Fishing "Major Threat To Turtles" - Esp. Loggerheads - BBC

[hatrack]

The endangered loggerhead turtle may face a greater threat than previously realised from longline fishing.

Researchers found that many turtles spend considerably longer in the open ocean, where longline boats operate, than earlier studies had indicated. The boats aim to catch big predatory fish such as tuna and marlin, but accidentally snare other species including turtles and albatrosses.

The new research is published in the journal Current Biology.

Until now scientists have believed that young turtles live in the open ocean, but change to a coastal habitat when they reach a certain size. But researchers working in Cape Verde found that most adults nesting there retain their open water behaviour, with the attendant risk posed by longline boats. "The bottom line is that we thought juveniles experienced this risk out in the open ocean with longline fisheries," said Brendan Godley from the University of Exeter.

EDIT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5005548.stm

[dmkinsey]

1. the abuse of sea species is disgusting

long line fishing and drift nets should be banned for the sheer waste alone.