A Review of Potential Marine Habitats for Marine Turtles in Turkey

Oruc et al review the potential marine habitats for marine turtles in Turkey. Since 1988, twenty important nesting beaches for marine turtles have been identified along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Efforts by marine turtle researchers and conservationists have been focused, for a long time, on marine turtle nesting sites. The compilation of data on turtles at seas in Turkey from various reports reveal some possible foraging areas and/or threats. The Kas-Kekova (Antalya) area appears to serve as a feeding ground for C. caretta, and principal threats include solid waste, long line fishing and ghost fishing gear (abandoned nets and fishing line stuck on the bottom of the sea).