De vangst van sterns in Senegal = Tern trapping along the Senegalese coast

This paper reports the trapping of terns along the Senegalese coast in the 1990s. In spite of earlier education programmes, trapping of terns still seems a common habit in Senegal. During the winters of 1996 and 1997, a total of 210 rings was found, mainly in bracelets and necklaces. About 80% of the rings originated from the British lsles, The Netherlands and Belgium. The species most affected was the Sandwich Tern. It is estimated that at least 500 Sandwich Terns and an additional 500 terns of other species are annually caught along the coastline of Senegal. This estimate, however, is extremely optimistic. The actual number of terns trapped in Senegal is probably much higher, possibly even a tenfold of this. Tern catching is still believed to be an important mortality factor for these vulnerable species.