Status of Marine Turtles in British Columbia Waters: A Reassessment

Authors

  • Donald F. McAlpine New Brunswick Museum, 277 Douglas Avenue, Saint John, New Brunswick E2K 1E5
  • Stan A. Orchard Royal British Columbia Museum, 675 Belleville Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 9W2
  • Kelly A. Sendall Royal British Columbia Museum, 675 Belleville Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 9W2
  • Rod Palm Strawberry Isle Research Society, Box 213, Tofino, British Columbia V0R 2Z0

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v118i1.885

Keywords:

Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas, Leatherback Turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, British Columbia, status

Abstract

Marine turtles in British Columbia have previously been considered off course stragglers. Here we document 20 new reports for Green Turtles, Chelonia mydas, and Leatherback Turtles, Dermochelys coriacea, for the province. Until recently there had been no concerted effort to acquire data on marine turtle abundance or frequency off British Columbia. Observations presented here allow a reassessment of marine turtle status in British Columbia waters. We suggest Green Turtles and Leatherbacks should be considered rare vagrants and uncommon seasonal residents, respectively, off British Columbia and that they are a natural part of the British Columbia marine environment.

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Issue

Vol. 118 No. 1 (2004)

Section

Articles

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