Fisheries bycatch is considered one of the main threats to sea turtles. To provide an updated assessment of the bycatch impact on loggerhead turtles in Tunisia, 483 interviews were conducted with fishermen in 19 ports along the Gulfs of Gabes and Hammamet. The interview questions included data on vessel and fishing gear characteristics, monthly fishing effort, and monthly sea turtle bycatch of the last year. Results revealed that sea turtle bycatch per unit effort (BPUE) was the highest for ray nets (0.73 turtles/vessel/day, 95% CI [0.02–1.15]), followed by pelagic longlines (0.6 turtles/vessel/day, 95% CI [0–4.23]) and shark nets (0.4 turtles/vessel/day, 95% CI [0–2.12]). However, due to the trawlers’ high fishing effort, the cumulative impact of the trawl nets was the highest with an estimated number of 11,740 (95% CI [0–41,525.75]) turtles caught per year in Tunisia. Factors influencing the bycatch risk were gear characteristics (mesh size for nets, hook size for longlines, vertical opening for trawls), as well as season and location of operations. These factors will guide the research of mitigation solutions. The interviews with fishermen proved to be a cost-effective approach for the rapid assessment of sea turtle interactions with fisheries in the context of Tunisia.

Fishery bycatch poses a significant threat to sea turtles. This study provides an updated assessment of Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) bycatch in the Gulf of Gabès, focusing on the impact of the Garrasia gillnets. Through 61 onboard observations conducted alongside fishermen in Zarzis deploying a bottom-set gillnet, called “Garrasia”, and targeting elasmobranch species, comprehensive data were collected, including the number of sea turtles captured, soak time, length of gillnets, location, and biometric data of sea turtles. Analysis revealed a catch per unit effort (CPUE) for sea turtles of 0.63 (95% CI [0.355–0.893]) turtles per kilometer per 24 h with a notably high mortality rate of 92.06% (95% CI [87.3–96.8]). In the Gulf of Gabès, 23 vessels are reported to use Garrasia, resulting in an estimated annual total capture of 3756.53 turtles with a 95% CI [1907.81–5902.30]. These findings underscore the significant impact of Garrasia on sea turtle populations in the Gulf of Gabès. The study calls for immediate collaborative efforts among researchers, local stakeholders, authorities and fishermen to elaborate balanced conservation strategies that consider both ecological sustainability and socio-economic factors, aiming to achieve a sustainable marine ecosystem.