Strandings of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles along the eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey

Data on strandings of dead loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) turtles were collected from the eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey during the nesting seasons between 2002 and 2009. A total of 276 strandings were recorded (142 C. caretta and 128 C. mydas). The curved carapace length (CCL) of C. caretta ranged from 12.6-85 cm (mean 63.50 +/- 1.06 cm). The CCL of C. mydas ranged from 20-93 cm with a mean of 40.97 +/- 1.41 cm. 2.4% and 31.7% of the loggerheads were oceanic stage small juveniles (<= 30 cm CCL) and adults (>= 70 cm CCL), respectively. Of the green turtles, 33.3% (<= 31.5 cm CCL) and 4.6% (>= 85 cm CCL) were small juveniles and adults, respectively. The source populations of these turtles could become identified with genetic mixed stock analysis.