Tag recoveries of the loggerhead sea turtle <i>Caretta caretta</i> in the eastern Adriatic Sea: implications for conservation

Abstract

Data on tag recoveries of 31 adult female and two juvenile loggerhead turtles ( Caretta caretta ) along the eastern Adriatic coast were analysed. All adult females originated from Mediterranean nesting areas: 29 from Greece, one from Cyprus and one from Turkey. This is the largest aggregation of long-distance tag recoveries in the Mediterranean for the loggerhead population nesting in Greece. The short period elapsed between the last observation of some turtles on the nesting beach and their recovery suggests the existence of a migratory pathway from the Ionian Sea into the Adriatic. Recoveries of some turtles within a period of a year indicate that loggerheads reside in the Adriatic for some time, suggesting that some individuals may demonstrate a level of site fidelity for these marine habitats. The high concentration of tag returns in the shallow northern Adriatic highlights this region as an important feeding habitat, for the population nesting in Greece in particular. The Ionian–Adriatic loggerheads form an important management sub-unit for this nesting population.