Résumé
The bycatch of sea turtles is of growing concern for the management of many fisheries, from large scale pelagic fisheries to small scale artisanal and coastal fisheries. The Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO) hosts important nesting and feeding grounds for sea turtles but evidence points to populations facing significant human threats, especially from fisheries. We review the global status of each of the five known sea turtle species in the western Indian Ocean: Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata, Lepidochelys olivacea, Caretta caretta and Dermochelys coriacea. Information on their diversity, status and human-related threats in each of the nine SWIO countries is presented and analysed: South Africa, Mozambique Tanzania (including Zanzibar), Kenya, Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles, Mauritius and La Réunion/ Mayotte/Eparses (France). Despite long-term monitoring programmes within this region (>30 years), data availability in the SWIO remains inadequate for thorough population assessment, partly attributable to the complex life history of these species. This chapter highlights as significant the impacts of three major fisheries in the SWIO: gillnetting, prawn/ shrimp trawling and longlining. However, it is important to view the impacts of fisheries in the light of land-based and other coastal threats. It is clear that, despite strong legislation prohibiting the direct take of turtles throughout the entire SWIO, fisheries are still regarded as the most important threat in this region. Several recommendations and research priorities are proposed in this chapter.