Green Turtle Strandings on Hawaii Island (1983-2022)

We present the first comprehensive analyses of long-term stranding data from Hawai‘i Island. Hawai‘i Island merits scientific scrutiny because of the island’s large size (over half of total land area for the State), southernmost location in the archipelago, lowest human population density, and important turtle foraging and resting areas—recently proposed as critical habitat. Strandings increased on Hawai‘i Island between 1983 and 2022. The most common known cause of stranding was hook-and-line fishing gear (21.4%). The results provide information that can inform resource managers, policy makers, and the public about the various types and magnitudes of impacts, anthropogenic and natural, so that mitigation measures can be put into practice. Our findings allow for comparison with other green turtle populations worldwide. Contribution of fishing gear to strandings emphasizes the need for additional mitigation efforts: barbless hooks and effective line removal techniques.

Read the full article, published by Zoological Studies, here

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