A citizen science approach to studying injury and mortality patterns of sea turtles in the Egyptian Red Sea

Second Author's Department

Biology Department

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https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01425

All Authors

Omar Attum Lina El Sayed Aly Ahmed Ghallab Islam El-Sadek Nina Eschner Ahmed Fouad Nahla Hossam Eldin Ahmed

Document Type

Research Article

Publication Title

Endangered Species Research

Publication Date

1-1-2025

doi

10.3354/esr01425

Abstract

Studies of the injury and mortality patterns of sea turtles are vital to understanding what is needed for threatened and endangered species to recover. The objective of this research was to use citizen science sourced data to study the anthropogenic and natural causes of mortality and injury to sea turtles in the Egyptian Red Sea. Our results suggest that anthropogenic factors were responsible for the majority of sea turtle mortality and injuries. Fishing was believed to be the major source of mortality, while boat strikes were the major source of injuries in live turtles and the second cause of mortality. Sea turtles near the largest city in our study, Hurghada, had higher boat strike rates, suggesting a coastal urbanization effect. There is intentional hunting and carapace scute harvesting of the hawksbill turtle, in the vicinity of the largest city. Hawksbill turtles appear more vulnerable to coastal urbanization than green turtles, but both species are threatened with anthropogenic effects, especially during the nesting season. No turtles were observed at fish restaurants after 2015, showing the effectiveness of law enforcement and public awareness campaigns. This study represents the first assessment of mortality and injury patterns in sea turtles in the Egyptian Red Sea and provides a baseline to assess future changes in the intensity of anthropogenic disturbances.

First Page

313

Last Page

324

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