National Action Plan for the Conservation of Marine Turtles along the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast

Marine turtles are highly migratory reptiles that utilize both terrestrial and aquatic environments during their life. As in other regions of the Mediterranean, marine turtles in Egypt are affected by numerous human activities, such as deterioration of critical habitats and migratory routes, incidental capture, boat strikes, pollution and intentional killings. In accordance with the commitment of Egypt to the conservation of marine turtles in its national waters, underlined in national legislation and by way of ratification of related international conventions, the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Marine Turtles (NAP) was developed and adopted with the support of UNEP-MAP Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas. The participatory approach was applied in the preparation of the NAP, carried out through the concentration meetings with stakeholders. The main goal of the NAP is to achieve favorable conservation status for marine turtle species and their habitats, and enhance their protection along the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast. This goal will be implemented through specific actions and sub-actions, including legislation, management, research, capacity building, and awareness and education

Estimación de la proporción de sexos de crías de tortugas marinas caguama, mediante la duración de incubación y temperatura de los nidos en las playas de Sirte (Libia)

Hatchling sex ratios in loggerhead marine turtles (Caretta caretta) were estimated on the beaches near Sirte (Libya), using two methods: incubation duration and nest mean temperature during the middle third of the incubation period. Electronic temperature/humidity loggers were deployed at a total of 13 selected nests at Al-Ghbeba, Al-Thalateen, west of Al- Thalateen, Shash and Al-Arbaeen. The incubation period ranged from 47 to 58 days and average temperature ranged from 29°C to 31.8°C. The maximum temperature during this period increased to between 0.6°C and 3.5°C, while the mean temperature also increased during the middle third of the incubation period compared with the first third and continued to increase during the last third. As expected, this study showed that the temperature in the nest decreased with increasing depth of the nest. The results showed a female-dominated sex ratio at 85.4% on the basis of incubation duration and 70.4% on the basis of mean temperature. These findings support the reported highly female-skewed sex ratios in the Mediterranean and elsewhere.Se ha efectuado una estimación de proporción de sexos en las crías de tortugas marinas caguama (Caretta caretta) en las playas cerca de Sirte (Libia) utilizando dos métodos: la duración de la incubación y la temperatura media del nido durante el segundo tercio del período de incubación. Se registraron electrónicamente los valores de temperatura/humedad en un total de 13 nidos seleccionados en Al-Ghbeba, Al-Thalateen, zona oeste de Al-Thalateen, Shash y Al-Arbaeen. El período de incubación varió desde 47 hasta 58 días y la temperatura media osciló desde 29 hasta 31.8°C. La temperatura máxima durante este período aumentó entre 0,6 y 3.5°C, mientras que la temperatura media también aumentó durante el segundo tercio del período de incubación en comparación con el primer tercio y siguió aumentando durante el último tercio. Como era de esperar, este estudio mostró que la temperatura en el nido disminuyó con el aumento de la profundidad de la jerarquía. Los resultados basados en la duración de la incubación mostraron una sex-ratio en favor de las hembras del 85.4%, mientras que este valor fue del 70.4% si los resultados se basaban en la temperatura media. Estos datos concuerdan con los estudios efectuados en el Mediterráneo y en otras zonas, en los que se aprecia una sex-ratio altamente sesgada en favor de las hembras

Toward a common approach for assessing the conservation status of marine turtle species within the European marine strategy framework directive

[EN] Environmental policies, including the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), generally rely on the measurement of indicators to assess the good environmental status (GES) and ensure the protection of marine ecosystems. However, depending on available scientific knowledge and monitoring programs in place, quantitative GES assessments are not always feasible. This is specifically the case for marine turtle species, which are listed under the Biodiversity Descriptor of the MSFD. Relying on an expert consultation, the goal of this study was to develop indicators and a common assessment approach to be employed by European Union Member States to evaluate the status of marine turtle populations in the frame of the MSFD. A dedicated international expert group was created to explore and test potential assessment approaches, in coherence with other environmental policies (i.e. Habitats Directive, OSPAR and Barcelona Conventions). Following a series of workshops, the group provided recommendations for the GES assessment of marine turtles. In particular, indicators and assessment methods were defined, setting a solid basis for future MSFD assessments. Although knowledge gaps remain, data requirements identified in this study will guide future data collection initiatives and inform monitoring programs implemented by EU Member States. Overall this study highlights the value of international collaboration for the conservation of vulnerable species, such as marine turtles.This study was funded by the French Ministry of Environment (MTES-MNHN Conventions n degrees 2102636187 (2019) and n degrees 2102994526 (2020)). DM acknowledges support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement n degrees 794938. The work of ADM was supported by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (H.F.R.I.) under the "First Call for H.F.R.I. Research Projects to support Faculty members and Researchers and the procurement of high-cost research equipment grant" (Project Number: 2340). FV was supported by the Investigator Programme of the Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT, CEECIND/03469/2017, CEECIND/03426/2020).Girard, F.; Girard, A.; Monsinjon, J.; Arcangeli, A.; Belda, E.; Cardona, L.; Casale, P.... (2022). Toward a common approach for assessing the conservation status of marine turtle species within the European marine strategy framework directive. Frontiers in Marine Science. 9:1-22. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.790733122

Nesting range expansion of loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean: phenology, spatial distribution and conservation implications.

Global warming is affecting habitat quality and availability on our planet and some species are predicted or are by now changing their distribution range. Here we show that loggerhead turtles have already started to expand their nesting range into the Western Mediterranean, which has until recently hosted only sporadic nests. We compiled information on nesting activity from beaches surrounding the Western Mediterranean and collected metadata on loggerhead turtle nests in Spain, France, Italy, and Tunisia between 2010 and 2020 to provide an exhaustive overview on the phenomenon of emerging new nest sites for loggerhead turtles. The number of recorded nests has increased drastically since 2013 from 1 to 3 nests/year to a record number of 84 registered in 2020. While this increase may partly be explained by grown awareness and reporting by citizens, there is no doubt of an upward trend in nesting activity. The nests are unevenly distributed over the study area with most nests occurring on the coasts of the warmer Tyrrhenian Sea. A hotspot analysis identified beaches in SW Italy, SE Sardinia, and NW Tunisia with statistically significant clustering of nests. Within these hotspots, three beaches in SW Italy and one in Tunisia had nests at least four out of the five last years. Nesting phenology corresponds to that of Eastern Mediterranean rookeries, and mean hatching success of naturally incubating, non-manipulated nests was 66 %, although there was variability across the region. Mean incubation durations also varied between countries indicating a diversity in inferred sex ratios, with sufficient female production to foster future colonisation of this region. Unfortunately, these beaches are already under high tourist pressure and subject to intense coastal development, imposing many threats to the females, eggs, and hatchlings. Thus, while this study reveals the unique opportunity to witness and study an ongoing new colonisation process in loggerhead turtles, it also calls for urgent proactive conservation actions to mitigate these threats and allow the turtles to establish new rookeries

Priorities for Mediterranean marine turtle conservation and management in the face of climate change

As climate-related impacts threaten marine biodiversity globally, it is important to adjust conservation efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change. Translating scientific knowledge into practical management, however, is often complicated due to resource, economic and policy constraints, generating a knowledge-action gap. To develop potential solutions for marine turtle conservation, we explored the perceptions of key actors across 18 countries in the Mediterranean. These actors evaluated their perceived relative importance of 19 adaptation and mitigation measures that could safeguard marine turtles from climate change. Of importance, despite differences in expertise, experience and focal country, the perceptions of researchers and management practitioners largely converged with respect to prioritizing adaptation and mitigation measures. Climate change was considered to have the greatest impacts on offspring sex ratios and suitable nesting sites. The most viable adaptation/mitigation measures were considered to be reducing other pressures that act in parallel to climate change. Ecological effectiveness represented a key determinant for implementing proposed measures, followed by practical applicability, financial cost, and societal cost. This convergence in opinions across actors likely reflects long-standing initiatives in the Mediterranean region towards supporting knowledge exchange in marine turtle conservation. Our results provide important guidance on how to prioritize measures that incorporate climate change in decision-making processes related to the current and future management and protection of marine turtles at the ocean-basin scale, and could be used to guide decisions in other regions globally. Importantly, this study demonstrates a successful example of how interactive processes can be used to fill the knowledge-action gap between research and management.This work was conducted under FutureMares EU project that received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 869300. The Mediterranean Marine Turtle Working Group was established in 2017 and is continuously supported by MedPAN and the National Marine Park of Zakynthos. The work of AC was supported by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (H.F.R.I.) under the “First Call for H.F.R.I. Research Projects to support Faculty members and Researchers and the procurement of high-cost research equipment grant” (Project Number: 2340).Peer reviewe

Loggerhead Turtle <i>Caretta caretta</i> nesting activity in Chebba (Centre Tunisia): Assessment, problems and recommendations

163-169As the presence of loggerhead turtle nests has occasionally been reported in Chebba (Tunisia), we carried out a survey in "Essir" and "Sidi Messaoud" beaches during summer 2013 to assess the actual state of the nesting population. We report ten nesting events by loggerhead sea turtles. In comparison to past records, this number is relatively high and suggests that Chebba may host a much higher nesting activity than previously thought and higher monitoring effort is recommended, especially in certain beaches. Results indicate that beaches monitored so far are suitable for development, resulting in high hatching and emergence success; incubation durations indicate that majority of hatchlings produced are males

Progress of work for monitoring marine turtles along the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast

Since 2016 steps towards the monitoring and conservation of marine turtles along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast were taken, to determine other possible nesting sites. A survey was implemented with the relevant stakeholders to identify possible nesting areas along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast from Port Said to El-Sallum. By the adoption of the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Marine Turtles in the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast, activities related to category (ii): management action, category (iii): research, and category (iv): capacity building were implemented. Monitoring and tagging programmes were established; protocols for sampling and genetic analyses were established, in addition to a survey of the relevant stakeholders. Training programmes were conducted at regional and national levels and then the national team was identified

Fishermen Interviews: A Cost-Effective Tool for Evaluating the Impact of Fisheries on Vulnerable Sea Turtles in Tunisia and Identifying Levers of Mitigation

Fisheries bycatch is considered one of the main threats to sea turtles. To provide an updated assessment of the bycatch impact on loggerhead turtles in Tunisia, 483 interviews were conducted with fishermen in 19 ports along the Gulfs of Gabes and Hammamet. The interview questions included data on vessel and fishing gear characteristics, monthly fishing effort, and monthly sea turtle bycatch of the last year. Results revealed that sea turtle bycatch per unit effort (BPUE) was the highest for ray nets (0.73 turtles/vessel/day, 95% CI [0.02–1.15]), followed by pelagic longlines (0.6 turtles/vessel/day, 95% CI [0–4.23]) and shark nets (0.4 turtles/vessel/day, 95% CI [0–2.12]). However, due to the trawlers’ high fishing effort, the cumulative impact of the trawl nets was the highest with an estimated number of 11,740 (95% CI [0–41,525.75]) turtles caught per year in Tunisia. Factors influencing the bycatch risk were gear characteristics (mesh size for nets, hook size for longlines, vertical opening for trawls), as well as season and location of operations. These factors will guide the research of mitigation solutions. The interviews with fishermen proved to be a cost-effective approach for the rapid assessment of sea turtle interactions with fisheries in the context of Tunisia