the Ross River had affected the freshwater turtle fauna. Specifically this study aimed to determine if there were any difference between the growth, size at maturity, sexual dimorphism, size distribution, and diet of Emydura krefftii inhabiting two very different populations. A mark-recapture program estimated the turtle population sizes at between 490 and 5350 turtles per hectare. Most populations exhibited a predominant female sex-bias over the sampling period. Growth rates were rapid in juveniles but slowed once sexual maturity was attained; in males, growth basically stopped at maturity, but in females, growth continued post-maturity, although at a slower rate. Sexual maturity was at 6-7 years of age for males, which corresponded to a carapace length of 150-160 mm, and 8-10 years of age for females, which corresponded to a carapace length of 185-240 mm. The turtles were omnivorous, although in the Ross River they ate more submerged vegetation (by percent amount and occurrence) than those of the Townsville Creeks. Turtles in Townsville Creeks ingested more windfall fruit and terrestrial insects.

Causes of morbidity and mortality were investigated for 108 green turtles (Chelonia mydas) stranded in south-east Queensland between 1990 and 1996. This study was undertaken as part of a broader carcass salvage program for south Queensland, and within the context of a population study of C. mydas in the Moreton Bay feeding ground. Accurate pathological characterisation of disease in C. mydas was achieved by detailed necropsy and histological examination. Varied inflammatory responses and degenerative changes were observed in stranded C. mydas. Supportive disciplines of microbiology, parasitology, and clinical chemistry were used to elucidate aetiology and pathogenesis of selected conditions. Heavy metal and pesticide levels were assessed in a sub-sample of turtles. Direct anthropogenic causes (including trauma, foreign body ingestion and drowning) accounted for 34% of mortalities of C. mydas in this study. The majority of the trauma cases were turtles with skull fractures resulting from blunt impacts. The remainder had boat propeller injuries, or miscellaneous trauma. Almost half of the turtles with lethal boat propeller damage had evidence of pre-existing disease which may well have predisposed them to boat strike, emphasising the importance of full necropsy examination, even when the cause of death appears obvious. Fishing line was the only ingested foreign body consistently implicated in the production of fatal intestinal obstruction. Marine turtle fibropapillomatosis, a panzootic viral disease which is considered to involve some indirect anthropogenic factors, accounted for 7% of mortalities. The findings in this study were consistent with much of the previously described pathology of this condition. Naturally-occurring diseases (for which human influences are unknown) accounted for the remaining 59% of strandings. Coccidiosis, caused by Caryospora cheloniae, was recorded for the first time in wild C. mydas. It occurred both as an epizootic (in 1991) and as sporadic cases. A variety of manifestations, including disseminated and enteric forms, were recognised. Infection with a Cryptosporidium-like protozoan appeared to occur concurrently with coccidiosis in one turtle in this study. Attempts to establish experimental coccidial infections in hatchling C. mydas were unsuccessful. Infections with cardiovascular (spirorchid) flukes were almost universal in stranded C. mydas in this study. They ranged from mild, incidental findings (such as occasional fluke vii egg granulomas evident microscopically in otherwise normal tissues) to a variety of severe changes, including thrombosis, which were likely to have produced morbidity. The present study clarified the range of cardiovascular lesions associated with spirorchidiasis, including the sequence of thrombus resolution and exteriorisation from vessels. In some cases spirorchid vasculitis was associated with fatal disseminated bacterial infections. Other sporadic, naturally-occurring diseases included mycotic pneumonia, bacterial meningoencephalitis and a miscellany of gastrointestinal conditions, including chronic intestinal tympany and obstipation, for which the underlying cause could not always be determined. Evidence indicated that gastrointestinal motility in C. mydas was prone to both direct and indirect disturbance and that tympany and obstipation could be final common outcomes of a range of insults. Eighteen abnormally buoyant turtles were examined during this study. The cause could usually be ascribed to an underlying disease, including (in decreasing order of frequency) trapped internal gas, usually intestinal; neurological disease such as traumatic brain injuries; and pulmonary disease. In two cases, no underlying cause was detected. Trace metal (arsenic, cadmium, mercury, selenium and zinc) concentrations were determined in the livers and kidneys of 50 turtles of mixed species (mostly C. mydas). These results were considered to provide baseline data for sea turtles in SE Qld. This study offered the largest dataset available for some metals in C. mydas, and provided evidence of high background levels of cadmium as a normal feature for the species. Some unusual age–related trends in metal accumulation were detected. Concentrations of cadmium, zinc and selenium in the kidney decreased with increasing age, whereas zinc concentrations in the liver tended to increase. Determining the impact of disease on wildlife populations is an increasingly necessary task, which will require multidisciplinary teams. Necropsy surveys like the present study are an essential component of the growing field of conservation medicine. In addition to providing data relevant to management, such as the relative proportions of anthropogenic and naturally-occurring mortalities, necropsy surveys can identify a range of endemic pathogens, and help to collect prevalence data for determining disease impacts at the population level.

The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of lidocaine and bupivacaine in spinal turtles by species Phrynops geoffroanus to promote sensory and motor block in the regions of the tail, vent and later members. Ten females with average weight of 2.14 kilograms (kg) were submitted to two anesthetic protocols, with an interval of 10 days: 4.6 milligrams (mg) / kg of lidocaine 2% and 1.15 mg / kg of bupivacaine 0.5% deposited in the spinal region of space proximal intercoccígeo. The anesthetic action in the tail for the two anesthetics was instantaneous, that is less than 1 min. Regarding the latency period in later members (PM), we obtained 4.5 ± 4.37 min and instant messaging as their average values for lidocaine and bupivacaine. The presence of maximum muscle relaxation and analgesia was 34.50 ± 33.28 min and 114.55 ± 39.89 min in the tail / vent to 2% lidocaine. and bupivacaine 0.5%, respectively. Medium corresponding to 24 ± 23.42 min and 110.50 ± 28.81 min was obtained by the later members use of anesthetics in the same sequence. The recovery period, equivalent to the time required to return to preanesthetic parameters from the start scoring 2 for muscle relaxation, was 37.00 ± 23.63 min for lidocaine and 61.5 ± 36.59 min for bupivacaine. Times skillful anesthesia achieved with the use of both anesthetic protocols are sufficient to perform simple surgical procedures and routine, such as amputation of the penis and suturing of skin lacerations. The choice of anesthetic to be applied will depend on the average time the procedure was performed to average 2% lidocaine and bupivacaine half-hour average of one hour. / Objetivou-se avaliar a eficácia da utilização de lidocaína e bupivacaína por via espinhal em cágados da espécie Phrynops geoffroanus para a promoção de bloqueios motor e sensitivo nas regiões dos membros pelvinos, cauda e cloaca. Dez fêmeas, com peso médio de 2,14 quilogramas (Kg), foram submetidas a dois protocolos anestésicos, com intervalo de 10 dias: 4,6 miligramas (mg)/Kg de lidocaína 2% e 1,15 mg/Kg de bupivacaína 0,5%, depositadas na região espinhal do espaço intercoccígeo proximal. A ação anestésica na cauda para os dois anestésicos foi instantânea, isto é menor que 1 min. Em relação ao período de latência nos membros pelvinos (MP), obteve-se 4,5 ±4,37 min e instantâneo como valores médios respectivos para lidocaína e bupivacaína. A presença de relaxamento muscular máximo com analgesia foi de 34,50±33,28 min e 114,55±39,89 min na cauda/cloaca para lidocaína 2%. e bupivacaína 0,5%, respectivamente. Médias correspondentes a 24±23,42 min e 110,50±28,81 min foram obtidas nos membros pelvinos mediante utilização dos anestésicos, na mesma sequência. O período de recuperação, equivalente ao tempo necessário para retorno aos parâmetros pré-anestésicos a partir do início de escore 2 para relaxamento muscular, foi de 37,00±23,63 min para lidocaína e 61,5±36,59 min para a bupivacaína. Os tempos hábeis de anestesia, conseguidos com a utilização de ambos os protocolos anestésicos, são suficientes para execução de procedimentos cirúrgicos mais simples e rotineiros, como amputação de pênis e sutura de lacerações de pele. A escolha do anestésico a ser aplicado vai depender do tempo médio do procedimento realizado, para lidocaína 2% tempo médio de meia hora e bupivacaína tempo médio de uma hora. / Mestre em Ciências Veterinárias

Depuis plus de 30 ans, la Colombie construit sa politique de préservation des espèces faunistiques et de lutte contre le trafic illégal de ces espèces. Ce cadre institutionnel national s’est vu renforcé par la ratification de la convention CITES (Convention sur le commerce international des espèces de la flore et de la faune sauvages menacées d’extinction) en 1981. Pourtant, ce cadre institutionnel ne suffit pas à infléchir sur le trafic illégal des tortues marines en Colombie. L’analyse des failles du mode de régulation de type « commande et contrôle » montre les limites de l’intervention de l’Etat comme seul modèle possible à gérer le trafic illicite de tortues marines. D’où ma proposition de concevoir et mettre en place un mécanisme de quotas négociables de tortues marines décroissants dans le temps, renforcé par arrangements contractuels. Cette thèse a pour objectif de comparer l’efficacité de ces deux modes de gouvernance à réduire le trafic illégal de tortues marines, du point de vue la performance environnementale, de l’efficacité économique et de l’équité sociale. J’ai évalué les coûts de transactions pour démontrer que la variation dans la structure des coûts de transactions et la distribution de ces coûts auprès des acteurs concernés influent sur la performance finale du cadre institutionnel. Une analyse coûts-avantage a été réalisée pour justifier d’un changement institutionnel, en complément de l’analyse des coûts de transactions. Cette étude s’est situe au nord de la Colombie, sur un territoire de 30 km, territoire des indigènes Wayùu, étant le plus concerné par le trafic illégal de tortues vertes (Chelonia mydas) et tortues à écailles (Eretmochelys imbricata). / For over 30 years, Colombia built its national policy to protect wildlife species against the illegal traffic. The national institutional framework was strengthened by the ratification of the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of flora and fauna threatened with extinction) in 1981. However, this institutional framework is not sufficient to curb the illegal trade of marine turtles species. Despite some success to protect and recover some species, what really matters is the effectiveness of the national policy to conserve wildlife species. Hence my proposal to design and implement a cap and trade system based on transferable quotas decreasing in time, reinforced by contractual arrangements. This self-organized system aims at having zero catches level and enhance conformity and cooperation within the environmental regulation. This thesis aims to compare the efficacy of these two modes of governance to reduce the illegal trade of sea turtles based on the following criteria: the environmental performance, economic efficiency and social equity. I pursuit by estimating the corresponding transaction costs to show that the variation in the structure of transaction costs and the distribution of these costs among stakeholders affect the final performance of the institutional framework. Cost-benefit analysis was performed to justify institutional change, in addition to the analysis of transaction costs. This study is located in the north of Colombia, an area of 30 km, indigenous Wayuu territory, being more concerned with the illegal green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata).

Dentro do contexto de crise global pesqueira que afeta tanto a pesca industrial quanto a artesanal, este trabalho visa descrever e analisar a pesca artesanal de emalhe no sul do Brasil, além de estudar a interação entre essa pesca artesanal e as tartarugas marinhas. O capítulo 1 consiste na caracterização social, econômica e operacional da pesca artesanal, avaliando o esforço pesqueiro de suas diferentes modalidades. A análise dos dados fornecidos por pescadores revelou a diferenciação na captura e esforço entre dois grupos de embarcações: barcos até 12,5 metros de comprimento total e barcos acima de 12,5 metros. As entrevistas também geraram uma ilustração que demonstra a sobreposição da área de atuação dos pescadores. Neste capítulo são propostas medidas de gestão da pesca artesanal de emalhe que consideram o rendimento dos pescadores e preservam os recursos pesqueiros. No capítulo 2 foram analisados fatores sociais e operacionais da pesca relacionados à captura incidental de tartarugas marinhas. Entrevistas com pescadores (n=92) e desembarques monitorados pelos pescadores (n=320) registrados em locais de pesca dentro e fora de Unidades de Conservação Marinhas no Rio Grande do Sul e Santa Catarina verificaram a influência do manejo espacial sobre as capturas incidentais. Analisou-se também o conhecimento ecológico local (CEL) dos pescadores sobre as tartarugas marinhas. A criação de zonas exclusivas para a pesca artesanal e o aumento de vistorias às redes de pesca são propostas para reduzir as capturas incidentais pela pesca artesanal de emalhe no sul do Brasil, através do envolvimento dos pescadores nas pesquisas e do co-manejo dos recursos pesqueiros. / Within the context of global fishing crisis that affects both industrial and artisanal fisheries, this survey aims to describe and analyze the artisanal gillnet fishery in southern Brazil and study the interaction between this fishing and sea turtles. The chapter 1 consists in social, economic and operational characterization of artisanal fisheries, assessing the fishing effort of different kinds of fisheries. The analysis of data provided by fishermen revealed the differentiation in catch and effort between two vessel’s groups: boats up to 12.5 meters long and boats over 12.5 meters. The interviews also show the spatial overlap of areas of operation of fishers. In this chapter we proposed measures for the management of small-scale gillnet fishing that consider the income of fishermen and preserve fish stocks. In chapter 2 we analyzed social and operational fishing factors related to bycatch of sea turtles. Interviews (n=92) and landings (n=320) recorded in fishing grounds inside and outside of Marine Protected Areas in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina assessed the influence of the spatial management on bycatch. It analyzed also the local ecological knowledge (LEK) of fishers about sea turtles. The creation of exclusive zones for artisanal fishing and to increase inspections of fishing nets are presented to reduce incidental catches by artisanal gillnet fishing in southern Brazil, such as the involvement of fishermen in research and co-management of resources.