IMIS - Marine Onderzoeksgroepen

Virtually nothing is known of the movements made by the many loggerhead juveniles that spend long periods of the year in the sea in front of the Tuscany coast, Northern Tyrrhenian Sea (central Mediterranean Sea). While it has been supposed that loggerheads frequent this area only during the warmest months and then undertake seasonal migrations towards southern (warmer) waters, the occurrence of such migrations have never been demonstrated. On the other hand, the fact that loggerheads are found in Tuscany waters throughout the year (winter months included) can indicate that the picture is more complex and variable than previously supposed. The aim is to localize the areas frequented by loggerheads in the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, to document the occurrence of seasonal migrations and/or to investigate the turtles' fidelity to specific feeding areas.