Frick, M., A. Panagopoulou, A. Rees and K. Williams (eds). 2006. Book of Abstracts - 26th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation EXTENDED ABSTRACT SEA TURTLES IN ALBANIA: RESULTS OF A RAPID ASSESSMENT OF POSSIBLE FORAGING AND OVER-WINTERING HABITATS (OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2005).
Michael White1, Vassilis Kouroutos2, Adonis Plytas2, Arian Gace3, Andrian Vaso4, Sajmir Beqiraj5, and Idriz Haxhiu6 1 University College Cork, Ireland 2 MEDASSET 3 GEF Small Grants Programme 4 Freelance Consultant,Albania 5 University of Tirana, Albania 6 Natural History Museum, Tirana, Albania
Tagging and morphometric data from turtles captured in ‘stavnike’ (fish-traps) over three years suggested that many loggerheads were present in Albanian sea areas. Under the MEDASSET Marine Turtle Conservation programme in the Mediterranean region, the entire coastline of Albania was rapidly assessed by boat over a three-week period to determine if sea turtles were using inshore waters. Data concerning sea turtles were collected in three ways: 1) interviews with fishermen 2) direct observations at sea 3) underwater habitat surveys (SCUBA). Findings were included in a GIS database. Fishermen, using different types of gear, provided details of their by-catch, sightings and most recent encounters with turtles. By-catch data showed a marked difference in the number of turtles captured annually between the north and south of Albania. Typical catches per fisher per year were 2-6 turtles south of Dürres, and 100-250 turtles in the north. Most were loggerheads, but occasionally green turtles were caught. Juveniles were mainly captured in shallow waters <10m (trawls, nets, long-lines, and stavnike) during April-May, which suggests that an important foraging habitat for juvenile loggerheads may exist in northern Albania Adults (including animals with metal tags, or Roto-tags) were mostly trawled in deeper waters >30m during the summer, with peak captures in October-November each year. The presence of tagged animals in the by-catch suggests that migrating turtles, perhaps post-nesting, may use local waters. Large turtles were also reported from the deep waters west of Karaburuni Peninsula, which again suggests a migratory route along the Albanian coast. At-sea observations, including underwater habitat surveys, focused upon areas where local fishermen encountered or captured the most turtles. GPS was used to record the location of megafauna encountered at sea. A new method was used for underwater research. A 100-metre transect line was deployed underwater, so that the number of turtles encountered during SCUBA dives could be used to provide a population estimate (Distance 6 software).
Frick, M., A. Panagopoulou, A. Rees and K. Williams (eds). 2006. Book of Abstracts - 26th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation Underwater visibility at some dive sites was zero, usually because of clay substratum or high levels of mud flowing from the rivers and lagoons. Only two transects had good visibility (one over sand, the other over seagrass on gravel), but no turtles were encountered. SSTs were 1922(ºC); minimum water temperature was 18(ºC) at a depth of 30m. An important new finding was that loggerheads were reported from shallow lagoons (e.g. Butrintit and Patok), which it seems they entered during the summer, probably to feed, but were then trapped inside when the sluice gates from the sea were closed. In each case turtles were encountered in channels attempting to leave the lagoons; following a decrease in water temperatures (i.e. involuntary over-wintering). Visit the technical report for bibliography and further information:
WHITE, M., I. HAXHIU, V. KOUROUTOS, A. GACE, A. VASO, S. BEQIRAJ, A. PLYTAS & Z. DEDEJ. 2006. Rapid Assessment survey of important marine turtle and monk seal habitats in the coastal area of Albania. Joint project of (in alphabetical order): the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grant Programme (GEF/SGP); MEDASSET; Ministry of Environment, Forest and Water Administration, Nature Protection Policy, Tirana, Albania; Natural History Museum, Tirana, Albania; UNEP/MAP Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA); University of Tirana. 93pp. At: http://www.medasset.org/PDF/albanian_report/Albanian_report.pdf