Impact of the socioeconomic activities on sea turtle conservation in the Potiguar Basin, north-eastern Brazil (2010–2019)

Abstract

Brazil has a coast that is threatened by economic activities and accelerated urbanisation process, causing ecosystem unbalance and decreasing socioenvironmental quality. We analysed data collected from 2010 to 2019 during the Beach Monitoring Project in north-eastern Brazil to quantify sea turtle strandings with signs of anthropogenic interaction, verify the impact of economic activities on the strandings, and analyse a possible relation between socioeconomic conditions and the strandings. Anthropogenic interaction was classified into 12 categories (eight related to fishing activities). We analysed 6007 strandings, including four sea turtle species and anthropogenic interaction was observed in 12.88% (n = 774) of the strandings. Chelonia mydas represented 94.05% of the total records with anthropogenic interaction and fishing-related strandings accounted for 81.65%. Juvenile individuals were more affected than adults; likewise, females were more affected than males. Icapuí and Areia Branca are very populous municipalities, and showed large number of strandings with signs of anthropogenic interaction. Our analyses revealed that fishing-related strandings were reported throughout the year; however, a larger number of records occurred in the dry season and during the lobster-fishing season. Our study brings knowledge on sea turtle strandings in north-eastern Brazil, providing results that support public policies to mitigate anthropogenic impacts on sea turtles.