Analysis of Plastic Ingestion by Juvenile Loggerhead Sea Turtles ( Caretta caretta ) Stranded from Tenerife, Canary Islands

Marina Tortosa (), Juan Jesús Bellido and José Carlos Báez
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Marina Tortosa: Department of Animal Biology, University of Málaga, 29016 Málaga, Spain
Juan Jesús Bellido: Department of Animal Biology, University of Málaga, 29016 Málaga, Spain
José Carlos Báez: Oceanographic Center of Malaga, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (CSIC), 29640 Málaga, Spain

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 16, 1-15

Abstract: The exponential rise in plastic debris in oceans poses a severe threat to marine biodiversity, including loggerhead sea turtles ( Caretta caretta ) due to their widespread distribution and feeding habits. The present study aimed to assess plastic ingestion in juvenile loggerhead sea turtles stranded in Tenerife, Canary Islands. Among the 312 turtles admitted to the Wildlife Recovery Center “La Tahonilla” from July 2018 to November 2020, bycatch (20.8%) and entanglement (15.4%) were the primary admission causes, with significantly higher strandings in the island’s western region. Of these, 37 turtles (11.9%) had ingested plastic debris, totaling 546 pieces (average 14.59 ± 26.57 per turtle). Predominantly, filaments (44%), sheets (34%), and fragments (23%) were identified, with most being macroplastics (67%) in white or transparent colors. These findings, consistent with similar studies, underscore loggerhead sea turtles’ role as bioindicators of sea water pollution. They also highlight the urgent need for sustainable practices to mitigate plastic pollution in marine environments, preserve marine biodiversity, and achieve global sustainability goals.

Keywords: marine debris; plastic; Caretta caretta; pollution; Canary Islands; Northeast Atlantic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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