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- Title
Increased By-Catch Rates in the Gulf of Taranto, Italy, in 20 Years: A Clue About Sea Turtle Population Trends?
- Authors
CASALE, PAOLO; APREA, AIDA; DEFLORIO, MICHELE; DE METRIO, GREGORIO
- Abstract
Information on sea turtle population trends is fundamental to assess the population status and the effects of conservation measures, and is considered a priority for sea turtle conservation. To provide insights on trends at sea, we compared by-catch data from long-liners fishing in the Gulf of Taranto in 2 periods: 1978-1979 and 1998-2003. A total of 653 loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) were captured in 2679 fishing sets targeting swordfish and albacore tuna; catch rates were significantly higher in the second period, while average turtle size was smaller. Although possible effects of sampling techniques cannot be excluded, a negative trend in the number of turtles in the study area and period was unlikely.
- Subjects
GULF of Taranto (Italy); ITALY; SEA turtles; MARINE reptiles; POPULATION biology; WILDLIFE conservation
- Publication
Chelonian Conservation & Biology, 2012, Vol 11, Issue 2, p239
- ISSN
1071-8443
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2744/CCB-0987.1