RP to use circle hooks for longline fishing

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine government will soon implement the mainstream use of circle hooks for longline fishing operations to reduce sea turtle bycatch.

President Arroyo announced the new policy during her speech at the Coral Triangle Initiative Business Summit held at the Makati Shangri-La the other day.

The President emphasized that businesses such as tuna fishing operations could continue to thrive even while instituting sound environmental practices.

“We want to show that environmental protection on the one hand and economic growth and poverty reduction on the other hand, can co-exist side-by-side and mutually prosper by exploring business initiatives that support both goals,” she said.

“We want to change the traditional thinking that forces us to choose between economic growth (and) environmental protection. We want to infect businesses throughout the world with our enthusiasm and show hard evidence that businesses can thrive, not in spite of, but because of sound environmental practices,” she added.

The use of circle hooks for longline fishing has been adopted in several countries, including the United States, because of the high incidence of sea turtles being caught in the hooks along with the fish.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States, longlines are periodically reeled in and the fish removed, but sea turtles also get caught in the lines and hooks, often drowning before they can be recovered and released.

The NOAA originally addressed this issue by placing restrictions on US longline fishing fleets, but because sea turtles are highly migratory, they encounter longline fleets operating throughout the ocean basins.

“In order to effectively protect these species, other nations must also address sea turtle bycatch in their longline fleets,” said former NOAA fisheries director Bill Hogarth.

The fishing industry uses the standard J-hooks but studies have shown that this has resulted in 80 percent of turtles being caught in the throat.

Recognizing this concern and as part of the commitment of the Philippines to efforts to protect the environment, including marine life, the President announced the shift from J-hooks to circle hooks in longline fishing.

“To this end, the government of the Philippines hereby announces its support for the mainstreaming of the use of circle hooks to dramatically reduce turtle bycatch in longline fishing operations,” the President said.