Sea Turtles.

Post by **Cranfield** » May 29th, 2006, 12:30 pm

I know the threat to sea turtles as eggs and youngsters and the threat to adults from pollution, enviromental changes etc., but is there a predator who eats adult sea turtles ?

The websites I have looked at give great detail about the other threats, but don't mention adult predation.

This has arisen from a conversation with one of my brothers grandchildren.
I was showing her some pictures from a previous US visit and there were some of sea turtles I had photographed when offshore fishing.
I could answer most of her questions, but not that one.

Post by **Tom Keels** » May 29th, 2006, 12:49 pm

PREDATORS:
The only natural predators of adult green sea turtles are tiger sharks. Hatchlings may fall prey to fish, crabs, birds, or perhaps cats or dogs. Of course, humans are the main non-natural predator of sea turtles, killing them for their eggs, meat, oil, and shell. Because sea turtles are slow-growing and reproduce at such a high age, many populations were decimated to the point of near-extinction.

From...
http://www.pacificwhale.org/childrens/fsgreensea.html

Post by **mjsigns** » May 29th, 2006, 1:27 pm

Hey Cran-

I still see one now and again while on the flats behind Dog Island. They see curious about my acitvities....

Post by **Fisherman989** » May 29th, 2006, 2:48 pm

I saw one today, May29th on the flats between St Marks and Aucilla. Usually see one this time of year in the same area every time I go. I think Tom is right about the preditors...Tiger Sharks prey on them.
NOAA missed it again today on the weather. Forcast 5-10 MPH wind. Closer to 15-20 till around noon.

Post by **Cranfield** » May 29th, 2006, 4:44 pm

Thanks Tom, I should have realised that the answer would be on a website entitled, http://www.pacificwhale and not http://www.seaturtle.

We were fishing The Ledge, about 50 miles off St Augustine on the East side, one year and saw a sea turtle that had to have been almost 4ft long.
It was quite a "sporty" day and the old chap (or chapess) was paddling away and going nowhere.

They lead a strange and romantic life, a bit like albatrosses.

Post by **rocket** » May 29th, 2006, 5:10 pm

I saw one last weekend at in between Shell Point, and Panacea.

Post by **birddog** » May 29th, 2006, 6:19 pm

If you like sea turtles St. Joe Bay is the place. There were hundreds cruising the Bay this weekend.

Rich_Lather · Post by **Rich_Lather** » May 29th, 2006, 6:45 pm

Sea turtle seem to get more numerous in June July and August. I believe they eat jellyfish, so more jellyfish probably=more turtles.

Post by **rocket** » May 29th, 2006, 7:55 pm

Rich_Lather wrote:Sea turtle seem to get more numerous in June July and August. I believe they eat jellyfish, so more jellyfish probably=more turtles.

I love anything that eats jellyfish!