EnvironmentMexicoEndangered Speciesoaxaca

300 Endangered Sea Turtles Found Dead Off Mexican Coast

Authorities are also investigating the deaths of 113 sea turtles; they were found in the southern state of Chiapas earlier this month.
Jose Cortes
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The 300 olive ridley turtles died after getting trapped in a fishing net.
Stringer . / Reuters

SANTA MARIA COLOTEPEC, Mexico (Reuters) - About 300 endangered sea turtles were found dead off the southern coast of Mexico on Tuesday, trapped in fishing nets, shortly after more than 100 dead turtles were recovered.

Fishermen in the southern state of Oaxaca discovered the turtles in the seaside community of Barra de Colotepec, said Heliodoro Diaz, the coordinator of the state’s civil protection agency.

Images captured by a Reuters videographer showed dozens of dead turtles, many beginning to decompose, caught in what appeared to be a net.

The olive ridley turtles, which Mexican authorities say are at risk of extinction, measure about 29.5 inches in length and weigh some 99 pounds. From May to September, they descend on various Mexican states along the Pacific Ocean to lay their eggs.

Mexico, which is home to six of the world’s seven species of sea turtles, has a permanent program to protect the reptiles, including criminal penalties for those who kill them. The office of the federal attorney for environmental protection (PROFEPA) said it would investigate the case.

Earlier this month, authorities said they were investigating the deaths of 113 sea turtles at risk of extinction - 102 olive ridley turtles, six hawksbill, and five belonging to the green turtle species - in a sanctuary in the southern state of Chiapas.

Experts said asphyxiation, fish hooks or harmful algae could have killed the turtles, but the cause is still being investigated, PROFEPA said.

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Before You Go

Radical Sea Turtles
(01 of09)
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All images creative commons non commercial. www.ashmolephotography.com (credit:Ben Ashmole/500px)
(02 of09)
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Green sea turtle checking out what is going on (credit:Alessandro Cere/500px)
(03 of09)
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Stealth approach, controlled breathing and choosing the right moment! (credit:Alessandro Cere/500px)
(04 of09)
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Photo by: A. ShamandourThe green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), also known as the green turtle, black (sea) turtle, or Pacific green turtle, is a large sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in the genus Chelonia. Its range extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world, with two distinct populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.The common name comes from the usually green fat found beneath its carapace.This sea turtle's dorsoventrally flattened body is covered by a large, teardrop-shaped carapace; it has a pair of large, paddle-like flippers. It is usually lightly colored, although in the eastern Pacific populations parts of the carapace can be almost black. Unlike other members of its family, such as the hawksbill sea turtle, C. mydas is mostly herbivorous. The adults usually inhabit shallow lagoons, feeding mostly on various species of seagrasses.[6]Like other sea turtles, green sea turtles migrate long distances between feeding grounds and hatching beaches. Many islands worldwide are known as Turtle Island due to green sea turtles nesting on their beaches. Females crawl out on beaches, dig nests and lay eggs during the night. Later, hatchlings emerge and scramble into the water. Those that reach maturity may live to eighty years in the wild.C. mydas is listed as endangered by the IUCN and CITES and is protected from exploitation in most countries. It is illegal to collect, harm or kill them. In addition, many countries have laws and ordinances to protect nesting areas. However, turtles are still in danger due to human activity. In some countries, turtles and their eggs are hunted for food. Pollution indirectly harms turtles at both population and individual scales. Many turtles die caught in fishing nets. Also, real estate development often causes habitat loss by eliminating nesting beaches. (credit:A. Shamandour/500px)
(05 of09)
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All images creative commons non commercial. www.ashmolephotography.com (credit:Ben Ashmole/500px)
(06 of09)
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Tortue de mer - Barrière de corail - Australie - 2013 (credit:Mathieu Poirier/500px)
(07 of09)
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Ocean turtle and shark in Vienna "Haus des Meeres" (credit:Richard Aufreiter/500px)
(08 of09)
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Young sea turtle at the turtle farm. (credit:Jared Krueger/500px)
(09 of09)
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This turtle kept swimming next to us for over 15 min. (credit:Brigitte Aufreiter/500px)
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