Sea Turtle Strandings Research Articles

Impacts of pelagic longline fisheries on sea turtles in the Santos Basin, Brazil

Strand monitoring is valuable for identifying human-caused threats to sea turtles but has limitations in fully understanding their overall impact. To address this gap, we conducted a survey to examine sea turtle interactions with longline fisheries, focusing on the types of hooks used for different target fish species. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of sea turtles entangled with hooks in these fisheries and to investigate seasonal and spatial variations in strandings. From August 2015 to December 2020, regular surveys were carried out along 2,013 km, on the South and Southeast coasts of Brazil to monitor sea turtle strandings. Data were collected on the presence and types of hooks, as well as the developmental stages of the affected turtles. The study analyzed spatial and seasonal variations and conducted necropsies to determine causes of death and assess internal damage from fishing gear. A total of 4,631 stranded sea turtles were documented: Caretta caretta, n=3,678, w/hooks=96; Lepidochelys olivacea, n=753, w/hooks=20, and Dermochelys coriacea, n=200, w/hooks= 01. Four types of hooks were identified, with a predominance of “J” hooks typically used in the region to capture dolphinfish, Coryphaena hippurus (72/122 hooks). The most affected developmental stages were large juveniles of C. caretta and L. olivacea. The distribution of hooks differed among the states; “J” hooks targeting C. hippurus on the continental shelf were predominantly found in São Paulo state. In contrast, circular hooks for swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and tuna hooks for tuna (Thunnus spp.), used in offshore fisheries, were more common in southern states. The abundance of “J”, hooks increased during the spring months, aligning with the C. hippurus fishing season. “J” hooks were primarily found in the esophagus of stranded turtles (88/122), indicating that their size and shape facilitate ingestion. Necropsies revealed that 43.1% of deaths (50/116) were due to intestinal lesions caused by hooks, fishing lines, and/or cables. Despite the small relative frequency of individuals found with hooks (117/4631), pelagic longline fisheries, especially those targeting C. hippurus, are a serious threat to sea turtle populations and, therefore, require specific monitoring and mitigating measures. Furthermore, the number of affected individuals may be underestimated since stranding does not represent total mortality at sea.

Long‐term (29‐year) spatiotemporal patterns of sea turtle deaths in the southern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract Sea turtles are key imperilled species that interact with numerous threats in their critical in‐water and inland habitats, which they occupy along their complex life cycle. Therefore, analysing these interactions is essential for adapting ongoing conservation and management actions. The long‐term recording of stranded sea turtle individuals and the potential causes of death in their breeding habitats is crucial for defining and adapting conservation actions. Twenty‐nine years of sea turtle stranding and mortality data (1992–2019) at nesting beaches in Campeche, Mexico, were analysed to describe their spatiotemporal patterns per species and possible causes of death. The most impacted species was the hawksbill turtle, followed by green and Kemp's ridley individuals. The most frequent probable causes of death in this region were bycatch, seismic surveys, vehicle strikes and slaughter at nesting beaches. Both immature and breeding individuals were stranded, mostly the former, and the most frequent months were in the summer (June–August). This study establishes a historic reference baseline for the spatiotemporal mortality patterns of imperilled sea turtle species in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. It shows their interactions with anthropogenic activities and the circumstances jeopardizing their population recovery. It also points out management and conservation actions to implement to improve their long‐term viability in the context of the operationalization of their key attributes and interactions with their seascapes.

Sea turtle strandings in the temperate Southwest Atlantic: Analysis of drivers and potential causes

Abstract Marine megafauna are subject to several threats due to the increasing exploitation of marine ecosystems. Mortality is frequently evidenced by the occurrence of stranded individuals in coastal zones; however, conclusive identification of its drivers and causes is challenging. In this study, we explore the hypothesis that bycatch in trawling is one of the anthropic drivers of sea turtle strandings in the temperate Southwest (SW) Atlantic, where green (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) turtles forage seasonally. Beach survey data during March, April and May from 2014 to 2018 were used to characterize strandings and relate their spatio‐temporal distribution to physical and anthropic variables. Loggerhead (47.4%) and leatherback turtles (49.3%) were the most common stranded species, whereas green turtles were recorded only occasionally (3.3%). Based on the size distribution, strandings reflected both juvenile and adult mortality, with variations between species. Generalized linear models showed that sea turtle strandings were influenced by winds and sea surface temperature, while there was no evidence of a relationship with fishing effort. Further studies should assess drowning due to bycatch as a cause of turtle death, since interaction with fisheries is commonly reported in the area and drowned animals may or may not wash ashore. This study raises awareness and assesses, for the first time, the mortality of threatened sea turtle species in a poorly known region of its distribution.

Patterns and spatial distribution of sea turtle strandings in Alagoas, Brazil

This study makes a descriptive analysis of necropsied sea turtles registered in the Biota Conservation Institute database between May 2018 and May 2022 on the coast of Alagoas, Brazil. During this period, 79 animals of four species were necropsied: 87.4 % (69) Chelonia mydas, 6.3 % (5) Caretta caretta, 3.8 % (3) Lepidochelys olivacea and 2.5 % (2) Eretmochelys imbricata. C. mydas was the most frequent species, mainly juvenile females. In 29.1 % (23/79) evidence of anthropogenic interactions was found (e.g., fishing net marks, plastic waste in the digestive tract, trauma from collisions with boats). Cutaneous tumors suggestive of fibropapillomatosis in 35.4 % (28/79), in C. mydas and E. imbricata, half were in an area of high eutrophication, close to the capital. Endoparasites were found in 46.8 % (37/79) individuals. Information on strandings in the region is essential for understanding the use of the area and the impacts to which these animals are exposed.

Assessing the Relationship between Sea Turtle Strandings and Anthropogenic Impacts in Taiwan

Data acquired from stranded sea turtles can provide awareness of human activities that adversely affect sea turtle populations. We assessed strandings of five sea turtle species between 2017 and 2021. This study utilizes principal component analysis (PCA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) to reveal potential causes of sea turtle strandings linked to anthropogenic effects in Taiwan. Although our study did not observe a statistically significant impact of offshore wind turbines on sea turtle strandings, it did find evidence of a significant direct effect of coral colony density, heavy metals, and fishing disturbance on such strandings. For the conservation of endangered sea turtles, we recommend the incorporation of PCA and SEM in further contexts for validating anthropogenic impact assessments.

Developing bottom drifters to better understand the stranding locations of cold-stunned sea turtles in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts.

Every fall, juvenile sea turtles in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean are threatened by rapidly declining water temperatures. When sea turtles become hypothermic, or cold-stunned, they lose mobility-either at the surface, subsurface, or the bottom of the water column-and eventually strand at the shoreline where rescue teams associated with the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network may search for them. Understanding the effects of ocean currents on the potential stranding locations of cold-stunned sea turtles is essential to better understand stranding hotspots and increase the probability of successful discovery and recovery of turtles before they die in the cold temperatures. Traditional oceanographic drifters-instruments used to track currents-have been used to examine relationships between current and stranding locations in Cape Cod Bay, but these drifters are not representative of sea turtle morphology and do not assess how bottom currents affect stranding locations. To address these knowledge gaps, we designed new drifters that represent the shape and dimensions of sea turtles-one that can float at the surface and one that sinks to the bottom-to track both surface and bottom currents in Cape Cod Bay. We found a marked difference between the trajectories of our new drifter models and those that were previously used for similar research. These findings bring us one step closer to identifying the transport pathways for cold-stunned sea turtles and optimizing cold-stunned sea turtle search and rescue efforts in Cape Cod.

Sea turtle strandings along the Northwestern Moroccan coast: Spatio-temporal distribution and main threats

We present the first research carried out on a large spatio-temporal scale (324 km) on sea turtle strandings during a 24-year period (1998–2022) in northwestern Morocco. A total of 208 stranded turtles were recorded. Among these were 184 (88.47%) loggerheads, (Caretta caretta), 21 (10.09%) leatherbacks, (Dermochelys coriacea), and 3 (1.44%) unidentified sea turtles. Strandings were most numerous in the summer and early spring, which coincides with the largest trawler, purse seine and longline fishing effort near the Moroccan coast. The majority of loggerhead turtles measured were subadult individuals (81%), while the stranded leatherback turtles included subadults and adults. Our data demonstrate that Moroccan coastal waters provides important development, foraging and/or migration habitats for loggerhead and leatherback turtles, and fisheries bycatch and boat strikes may be the major threats to sea turtles in Moroccan waters. This study serves as an important baseline for the development of sea turtle conservation efforts in the near-shore waters of the Moroccan Mediterranean coast.

Twenty Years of Sea Turtle Strandings in New Caledonia.

In this study, we investigated cause-specific temporal and spatial trends in sea turtle strandings in New Caledonia. Five species of sea turtles were recorded in the 406 strandings documented between January 1999 and March 2021. Green turtles represented the majority of the stranded species (68%), reflecting the importance of the resident green turtle population in New Caledonian waters. Nearly half of the individuals stranded were juveniles (48%). The great majority of strandings were recorded in the South Province, the most populous province of New Caledonia (73%). The main causes of the strandings were classified as unknown (50%), followed by poaching (17%), by-catch (15%), collision (10%), natural (8%), plastic ingestion (0.5%) and other (0.5%). This study contains the first official record of the presence and relative importance of fibropapilloma in New Caledonia, but we could not determine if it was the cause of death for the stranded individuals. Two individuals, after necropsies, were found to have ingested plastic (one in 2011 and the other in 2020). This is the first record of plastic ingestion for sea turtles in New Caledonia. Three significant trends were also found during the study: an increase in the number of individuals reported in the study since 2004; a seasonal effect, with most strandings occurring in summer (November to January); and stranding hotspots. Rehabilitation allowed for 35% of individuals found alive to be released back into the wild. This study suggests that mitigation strategies such as "go slow" zones and a robust stranding network should be put in place in New Caledonia.

Possible link between derelict fishing gear and sea turtle strandings in coastal areas.

Ghost fishing via a derelict fishing gear (DFG) is a critical threat to marine organisms. To explore the effect of DFG on sea turtle strandings, the DFG distribution was compared at two sites on Jeju Island (South Korea) with a contrasting number of strandings. Coastal areas in northern Jeju Island were surveyed during dives with scuba equipment, and the DFG from two sites, Gwideok-ri and Sinchang-ri was collected and compared in terms of quantity and size of the items. Fishing line was more common, longer, and thicker in Gwideok-ri than in Sinchang-ri, while other types of DFG did not differ between the two sites. In addition, necropsies on two loggerhead sea turtles discovered on Jeju Island found fishing lines with fishing hooks in the oral cavity of both carcasses. This suggests that derelict recreational fishing lines may pose a significant threat to sea turtles in coastal areas.

Junk food: Polymer composition of macroplastic marine debris ingested by green and loggerhead sea turtles from the Gulf of Oman

Pollution of the marine environment by plastic marine debris has become one of the most pervasive threats impacting marine environments. In this study, for the first time, we evaluate the polymer types of the plastic marine debris ingested by 49 green and 14 loggerhead sea turtle strandings in the Gulf of Oman. Plastic marine debris was ingested by 73.5% of green and 42.9% of loggerhead sea turtles in this study. Overall, evidence suggested that green sea turtles from the Gulf of Oman coast of the United Arab Emirates ingested high levels of plastic marine debris, predominantly Polypropylene (PP) & Polyethylene (PE), followed by Nylon, PP-PE mixture, Polystyrene (PS), Poly vinyl chloride (PVC) and Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), respectively. Loggerhead sea turtles also ingested high levels of plastic marine debris, which also predominantly consisted of PP & PE, followed by PP-PE mixture, Nylon and PS. While recent studies were directed into polymer characterization of micro-plastics in aquatic life, our study focuses on macro-plastics which impose significantly greater risks.

Barnacle Epibiosis on Sea Turtles in Korea: A West Pacific Region With Low Occurrence and Intensity of Chelonibia testudinaria (Cirripedia: Chelonibiidae)

Loggerhead and green turtles inhabit all oceans except the polar regions. External surfaces of sea turtles are often colonized by epibiotic chelonibiid barnacles. Barnacle taxonomy studies in Korea began in 1985, but until present, no turtle barnacles were recorded. This suggests that either the diversity and frequency of occurrence of turtle barnacles in Korean waters are low or the turtle barnacles have been understudied. This study complies with data collected over 6 years of sea turtle stranding events in Korea (2015–2020). We examined the diversity, frequency, and intensity of turtle barnacle occurrence. Of the 55 recorded strandings, loggerhead turtles were the most common (58%), followed by green turtles (33%). Only one species of barnacle, Chelonibia testudinaria, was found on both loggerhead and green turtles. The frequency of barnacle occurrence on loggerhead turtles was 28%, with an intensity of 2.4 ± 2.7 barnacles per turtle. Notably, 11% of green turtles had barnacles, with an average of one individual per turtle. The frequency and intensity of barnacle occurrence on green turtles analyzed in this study were five times lower than that on green turtle populations in Okinawan, Bornean, and Australian waters in the Indo-Pacific. Based on these new data and the available literature, we speculated that the barnacle larval pools in cold, high-latitude Korean waters are smaller than those occurring in other locations in the Indo-Pacific. The frequency and intensity of occurrence of barnacles on loggerhead turtles in Korea fall within the range recorded in other Indo-Pacific locations. The longer migratory routes of loggerhead turtles allow them to pass through different larval pools in the Indo-Pacific water, exposing them to higher barnacle abundances.

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

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.

Sea turtle strandings and the importance of the restinga de Jurubatiba National Park in loggerhead (Caretta caretta) nesting sites

Protected areas represent important refuges for several species of fauna, mitigating human impacts and providing food resources and reproductive sites. In this study, analyzed the stranding pattern of sea turtles and the importance of the largest restinga protected area in Brazil, the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as a potential nesting site for Caretta caretta. A total of 352 strandings were recorded from October 2017 to September 2020 by direct monitoring on the beaches. The species with the highest recorded stranding was Chelonia mydas (n = 146), followed by Lepidochelys olivacea (n = 100), Caretta caretta (n = 91), Dermochelys coriacea (n = 11) and Eretmochelys imbricata (n = 4). The highest number of stranding records occurred in the end of winter and during spring. A total of 223 nests were registered, mostly in spring and summer, with most records of C. caretta nesting between November and December. The occurrence of nesting in the park area demonstrates it is importance for the conservation of sea turtles, since the lack of urbanization reduces anthropogenic impacts such as overfishing, egg collection, running over and artificial lighting, which favors that these animals complete their cycle of life.

Sea Turtle Stranding Patterns in New York (2017-2020)

In this observational study, we examined spatiotemporal patterns of the sea turtle taxa, and how they are affected by human interactions. We isolated the data to only 4 species of concern in the New York area from the years 2017 to 2020. The four species of concern are Leatherback (D. Coriacea), Loggerhead (C. Caretta), Kemp’s ridley (L. Kempii), and Atlantic green sea turtles (C. Mydas). We utilized data provided by the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS) to plot stranding locations of Google Earth, and graph the trends. It was determined that there is a significant spike in sea turtle strandings during the summer months (July & August) and the winter months (November & December). We used resources from NOAA to determine that the migratory patterns of the sea turtles are causing the strandings as global warming progressively makes the water warmer in the winter months as the year’s progress. Human interaction only comprises (24.6%) of the stranding cause and over half of the human interaction caused strandings are due to vessel strikes. Furthermore, we will use this data to research stranding patterns on other marine mammals, partner with organizations to raise awareness and prevent strandings as the climate changes, and conserve these vulnerable (Leatherback), endangered (Loggerhead & Green), and critically endangered (Kemp’s Ridley) sea turtles.

Oceanic drivers of juvenile sea turtle strandings in the UK

Juvenile sea turtles can disperse thousands of kilometers from nesting beaches to oceanic development habitats, aided by ocean currents. In the North Atlantic, turtles dispersing from American beaches risk being advected out of warm nursery grounds in the North Atlantic Gyre into lethally cold northern European waters (e.g. around the UK). We used an ocean model simulation to compare simulated numbers of turtles that were advected to cold waters around the UK with observed numbers of turtles reported in the same area over ~5 decades. Rates of virtual turtles predicted to encounter lethal (10°C) or detrimental (15°C) temperatures (mean 19% ± 2.7 SD) and reach the UK were consistently low (median 0.83%, lower quartile 0.67%, upper quartile 1.02%), whereas there was high inter-annual variability in the numbers of dead or critically ill turtles reported in the UK. Generalized additive models suggest inter-annual variability in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index to be a good indicator of annual numbers of turtle strandings reported in the UK. We demonstrate that NAO variability drives variability in the dispersion scenarios of juvenile turtles from key nesting regions into the North Atlantic. Coastal effects, such as the number of storms and mean sea surface temperatures in the UK, were significant but weak predictors, with a weak effect on turtle strandings. Further understanding how changing environmental conditions such as NAO variability and storms affect the fate of juvenile turtles is vital for understanding the distribution and population dynamics of sea turtles.

Association of ocean macroplastic debris with stranded sea turtles in the Central Gulf of Thailand

The impact of macroplastic debris (>5 mm) on marine life is a global concern but has rarely been investigated in Thailand. This study investigated the relationship between stranded sea turtles and macroplastics in the Central Gulf of Thailand. Records of stranded turtles (n = 388) from 2017-2020 were analysed retrospectively to determine their interaction with macroplastics. In addition, macroplastics collected from the gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of 30 dead stranded turtles and 13 beaches (along a 100 m transect mid-way between high and low tide) between 2019 and 2020 were investigated. Types and composition of macroplastics were identified with the use of a stereomicroscope and Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer. Green turtles Chelonia mydas comprised the majority of stranded turtles (74%, n = 251), and macroplastics (entanglement or ingestion) were the leading cause of death (n = 152). Most stranded turtles were juveniles (65%), and their stranding was significantly correlated with macroplastics (p < 0.001). Juveniles were more prone than adults to become entangled (p = 0.007), while adults had a higher ingestion rate than juveniles (p = 0.009). Plastic fibres were commonly found in the GI tracts (62%, n = 152 of 244) and beaches (64%, n = 74 of 115). Most fibres from the GI tracts (83%, n = 126 of 152) and beaches (93%, n = 68 of 74) were fishing nets made of polyethylene or polypropylene. We conclude that fishing nets are a significant cause of sea turtle stranding in the Central Gulf of Thailand, and this issue requires immediate resolution.

Strandings of sea turtles on beaches around the oil capital in Brazil

The south-western region of the Atlantic Ocean has feeding and nesting areas for the five species of sea turtles registered in Brazil, which are in different degrees of extinction threat, mainly due to anthropogenic factors. Fishing and the ingestion of solid waste, were identified as causing stranding and the mortality of sea turtles. In this work, data from the monitoring of beaches in the Municipalities of Macaé and Rio das Ostras, important oil zone in Brazil, in the north-central region of the State of Rio de Janeiro, were used in order to analyse the effects of seasonality on the sea turtle stranding. The monitoring was carried out daily from September 2017 to June 2019, in a study area covering 23.8 km long beach. Stranding data were obtained from active (n = 126) and passive (n = 66) monitoring of beaches and included the records of Chelonia mydas (n = 151), Caretta caretta (n = 23), Lepidochelys olivacea (n = 14), Dermochelys coriacea (n = 2) and Eretmochelys imbricata (n = 1). The largest stranding record occurred in the summer (n = 61) and spring (n = 60), a period compatible with the reproductive season of the species. The results obtained in this study emphasise the importance of the analysis of strandings of sea turtles, which provide relevant data on the biology of the group, the intra and interspecific dynamics and the state of conservation of these animals.

Sea turtle strandings along a semiarid coast in the western equatorial Atlantic

AbstractFor decades, the Brazilian north-east coast has been a recognized feeding area for five sea turtle species. However, it still lacks information about stranding patterns. A decade of a beach monitoring programme (from 2010–2019) provided information on the composition, abundance and spatio-temporal distribution of stranded sea turtle species along a semiarid coast in the western equatorial Atlantic. A total of 905 individuals of four species were recorded in a route of ~130 km. The most stranded group was the juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas), followed by Lepidochelys olivacea, Eretmochelys imbricata and Caretta caretta. The strandings present a seasonal and geographic pattern, and therefore any conservation measure to be implemented must consider these patterns. Also, the possible occurrence of fibropapillomatosis tumours calls for additional studies to understand its causes. Lastly, stranded sea turtles eventually show marks of fishery interaction, which indicate the need for environmental education programmes with fishing communities.

Use of intravenous lipid emulsion therapy as a novel treatment for brevetoxicosis in sea turtles

The southwest coast of Florida experiences annual red tides, a type of harmful algal bloom that results from high concentrations of Karenia brevis. These dinoflagellates release lipophilic neurotoxins, known as brevetoxins, that bind to sodium channels and inhibit their inactivation, resulting in a variety of symptoms that can lead to mass sea turtle strandings. Traditional therapies for brevetoxicosis include standard and supportive care (SSC) and/or dehydration therapy; however, these treatments are slow-acting and often ineffective. Because red tide events occur annually in Florida, our objective was to test intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) as a rapid treatment for brevetoxicosis in sea turtles and examine potential impacts on toxin clearance rates, symptom reduction, rehabilitation time, and survival rates. Sea turtles exhibiting neurological symptoms related to brevetoxicosis were brought to rehabilitation from 2018–2019. Upon admission, blood samples were collected, followed by immediate administration of 25 mg ILE/kg body mass (Intralipid® 20%) at 1 mL/min using infusion pumps. Blood samples were collected at numerous intervals post-ILE delivery and analyzed for brevetoxins using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In total, nine (four subadults, one adult female, four adult males) loggerheads (Caretta caretta), five (four juvenile, one adult female) Kemp’s ridleys (Lepidochelys kempii), and four juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) were included in this study. We found that plasma brevetoxins declined faster compared to turtles that received only SSC. Additionally, survival rate of these patients was 94% (17/18), which is significantly higher than previous studies that used SSC and/or dehydration therapy (47%; 46/99). Nearly all symptoms were eliminated within 24–48 h, whereas using SSC, symptom elimination could take up to seven days or more. The dosage given here (25 mg/kg) was sufficient for turtles in this study, but the use of a higher dosage (50–100 mg/kg) for those animals experiencing severe symptoms may be considered. These types of fast-acting treatment plans are necessary for rehabilitation facilities that are already resource-limited. Intravenous lipid emulsion therapy has the potential to reduce rehabilitation time, save resources, and increase survival of sea turtles and other marine animals experiencing brevetoxicosis.

Use of Drift Studies to Understand Seasonal Variability in Sea Turtle Stranding Patterns in Mississippi

Stranded sea turtles provide valuable information about causes of mortality that threatens these imperiled species. Many potential factors determine whether drifting sea turtles are deposited on shore, discovered by people, and reported to stranding networks resulting in successful documentation. We deployed 182 sea turtle cadavers and 115 wooden effigy drifters with affixed GPS-satellite tags to study stranding probability in the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM) in an effort to better understand seasonal stranding variations in this region. Public reports of beached carcasses were recorded to determine reporting rates. Season and distance from shore greatly influenced beaching results. During winter months when strandings are infrequent and sea turtle abundance is likely low in cold nearshore waters, carcasses had an 80–90% probability of beaching. Beaching probability was reduced to 37–50% during the spring, which is the period of greatest strandings in this region. During summer months when relatively few strandings are documented, the probability of a carcass beaching dropped to only 4–8%. Low summer stranding rates were coincident with higher rates of decomposition (7%) attributed to warmer water temperatures, more frequent scavenging (69% of carcasses), and shifting wind and current patterns which drive carcasses offshore or to remote locations. As waters cooled in the fall, probability of carcasses beaching increased to 40–48%, coincident with a small pulse in strandings that often occurs during this period. Only 28% of carcasses and effigies came ashore on mainland beaches and were easily available for discovery by the public, 49% were on barrier islands that are publicly accessible and 23% beached in dense salt marshes where discovery would be unlikely. The 47% of objects that did not beach included those lost at sea and carcasses that were likely scavenged or decomposed. Only 22% of beached carcasses were reported due to infrequent (11%) reporting on barrier islands. Notably, only 50% of carcasses deposited on mainland beaches were reported, which was lower than anticipated. We recommend additional efforts to increase reporting rates of carcasses by the public and use of dedicated surveys to detect stranded sea turtles, especially on barrier islands in this region.