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- Title
Spatiotemporal Analysis of Stranded Loggerhead Sea Turtles on the Croatian Adriatic Coast.
- Authors
Mihaljević, Željko; Naletilić, Šimun; Jeremić, Jasna; Kilvain, Iva; Belaj, Tina; Andreanszky, Tibor
- Abstract
Simple Summary: The Adriatic Sea is a crucial area for sea turtles, with identified hotspots of presence and areas of high risk. This research identifies distinct patterns in seasonal strandings, indicating season-specific abundance and age-specific mortality, particularly in the crucial neritic habitat of the northern Adriatic, whilst emphasizing key areas in Istria, Lošinj, Zadar, and Šibenik. High-density stranding occurrences, linked to factors like population density and tourism, have been observed in these regions. Fishing-induced mortality, collision with vessels, and potential cold stunning emerge as major threats to loggerhead turtles. Post-mortem investigations underscore the age-specific significance of longline fishing gear and vessel collisions in contributing to mortality, emphasizing the need for focused conservation efforts in high-risk areas. Recognizing and addressing mortality hotspots is essential for understanding and mitigating human–turtle interactions in the Adriatic. This study investigates the spatiotemporal trends of loggerhead turtles along the Croatian Adriatic coast by using stranding data and post-mortem analyses. Information on 620 loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), collected in the period between 2010 and 2022, has been analysed. Seasonal stranding variations reveal distinct patterns, indicating season-specific abundance and age-specific mortality in different areas, particularly in the key neritic habitat of the northern Adriatic. The analysis identifies four critical areas in the northeast and central Adriatic showing high stranding densities and provides regional managers with a tool with which to effectively conserve and manage this species. Fishing-induced mortality, collision with vessels, and potential cold stunning are identified as major threats to loggerhead turtles. Post-mortem investigations reveal that longline fishing gear and collisions with vessels are significant age-specific mortality contributors, underscoring the need for targeted conservation efforts in high-risk areas. The study acknowledges potential biases in strandings records but highlights the importance of post-mortem investigations in understanding mortality causes. The findings provide valuable insights for improving conservation strategies, emphasizing the importance of focused surveillance and conservation efforts in identified high-risk locations to mitigate human–turtle interactions.
- Subjects
ISTRIA (Croatia &; Slovenia); ZADAR (Croatia); LOGGERHEAD turtle; LONGLINE fishing; SEA turtles; CROATS; COASTS
- Publication
Animals (2076-2615), 2024, Vol 14, Issue 5, p703
- ISSN
2076-2615
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/ani14050703