very good report from THRAKINET ( in Greek) – I made a short summary below
Not one, not two but 15 dead loggerhead sea turtles (caretta-caretta) have been washed up at the beaches of Alexandroupoli, North-East Greece.
Most of the lifeless bodies had injuries likely to have been caused by fishemen’s nets.
Only the last 24 hours two dead turtles have been found in the regions of Appollonia and Evthomo.
Accoridng to the Major 15 turtles have been found dead since end of last April. He certifies as most common cause of death fishermen’s nets and boat propellers
The loggerhead is the world’s largest hard-shelled turtle and is found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans as well as the Mediterranean Sea.
Caretta-Caretta are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union for the Conservation of Naturea species under protection. In Greece caretta-caretta is being protected by ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protectioon Society of Greece. ARCHELON treats over 50 injured or sick turtles every year at the Rescue Centre at Glyfada (Athens).
Biggest Threats: fishermen nets, plastic gargabe, boat propellers, speedboats
Fishing gear is the biggest threat to loggerheads. They often become entangled in longlines or gillnets. They also become stuck in traps, pots, trawls, and dredges.[6] Caught in this unattended equipment, loggerheads risk serious injury or drowning. Turtle excluder devices for nets and other traps reduce the number being accidentally caught.
Nearly 24,000 metric tons of plastic is dumped into the ocean each year. Turtles ingest a wide array of this floating debris, including plastic bags, plastic sheets, plastic pellets, balloons and abandoned fishing line.[70] Loggerheads may mistake the floating plastic for jellyfish, a common food item. The ingested plastic causes numerous health concerns including: intestinal blockage, reduced nutrient absorption, suffocation, ulcerations, malnutrition or starvation. Ingested plastics release toxic compounds, including polychlorinated biphenyls, which may accumulate in internal tissues. Such toxins may lead to a thinning of eggshells, tissue damage or deviation from natural behaviors
