ANNEX VISupplementary provisions
ANNEX VI DETAILED REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RELEASE OF SEA TURTLES Regarding safe-handling practices: (i) When a sea turtle is to be removed from the water, an appropriate basket lift or dip-net shall be used to bring aboard sea turtles that are hooked or entangled in gear. No sea turtle shall be hauled from the water by a fishing line attached to, or entangled upon the body of a sea turtle. If the sea turtle cannot be safely removed from the water, the crew should cut the line as close as possible to the hook, without inflicting additional unnecessary harm on the sea turtle. (ii) In cases where sea turtles are taken on board, vessel operators or crew shall assess the condition of sea turtles that are caught or entangled prior to release. Those sea turtles with difficulties to move or are unresponsive shall be kept on board to the extent practicable and assisted in a manner consistent with maximising their survival prior to release. Those practices are described further in the FAO's Guidelines to reduce sea turtle mortality in fishing operations. (iii) To the extent practicable, sea turtles handled in fishing operations or during national observer programmes (e.g. tagging activities) shall be handled in a manner consistent with the FAO's Guidelines to reduce sea turtle mortality in fishing operations. Regarding the use of line cutters: (i) Longline vessels shall carry on board line-cutters and use them when de-hooking is not possible without harming the sea turtles while releasing them. (ii) Other types of vessels that use gear that may entangle sea turtles shall carry on board line-cutters and use those tools to safely remove gear, and release sea turtles. Regarding the use of de-hooking devices: (i) Longline vessels shall carry on board de-hooking devices to effectively remove hooks from sea turtles. (ii) When a hook is swallowed, no attempt shall be made to remove the hook. Instead, the line must be cut as close to the hook as possible without inflicting additional unnecessary harm on the sea turtle.