Journal article
Spatio-temporal distributions of stranded green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and interactions with fisheries in southern Brazil
Ocean & coastal management, Vol.273, pp.1-12
02/2026
Metrics
1 Record Views
Abstract
Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) are an ecologically important marine species facing increasing anthropogenic pressures that threaten populations worldwide. In the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean, particularly off southern Brazil, interactions with fisheries are thought to cause high mortalities, yet the spatio-temporal dynamics of these impacts remain poorly understood. We analysed eight years (2016–2023) of data from systematic beach monitoring across ∼1400 km of coastline (from Rio de Janeiro to Santa Catarina) to assess patterns of green turtle strandings in relation to intrinsic (sex and life stage) and extrinsic factors (fisheries and other human activities). A total of 42,333 green turtles were recorded; the majority being juvenile females (mean curved carapace length 39.3 ± 7.3 cm) and all with a mortality rate of 90 %. Stranding rates peaked in the state of Paraná, particularly between June and December, and most carcasses (70 %) were in advanced decomposition. Evidence of anthropogenic interactions was widespread, and included fishing (37 % of assessable cases), marine-debris ingestion (36 %) and entanglement (41 %), boat collisions (10 %), and dredging (<1 %). Patterns varied seasonally and regionally, with greater log odds of fishing interactions during summer–autumn and marine-debris ingestion and entanglement during winter. The data indicate that green turtle stranding dynamics possibly reflect both migratory behaviour and seasonal fishing effort, highlighting a potential ecological trap in productive coastal areas. High and unsustainable juvenile mortality across multiple stocks underscores the need to include this developmental stage in subpopulation conservation assessments. Our results suggest an urgent need for improved fisheries management, systematic monitoring, and integrated conservation strategies to secure the long-term persistence of green turtles in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean.
Details
- Title
- Spatio-temporal distributions of stranded green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and interactions with fisheries in southern Brazil
- Creators
- Vitória Bonfim Iurk - Universidade Federal do ParanáGabriel Fraga da Fonseca - Universidade Federal do ParanáMatt K. Broadhurst - Universidade Federal do ParanáMauricio Cantor - Universidade Federal do ParanáCamila Domit - Universidade Federal do Paraná
- Publication Details
- Ocean & coastal management, Vol.273, pp.1-12
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Grant note
- Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior- Brasil (CAPES): 001 Marine Mammal Research Program Fund at Oregon State UniversityOregon Agricultural Experiment StationHatch Act capacity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture: NI25HFPXXXXXG022, NI25HMFPXXXXG029 Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq-Brasil): 316593/20235-0
V.B.I. and G.F.F. were financed in part by the Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior- Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001. M.C. is supported by the Marine Mammal Research Program Fund at Oregon State University and, in part, by the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station with funding from the Hatch Act capacity (NI25HFPXXXXXG022, NI25HMFPXXXXG029) from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. CD received a research productivity fellowship from the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq-Brasil no 316593/20235-0) .
- Identifiers
- 991013341190802368
- Copyright
- © 2025 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; National Marine Science Centre
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article