In the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico faced significant challenges, impacting their populations across all life stages. Recently, a comprehensive project aimed at better understanding and addressing the repercussions for sea turtles has concluded, providing valuable insights for restoration activities.

The initiative, approved as part of the Deepwater Horizon Open Ocean Trustees' second restoration plan, focused on identifying factors contributing to sea turtle bycatch in the Gulf of Mexico's reef fish bottom longline fishery.

Results from the project, which analyzed observer data collected from 2006 to 2021, are now available. Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), a species listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the most frequently encountered in Alabama's waters, were identified as the primary species observed as bycatch in this fishery.

Factors contributing to unintentional bycatch included various gear components, fishing depth, time, number of hooks per line and length of fishing time with gear. The project's analysis also considered environmental factors such as sea surface temperature and lunar phase.

While the project did not yield immediate solutions to reduce sea turtle bycatch in the reef fish fishery, it identified areas for additional research or data collection to enhance understanding. The findings confirmed previous research indicating that gear depth and season, particularly during the summer months, play significant roles in sea turtle interactions. June, in particular, saw an increased likelihood of sea turtle bycatch.

Further data on bait type and the duration of time a longline is in the water could prove instrumental in informing future restoration actions. The complete data analysis, methods and results are accessible through the published Technical Memo on the NOAA Institutional Repository located at repository.library.noaa.gov.

This study contributes to ongoing efforts to protect and restore sea turtle populations affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.