TCF-funded in 2003

Tracking loggerhead turtles from Cape Verde: Six of the seven marine turtle species are found in the waters off Cape Verde and it is thought that the islands may be home to the largest loggerhead turtle nesting population in the Atlantic Ocean. Although some areas of the archipelago are protected, human predation and incidental capture of turtles are significant ongoing threats to the turtle populations there. Satellite tracking technology allowed researchers from Marine Turtle Research Group at the University of Exeter to follow the movements of loggerhead turtles after nesting and identify important life history information, post breeding migratory pathways and feeding grounds. This study in fact revealed that adult loggerhead turtles not only forage in coastal waters, but also feed in the open ocean, information which could prove vital in achieving a better understanding of their interaction with high seas fisheries. For more information about this project, click here and to read the Sad tale of Nha Pretinha, one of the turtles tagged during this project and pictured above, click here.

MCS enjoys a long history of working with the Marine Turtle Research Group, including projects in the UK Overseas Territories and an exciting new project in Sri Lanka.

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