An evaluation of sea turtle strandings in the Fethiye-Göcek Specially Protected Area: An important foraging ground with an increasing mortality rate

The Fethiye-Göcek Specially Protected Area (SPA) is an important protected area in Turkey that includes important loggerhead turtle nesting beaches and marine habitats for sea turtles. Here, we analysed the number of stranded loggerhead and green sea turtles in the Fethiye-Göcek SPA, Turkey. A total of 139 dead sea turtles (102 loggerhead and 37 green turtles) were found between the years 2000 and 2016. The majority of stranded loggerheads were considered to be adults (77.45%), while the majority of stranded green turtles were immature individuals (86.49%). Mean annual strandings were 6.0 individuals for loggerhead turtles and 2.2 individuals for green turtles. The main cause of strandings was determined as incidental catch in fishing gear (51% for loggerhead turtle, 41% for green turtle) and marine vehicle collisions (23% for loggerhead turtle and 27% for green turtles). Strandings were encountered all year round. These results suggest that the Fethiye-Göcek SPA should not be only considered as a seasonal nesting ground for loggerhead turtles, but also a year-round feeding ground for both species. An increase in the number of stranded turtles in the study area suggests that negative anthropogenic effects on sea turtle populations are relatively high and that conservation and monitoring efforts on the nesting beaches are not sufficient to protect sea turtle populations. Research is required to identify the fisheries' segments and metiers responsible for sea turtle mortality in order to develop bycatch mitigation, prioritising the marine habitats of the Fethiye-Göcek SPA.