COSTA Project - Pelagic longline fisheries Observers in the North Atlantic

The COSTA project relies on the voluntary collaboration of ship owners and captains of the Portuguese surface longline fleet that allow fishery observers to embark. The main objectives of monitoring fishing operations are to assess the interaction of sea turtles with the longline fisheries and provide the fishermen with knowledge on best handling practices and dehooking tools that helps minimize the impact of surface fisheries on the mortality of these animals. COSTA has two observers going on vessels regularly.