Safe Handling & release for Gillnet Fisheries for Whale Shark, Manta & Devil Rays and Sea

Pakistan is an important gillnet coastal state with the well know marine biodiversity. Around 709 tuna fishing vessels are operating in Pakistani waters. These boats have high of ETP/ CITES-listed bycatch species such as whale shark, mobulids and sea turtles. these bycatch animals protected by several national and international instruments and encouraged their safe releases to ensure the survivability of these protected species. the data of the crew-based observer programme help into the development of guidebook for safe handling and release of these bycatch species in tuna gillnet fisheries. This guidebook focuses on three main possible levels of entanglement of animals in fishing operations. It follows and guides the target group to follow ‘key’ of different precautionary and handling and steps for every situation. The guidebook also encourages the user for the collection of the information and reporting of the entangled animal including the recording of the whole process of operation. This guidebook can be served and adopted by conservation institutes and organization as best practices of safe handling and release of bycatch animals in ghost nets/ gillnet fisheries.