Lethal Lesions Caused by Propeller Cuts on the Endangered Green Turtle Chelonia mydas on Liuchiu Island, Taiwan

Abstract

Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is the most common sea turtle species in Taiwan. The coastal waters of Taiwan are known to contain foraging grounds for green turtles. Boat strike has been identified as the most common causes of sea turtle mortality in several sea turtle habitats worldwide. However, no relevant studies have investigated wild green turtles with boat strike injuries in Taiwan. In this field study, we conducted morphometric characteristics of 6 endangered green turtles (C. mydas) with boat strike injuries in Liuchiu Island of Pingtung County, Taiwan. This is the first report of its kind on the prevalence of documented boat strike lesions on stranded wild green turtles at their near shore foraging habitat. In 2019, a total of 14 stranded green turtles were dead when first found in Liuchiu Island of Pingtung County, Taiwan. Of these 14, 6 (42.8%) turtles showing evidence of propeller impacts. Conservation strategies including speed limits in key turtle neritic foraging habitats are required to improve their survival in Taiwan.