Satellite tracking of a Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas, from Syria further highlights importance of North Africa for Mediterranean turtles

Abstract

In 2006, we tracked a single Green Turtle after nesting Latakia, providing the first evidence of foraging grounds and migratory routes from this rookery which is one of the most important nesting areas in the Mediterranean. Tracking lasted 95 days during which time the turtle migrated southward (minimum average speed=0.9 km/h) and then westward (minimum average speed=1.6 km/h), following the coast. The turtle settled in the Bay of As Sallum, western Egypt where it remained in neritic, coastal waters for the final 26 days of transmissions. These results, when combined with findings from Cyprus, Turkey and Greece, further highlight the importance of the North African coast for foraging adult turtles and the need for effective conservation measures to be adopted there.