Loggerhead Sea Turtle Population Declines

Two recent reports show declines in Loggerhead Sea Turtle populations on the East and West Coasts of the United States.

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Logerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) are the most common sea turtles found in U.S. waters and along U.S. beaches.

Atlantic Loggerheads account for the largest percentage of that population, and they are the only nesting population on U.S. shores.

Accurate population estimates are difficult to come by, however, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) estimates that ninety percent of the Atlantic Loggerhead population nests on Florida beaches.

During the past twenty years, FWC records show Loggerhead Nesting Declines in Florida at about thirty seven percent, with 2007 nesting totals reaching a record low.

The FWC attributes the decline to mutiple factors. Near shore, loggerhead mortality rates recorded in and around Florida beaches have doubled in the past ten years. Longline fishing practices, that either hook or entangle turtles in fishing lines meant for other species, represent a significant off shore hazard.

North Pacific Loggerheads are the long distance sea turtle migration champions. They are also a smaller, and potentially distinct population, that nests in Japan and forages in the tropical and temperate Pacific waters north of the equator from Japan to the United States.

The Center for Biological Diversity reports on declines of around eighty percent for North Pacific Loggerhead Sea Turtle Populations over the past twenty five years. Long line pelagic fishing practices leads the list of factors influencing population trends, contributing up to sixty thousand loggerhead mortalities per year.

The Center estimates current nesting female populations at less than one thousand. They are petitioning to change the population status from threatened to endangered in order to provide additional tools for aiding species recovery.

A changing climate also poses potential problems for loggerhead populations. For example, fidelity to breeding grounds is a common characteristic for all loggerhead populations. Recent research indicates that increased temperatures (sand temperatures over 33^oC) at nesting sites might adversely affect hatchling mortality rates. Sea level rise could also eliminate many traditional nesting areas.

© 2007. Patricia A. Michaels