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Similar to making purchasing decisions, people's support for wildlife management actions can be influenced by various tradeoffs and contextual factors. Using conjoint analyses, we assessed the relative importance of three factors associated with possible management actions for reducing human-related impacts on sea turtle nesting in Ogasawara Islands, Japan. The factors were examined in a 2007 door-to-door survey of Ogasawara residents (n = 553, 63% response rate) and included: (a) beach patrol, (b) restrictions on human behavior, and (c) restrictions on beach access. Restrictions on beach access was the most important factor influencing residents' support for and compliance with the management actions. Within each factor, factor levels resulting in greater changes from the current condition (more restrictions) contributed to lower levels of support and compliance. Results highlight the importance of considering contextual variables in anticipating public response to wildlife management alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

There is growing evidence that small-scale, coastal, passive net fisheries may be the largest single threat to some sea turtle populations. We review assessments of turtle interactions in these fisheries, and experiments on gear-technology approaches (modifying gear designs, materials and fishing methods) to mitigate turtle by-catch, available from a small number of studies and fisheries. Additional assessments are needed to improve the limited understanding of the relative degree of risk coastal net fisheries pose to turtle populations, to prioritize limited conservation resources and identify suitable mitigation opportunities. Whether gear technology provides effective and commercially viable solutions, alone or in combination with other approaches, is not well-understood. Fishery-specific assessments and trials are needed, as differences between fisheries, including in gear designs; turtle and target species, sizes and abundance; socioeconomic context; and practicality affect efficacy and suitability of by-catch mitigation methods. Promising gear-technology approaches for gillnets and trammel nets include: increasing gear visibility to turtles but not target species, through illumination and line materials; reducing net vertical height; increasing tiedown length or eliminating tiedowns; incorporating shark-shaped silhouettes; and modifying float characteristics, the number of floats or eliminating floats. Promising gear-technology approaches for pound nets and other trap gear include: replacing mesh with ropes in the upper portion of leaders; incorporating a turtle releasing device into traps; modifying the shape of the trap roof to direct turtles towards the location of an escapement device; using an open trap; and incorporating a device to prevent sea turtle entrance into traps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]