Louise B. Brooks and Wallace J. Nichols. Community based monotoring of sea turtle populations in the Baja Califirnia, Mexico region: A report on the first year. In:
Long term, community-based monitoring of sea turtle population abundance and status was initiated at multiple sites in Baja California and Baja California Sur, Mexico. This report provides the first year of standardized data from sites on the Gulf of California and Pacific coasts. A total of 268 sea turtles were captured with a mean standard length (SCL) of 57.7 cm (± 10.8 SD range 36.2 cm to 90.2 cm). East Pacific green turtles (Chelonia mydas) were the most abundant species encountered, while hawksbill (Eretomochelys imbricata) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) turtles were also captured. Turtles were captured at all sites and in all months of the year. Effort per unit capture (EPUC) was 10 h/turtle (range 2 to 120 h/turtle). Data indicate a predominantly juvenile, year-round population at all sites, with Pacific sites possessing a higher abundance than Gulf of California sites. Long term monitoring is critical to assessing the viability of conservation efforts underway to recover populations of these endangered species.
