MTN 103:7-11 First Confirmed Occurrence of Loggerhead Turtles in Peru

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Marine Turtle Newsletter 103:7-11, © 2004

First Confirmed Occurrence of Loggerhead Turtles in Peru
Joanna Alfaro-Shigueto1, Peter H. Dutton2, Jeffrey Mangel1,3 & Diana Vega1
1Asociacion Pro Delphinus, Octavio Bernal 572-5. Lima 11. Peru.( Email: joannaalfaro@viabcp.com)
2NOAA-Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA
92037. USA
3Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC 28512. USA
The loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, occurs globally in tropical and subtropical waters and in the East
Pacific ranges from Alaska to Chile (Carr 1952; Frazier 1981; Marquez 1990). Records from Pacificcoasts of the USA and Mexico are well documented (Cliffton et al. 1982; Frazier 1981; Marquez 1969;
Nichols et al. 2000, Seminoff et al. in press; Shaw 1947), however reports from Pacific coasts of Central
and South America are largely anecdotal. Although loggerheads are mentioned as 'common' in Panama(Cornelius 1982) and Colombia (Green & Ortiz 1982), these accounts are most likely erroneous due to
confusion caused by the usage of the spanish word "caguama", which in the Caribbean is the name forloggerheads, but in some Pacific countries is also the word used for sea turtles in general (Frazier 1985).
Little information is available on loggerheads along the Pacific coast from Costa Rica to Guatemala(Cornelius 1982). In the southeastern Pacific, documentation of loggerhead occurrence south ofColombia is scarce (Frazier 1981), with no reports of the species along the Ecuador mainland. Althoughseveral reports describe the presence of loggerheads in Peru (Aranda & Chandler 1989; Grimwood &Whitmore 1978 cited in Frazier 1981; Koepcke 1961) none of these accounts are substantiated, andmany are likely to have been misidentifications (Frazier 1985). As a result this species has not been
included among the species of sea turtles that are protected under recent national fisheries legislation in
Peru (D.S. No.026-2001-PE), despite being listed as "vulnerable" by an agricultural decree (DS No. 01399-AG). Frazier (1979; 1981) and Hays-Brown & Brown (1982) suggested that the species is likely tooccur along the South Peruvian coast since they were reported to be 'relatively common' in northern
Chile (Chandler 1991; Donoso-Barros 1966; see also Frazier & Salas 1984).
In 1993 we initiated annual surveys to estimate sea turtle bycatch mortality in artisanal fisheries along
the coast of central Peru. However, after monitoring for seven years we did not encounter any evidenceof loggerheads at Pucusana and Chimbote (Figure 1) (Alfaro-Shigueto et al. 2002). Recent confirmed
reports of loggerheads captured by longline vessels off northern Chile (Donoso et al. 2000) prompted us
to expand our study and focus attention on the artisanal fisheries operating in southern Peru as part of an
ongoing, region-wide program to evaluate incidental take of sea turtles in different fisheries (AlfaroShigueto et al. in press a & b; Pro Delphinus 2002). Here we report positive identification of loggerhead
turtles in waters off the coast of Peru that we have confirmed to date, as well as other evidence of thespecies' presence.

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Figure 1. Locations of 11 of the loggerheads captured at sea by artisanal fishing boats operating fromthe ports of Moro Sama and Ilo in southern Peru. The additional ports that were monitored are indicated.
The edge of the continental shelf is shown by the dotted lines.
From June 2001 to April 2003, we monitored the artisanal fisheries operating from eight ports along the
Peruvian coast, including Ilo and Morro Sama in the south (see map, Figure 1). With the help ofexperienced observers, who monitored ports for 20-22 days each month, we obtained information on thedate and location of capture, photographed captured turtles, measured and tagged turtles and collected
tissue samples for genetic analysis. In addition, carapaces were recovered from slaughtered animals
during our port surveys; despite being illegal, sea turtle bycatch is commonly used for humanconsumption (Alfaro-Shigueto & Van Waerebeek 2001).
To date we have confirmed a total of 25 loggerheads, including 23 recorded when they were captured atsea, and two that were identified from carapaces salvaged in Ilo and Moro Sama (Table 1). One of thesecarapaces was found during a reconnaissance visit to Moro Sama in December 2000 (Table 1). Species
were identified based upon distinguishing external morphology, including: carapace shape andcoloration, number of lateral scutes, position of first lateral with respect to the nuchal scute, and head
shape and size (Eckert et al. 1999; Wyneken 2001). Field identifications were later confirmed by

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photographs and/or carapaces salvaged from dead animals and the results of genetic analysis of
mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences (Dutton et al. 1996) (Table 1). Other species
were also found, including green turtles (Chelonia mydas), olive ridleys (Lepidochelys olivacea),
leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea), and hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata). All the loggerheads
were recorded at the two southernmost ports of Ilo (17°39'S, 71°21'W) and Morro Sama (17°59'S, 70°53'W) (Figure 1). The loggerheads were primarily caught in artisanal vessels using longlines that target
dolphin fish (Coryphaena hippurus), blue shark (Prionace glauca), mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus),
hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena), and thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus). Mean (± 1 standard
deviation) carapace measurements (n=15) were 54.3 ± 11.1 cm (range = 26.0 - 65.5cm) curved carapace
length (CCL notch-to-tip), and 53.3 ± 10.8 cm (range = 27.0 - 64.5cm) curved carapace width (CCW)(Table 1). Locations of capture sites ranged from 29 to 380 nautical miles from shore, which encompass
Peru's EEZ as well as international waters off southern Peru and northern Chile (Figure 1).
These are the first confirmed reports of loggerheads in Peruvian waters. In addition, a total of 63 otherloggerheads were recorded by fishermen during this same period. Although these additional
observations cannot be substantiated by photographs, genetic analysis, or other means, they were basedon identifications by onboard observers, trained to use sea turtle identification keys, and we believe
them to be largely accurate. In general, fishermen in Ilo and Moro Sama appeared to be familiar with theloggerhead, and told us they had seen them in the past, going back as long as they could remember.
These observations indicate possible widespread presence of loggerheads off southern Peru. It is
possible that loggerheads have been misidentified as green turtles or olive ridleys (Frazier pers. comm.),and therefore largely overlooked in the past by researchers. Preliminary results of genetic analysis fromthree of the specimens collected confirm them to be loggerheads originating from Australian nesting
stocks, and additional analysis to confirm species identification and stock origin of the other samples isunderway (Dutton et al. unpublished). Ongoing studies in Chile (see Donoso et al. 2000) and ourobservations suggest the foraging areas of loggerhead nesting stocks in the South Pacific extend into thewaters off southern Peru and northern Chile. The results also indicate that loggerheads may be morecommon in the Southeast Pacific than previously thought.

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Table 1. Confirmed records of loggerheads encountered in waters off the coast of Peru, showing port ofdeparture, date of capture, curved carapace length (CCL) and curved carapace width (CCW) andindicating whether specimens were identified by direct observation (Field ID), photograph, fromcollected carapace and/or by genetic analysis (mtDNA).
The results presented here suggest the need to revise national legislation to provide loggerheads thesame protection as other sea turtle species occurring in Peruvian waters and emphasize the need todevelop conservation measures at local, regional and international levels. Our ongoing research, which
includes genetic and telemetry studies and an international collaboration to evaluate fishery bycatch, will
provide further insights to the population status, life history and foraging ecology of loggerheads in theSoutheast Pacific.
Ackowledgements: We warmly thank the fishermen of the ports of Ilo and Morro Sama. Also biologist
Roger Ayerbe for his generous support during the project, and Robin LeRoux and Erin LaCasella forlaboratory assistance. We thank Jeffrey Seminoff, Jack Frazier and Nancy FitzSimmons for helpful
review of an earlier manuscript. Funding and logistical support was provided by the National Fish andWildlife Foundation, the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA-Fisheries Southwest Fisheries
Science Center), Columbus Zoo, Idea Wild, the Panaphil Foundation, el Instituto del Mar del Peru
(IMARPE) and el Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales (INRENA). Research was carried out inaccordance with national and international law under permits for sampling and CITES export
respectively 026-2002-INRENA-DGFFS-DCB 015-2002-INRENA-J-DGFFS-DCB and 01US844694/9.
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WAEREBEEK. 2002. Turtle mortality in fisheries off Peru. Proceedings of the Twentieth Annual
Symposium on Sea Turtles Biology and Conservation, Orlando, Florida. NOAA Technical
Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-477, pp. 86-88.
ALFARO-SHIGUETO J., J. ALAVA, D. MONTES, K. ONTON & M-F VAN BRESSEM. In press a.

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