Abstract
Sea turtles that are entrapped in static and towed nets may develop gas embolism which can lead to severe organ injury and death. Trawling characteristics, physical and physiologic factors associated with gas-embolism and predictors of mortality were analysed from 482 bycaught loggerheads. We found 204 turtles affected by gas-embolism and significant positive correlations between the presence of gas-embolism and duration, depth, ascent rate of trawl, turtle size and temperature, and between mortality and ascent time, neurological deficits, significant acidosis and involvement of > 12 cardiovascular sites and the left atrium and sinus venosus-right atrium. About 90% turtles with GE alive upon arrival at Sea Turtle Clinic recovered from the disease without any supportive drug therapy. Results of this study may be useful in clinical evaluation, prognostication, and management for turtles affected by gas-embolism, but bycatch reduction must become a priority for major international organizations. According to the results of the present study the measures to be considered to reduce the catches or mortality of sea turtles for trawling are to be found in the modification of fishing nets or fishing operations and in greater awareness and education of fishermen.
Highlights
Sea turtles that are entrapped in static and towed nets may develop gas embolism which can lead to severe organ injury and death
The present study provides the largest data set to date for sea turtles affected by GE, including a diverse collection of variables and clinical data
In air-breathing terrestrial mammals, the risk of GE is correlated with dive depth, time at depth, ascent rate and temperature[21]
Summary
Sea turtles that are entrapped in static and towed nets may develop gas embolism which can lead to severe organ injury and death. Physical and physiologic factors associated with gas-embolism and predictors of mortality were analysed from 482 bycaught loggerheads. Results of this study may be useful in clinical evaluation, prognostication, and management for turtles affected by gas-embolism, but bycatch reduction must become a priority for major international organizations. In 2014, a study of bycaught loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) entrapped at depth in trawls and gillnets demonstrated that sea turtles developed gas embolism (GE)[9]. It has been hypothesized that entrapped, submerged turtles develop DCS due to exertional activity (i.e., attempting to escape from the net), and associated catecholamine-induced sympathetic induction and parasympathetic inhibition These effects are believed to disrupt the normal, protective vagal diving reflex that minimizes blood flow through air-filled pressurized lungs during diving[9]. We evaluated leucocyte count (WBC), blood gas and biochemical analytes of major clinical relevance in a part of GE-affected turtles
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