turtles are incidentally taken by the U.S. pelagic longline fisheries in the western North Atlantic 

 and in the Pacific when they are hooked and/or become entangled with the mainline or buoy line. 

 Traps, commonly used to capture crabs, lobster and reef fish result in incidental takes of 

 loggerhead turtles when they become entangled in the trap lines and drown. The impact of this 

 gear on loggerhead turtle populations has not been quantified. 



Marine debris: Loggerhead turtles eat a wide variety of marine debris such as plastic bags, 

 plastic and Styrofoam pieces, tar balls, balloons and plastic pellets. Effects of consumption 

 include interference in metabolism or gut function, even at low levels of ingestion, as well as 

 absorption of toxic byproducts. Discarded monofilament fishing line and abandoned netting can 

 entangle turtles, causing injur>' and/or death. 



Marine pollution: Loggerhead turtles are at risk when encountering an oil spill. Respiration, 

 skin, blood chemistry and salt gland functions may be affected. Pesticides, heavy metals and 

 PCB's have been detected in turtles and eggs, but the effect is unknown. 



Dredging can result in habitat destruction by disrupting nesting or foraging grounds. Hopper 

 dredges can also kill turtles caught in dragheads. 



Directed, illegal harvesting of loggerhead turtles is uncommon in the U.S. 



In areas where recreational boating and ship traffic is intense, propeller and collision injuries are 

 common and likely play a significant role in hampering recover)'. 



Marina and dock construction result in a loss of loggerhead turtle foraging habitat. This 

 development also leads to increased boat traffic, increasing the risk of turtle/vessel collisions. 



Turtles have been caught in saltwater intake systems of coastal power plants. The mortality rate 

 of the turtles involved is estimated at 7%. 



Underwater explosions (e.g. gas and oil structure removal and testing using explosives) can kill 

 or injure turtles, and may destroy or damage habitat. 



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