Possible link between derelict fishing gear and sea turtle strandings in coastal areas

Abstract

Ghost fishing via a derelict fishing gear (DFG) is a critical threat to marine organisms. To explore the effect of DFG on sea turtle strandings, the DFG distribution was compared at two sites on Jeju Island (South Korea) with a contrasting number of strandings. Coastal areas in northern Jeju Island were surveyed during dives with scuba equipment, and the DFG from two sites, Gwideok-ri and Sinchang-ri was collected and compared in terms of quantity and size of the items. Fishing line was more common, longer, and thicker in Gwideok-ri than in Sinchang-ri, while other types of DFG did not differ between the two sites. In addition, necropsies on two loggerhead sea turtles discovered on Jeju Island found fishing lines with fishing hooks in the oral cavity of both carcasses. This suggests that derelict recreational fishing lines may pose a significant threat to sea turtles in coastal areas.