Ocean Sentry
(FRom travelvideo.tv) Santa Cruz, CA- Wallace J. Nichols of California Academy of Sciences and University of California Santa Cruz researcher Hoyt Peckham have been counting endangered sea turtle carcasses; one part of their work to assess and eliminate threats to endangered loggerhead sea turtle populations in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Their co-authored research, which was published today, yielded shocking results – almost 3,000 sea turtles were found dead along a 27-mile stretch of coast during a five-year period from 2003 to 2007.
With publication of their findings, the scientists are increasing awareness of the problems facing sea turtles in this area, which are accidental capture during fishing operations, known as “bycatch”, and illegal fishing for turtles, or “poaching”. Along with their Mexican coauthors and colleagues, they hope this report will encourage Mexico’s government agencies to finalize creation of a refuge that protects turtles and encourages sustainable fishing in the area.
The study underscores that bycatch, and to a lesser degree poaching, are significantly impacting this endangered animal’s chances for survival.
