Sailors and scientists in Mexico investigate the causes behind the death in recent years of Hundreds of loggerhead turtlesa species vulnerable that lives in the waters of the Ocean Peacefulofficial spokesmen reported.
The Secretariat of Marine He carried out a meeting in August expedition on the ship Arm. Sayulita to study the habitat of this turtle in it Gulf of Ulloa (state of Baja California Sur), after which different hypotheses are considered.
It was the first of three excursions with which the Mexican government seeks Reversing a negative certification imposed by US authorities, who consider that the country is not making a sufficient effort to protect the specieswhich would be affected, among other things, by the fishing illegal.
“We are going to focus all our efforts, using historical data (…), on answering whether the temperature (of the sea) has increased to affect the turtle, whether its food source has decreased or increased,” Diego Lopez, an oceanographic researcher at the Navy, told AFP.
“It’s a joint multidisciplinary effort for precisely Identify the causes of mortality“said Agnese Mancini, research coordinator for the NGO Grupo Tortuguero de las Californias.
Also known as yellow turtle (Caretta caretta), this animal performs one of the migrations transoceanic largest for any marine vertebrateas it travels from its nesting area in Japan to the Mexican coast, according to Sea Shepherda Conservation NGO who participated in the investigations.
However, between 2018 and 2020 It was reported that Death of between 500 and 1,000 individuals per year in Mexicoaccording to that same organization.
The authorities Mexicans They have pointed out that behind the mortality could be diverse causes like the fishing incidentalthe age, diseases, predation natural either conditions environmental adverse.
In addition to the research cruise, the Marine He pointed out that he has intensified its operations to combat illegal fishing in it Gulf from Ulloa.
In a report to the US Congress, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office (NOAA) said Mexico has not adequately implemented regulations to restrict the use of fishing equipment and monitor turtle deaths.
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The Certification negative implies restrictions for Mexican vessels in US ports and possible impacts on fishing trade between the two countries, partners along with Canada in the USMCA.