Monitoring along north-eastern Brazilian beaches: what stranding data show on olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea)?
Daniel Solon Dias de Farias
A B C * , Silmara Rossi A C , Aline da Costa Bomfim A B C , Cleto Jose Freire Costa Junior A C , Flávio José de Lima Silva A C D , Giovanna Almeida Santoro A B C , Juliana Maia Lorena Pires A C , Radan Elvis Matias de Oliveira A C E and Simone Almeida Gavilan A B C
A
B
C
D
E
Abstract
Juvenile olive ridley sea turtles spend their developmental stages in oceanic waters, but can also be found in neritic areas. Studies on juveniles in neritic areas remain scarce in Brazil, whereas adult occurrences are well documented.
To analyse data on stranding records of olive ridleys in Rio Grande do Norte (RN) and Ceará (CE) states, north-eastern Brazil, for investigating a potential habitat for juveniles.
The olive ridleys were recorded between January 2010 and October 2023 and classified as juveniles (curved carapace length, CCL < 66 cm) or adults (CCL ≥ 66 cm), with the former divided into JUV I (CCL ≤ 50 cm) and JUV II (50 cm < CCL < 66 cm). Evidence of anthropogenic interaction was also investigated.
Juveniles represented 62.41% (166 of 266) and adults 37.59% (100 of 266). There were more records of JUV II (47.37%) than JUV I (15.04%) and between September and March. Signs of anthropogenic interactions were described in 19.92% (53 of 266), with 83.08% (44 of 53) being related to fishing; four main hotspots were identified.
The presence of JUV I, life stage considered as ‘lost years,’ suggests a potential habitat for this species in the monitored area.
The records of olive ridleys of <25 cm CCL reinforce the importance of the continuous beach monitoring and conservation efforts.
Keywords: anthropogenic interaction, incidental fishing, life stage, marine conservation, mortality, north-eastern Brazil, rescue, sea turtles.
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