Nesting Ecology and Anthropogenic Threats to Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) Along the Northern Coast of Libya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63359/6mz12j70Keywords:
Caretta caretta, Conservation, Mortality, Nesting turtles, LibyaAbstract
The nesting range of sea turtles has noticeably expanded in recent years, leading them into areas heavily influenced by human activities like fishing, maritime traffic, and operations from oil companies. Given that sea turtles exhibit no parental care, the choice of nesting sites becomes critical for their reproductive success. In 2025, researchers conducted a study on the nesting behaviors of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) across 25kilometer stretch along the Zueitina and Amerir Gabes coastline in northern Libya. The research uncovered that these turtles actively avoided renesting in areas close to the shoreline, suggesting their behavior was shaped by challenges such as rising sea levels. While alternative nesting habitats might be available, human activities like egg harvesting and the use of fishing nets substantially increase mortality rates, exacerbating the decline of turtle populations, particularly on Zueitina beaches, remained unnoticed due to the lack of specific monitoring. This study underscores an urgent call for enhanced protection of nesting sites and more robust conservation efforts to ensure the survival of sea turtle populations.
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