along current boundaries, frequently with the sargassum weedlines 

 (Carr 1986a) . Consequently, many turtles are dying from either 

 ingesting this material (choking, starvation, toxicity) or by 

 becoming entangled (drowning, starvation) according to an 

 extensive survey by Balazs (1985) . Balazs (1985) documented that 

 green turtles ( Chelonia mydas ) were the most commonly found dead 

 turtle species, followed by the loggerhead (Caretta caretta) , 

 leatherback ( Dermochelys coriacea ) , hawksbill ( Eretmochelys 

 imbricata ) . and Kemp's ridley ( Lepidochelys kempi ) . With the 

 exception of the leatherbacks, most of the mortalities were small 

 turtles. The problem of possible mass mortalities of hatchlings 

 and juveniles from oil spills collecting in the weedlines 

 (Critchley 1987) and of large migratory leatherbacks from 

 ingesting plastics (Anon 1983) is quite real. Also, the long 

 term, less dramatic effects of petroleum toxicity need to be 

 addressed. 



Research is needed in the surface habitat to (1) assess the 

 degree of habitat degradation and (2) identify and quantify 

 associated sea turtle mortality through extensive at-sea surveys 

 and through extensive necropsies of stranded specimens. 

 Conducting the required research, unfortunately, is often very 

 expensive and often unproductive due to the large expanses of 

 oceanic environment. Consequently, few researchers in the 

 Caribbean are willing to attempt such long-term projects, and 

 resource managers will undoubtedly continue to rely on intuitive 

 guesses. 



Benthic Habitat 



Considerable documentation of coastal benthic habitat 

 degradation throughout the WATS area has been made, and to repeat 

 it here is not necessary. This habitat degradation is caused by 

 a wide variety of factors ranging from commercial and 

 recreational fishing activities, and dredging, to industrial and 

 agricultural run-off. As previously stated, various seagrass 

 beds and hard bottom areas are important developmental habitats 

 for juveniles as well as subadults and adults. The actual 

 impacts of habitat destruction on these turtles is very difficult 

 to assess. The fate of these animals is not as readily apparent 

 as those carcasses that wash up on the beach full of plastic bags 

 and covered with oil. When deprived of their foraging habitat, 

 do sea turtles slowly starve, or do they find suitable 

 alternative areas elsewhere? Will this change eventually alter 

 their migratory patterns and subsequent reproductive success? 



Each WATS country must take inventory of all benthic 

 habitats utilized by sea turtles and attempt to assess the 

 impacts of severe habitat destruction on those turtles. For 

 example, in the United States, we need to know what the impacts 

 of possible severe habitat destruction from commercial fishing 

 (trawling) and agricultural and industrial pollution are on: (1) 



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