351 loggerhead turtles have reportedly died on a coastline in north-west Mexico. While the cause of the deaths is as of yet undetermined, they have occurred in the same area where the deaths of 137 sealions were reported earlier in the month. The bodies of the animals were found over a coastline stretching 120 km.
A number of theories have been put forward as to what was behind the deaths, including pollution, hunger and disease, although the prime theory at the moment is that line fishing is responsible for the deaths. In many cases, animals can become caught in the lines or ingest them, leading to terrible injuries. It is also not 100% certain that whatever affected the animals took place in Mexico as sea lions are known to move from as far north as Canada to as far south as Mexico; the loggerhead turtles likewise have large areas over which they migrate.
The Mexican Centre for Environmental Law and the Centre for Biological Diversity has stated that these deaths should result in the government putting in place a nationwide ban on both line and net fishing in order to protect the local wildlife.
The deaths are, unfortunately, not particularly unusual. In 2019, 331 loggerhead turtles were found dead in the region and in 2018, that number was 459.
Mario Sánchez of the centre for environmental law said of the deaths:
"We are concerned that the deaths of loggerhead turtles is getting worse in the Gulf of Ulloa and that environmental authorities have still not enforced the applicable regulations."
Loggerhead turtles are found worldwide in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and are regarded by conservationists as being 'vulnerable'. These huge animals can weigh as much as 400kgs when fully mature. They live in salt-water and have a diet mostly made up of jellyfish, crustaceans, sea urchins and plants. Born alone on beaches, they weigh as little as 18grams at the time of their birth and must make a dash into the sea after hatching to start their lives. Most do not make it to adulthood as they are snapped up by predators, but those that do can be expected to live for as long as 70 years.
Due to their protected status, the killing of loggerheads and trade in their body parts and meat is strictly prohibited in most countries, sadly, there does remain a thriving black-market in the creatures.
[h/t: Truth Theory]
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