Gulf of Mexico Leatherbacks

Although the occurrence of leatherback sea turtles within the Gulf of Mexico is well-known, little information is available about migration and habitat use by the species within this region. A Wildlife Computers GPS satellite transmitter was attached to six foraging adult/sub-adult leatherbacks (149.75 +/- 2.22) approximately 20 miles off the Florida Panhandle during September 2015. Potential prey species observed during capture operations included moon jellies (Aurelia sp.), sea nettles (Chrysaora sp.) and pink meanies (Drymonema sp.). The turtles were located with the aid of an aircraft and were captured with a break-away hoop-net from a small vessel. Captured leatherbacks were lifted from the water in a large basket to facilitate tagging, carapace measurements, and tissue sampling. Satellite tags were attached via direct attachment with a tether to the pygal region. The buoyant tags are towed behind the turtle with transmissions occurring every other day when at the surface. Following release, the tagged turtles exhibited movements and dive behavior consistent with foraging within shelf waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico through the late summer. During the early fall, 2 of 6 leatherbacks exited the Gulf into the Caribbean Sea. This study provides the first movement and migration data for leatherbacks tagged while foraging in the Gulf of Mexico during late summer. This information has fundamental implications on interactions with commercial fisheries and other anthropogenic threats, such as oil spills.

Understand habitat use and movement of leatherbacks in the Gulf of Mexico

Northern Gulf of Mexico, Florida Panhandle