Satellite telemetry reveals: different behavioural patterns for three juvenile loggerhead turtles tagged at a foraging ground

in Albania.

Introduction The Albanian coast has received very little attention in the past regarding sea turtle populations. In the Balkans, sea turtle nesting is monitored in Greece, while foraging and overwintering habitats are monitored in Croatia and Slovenia. Turtles passing through Albania’s coastal and offshore waters when migrating between habitats in these three countries and their interaction with fishing activities have been poorly monitored until now. In order to investigate the migration and marine distribution of turtles found in Albanian waters, 3 loggerhead turtles (two males and one female) were fitted with transmitters during MEDASSET’s (Mediterranean Association to save the Sea Turtles) three-year study (2008-2010) of turtles captured as by-catch at an important foraging ground, Drini Bay, Northern Albania White et al. 2011). We aimed to determine their movements and habitat use by contrasting and comparing inter-annual movements and behavioural patterns hence identifying important marine habitats for juvenile loggerhead turtles.

Conclusion Loggerheads demonstrate seasonal’ migrations

between summer and winter coastal as well as site fidelity to Albanian coastal environments.

Juvenile turtle overwintering strategies have been proven to utilise the coastal environments of Croatia and Corfu.

Drini Bay is an important summer foraging ground for loggerheads; the benthos is rich in food resources (White et al. 2011).

Drini Bay inter-annual home range fidelity for (n=2) male juvenile turtles is within a 3 – 14 km area.

Male sea turtles may use Drini Bay as a developmental and foraging habitat, This has increased importance due to our presently limited understanding of the distribution and marine ecology of male sea turtles..

Proposals for Drini Bay to be recognised as a nationality and regionally important foraging and developmental habitat for sea turtles in the Mediterranean, and that these endangered species are fully protected under Albanian national law (White et al. 2010,2011).

Turtle Sex Release Location

Release date At large (d) No. locations Last location Distance travelled (km)

Displacement (km)

Shpresa Patok 12/09/2009 211 167 04/11/2010* 229 1

Guximtari Patok 12/09/2009 763 1233 15/10/2011 3854 _

Patoku Patok 12/09/2009 424 367 11/10/2010 1384 39

Acknowledgements: We acknowledge the use of the Maptool programme (www.seaturtle.org). Literature: Coyne MS, Godley BJ (2005) Satellite Tracking and Analysis Tool (STAT): an integrated system for archiving, analysing and mapping animal tracking data. MEPS 301:1-7; White M, Boura L, Venizelos L (2010) An overview of MEDASSET’s role in sea turtle research and conservation in Albania. Testudo 7(2): 43-54.; White M, Boura L, Venizelos L (2011) MEDASSET’s three year project: Monitoring and conservation of Important Sea Turtle Feeding Grounds in the Patok Area of Albania 2008-2010. Project Report.