Understand, monitor, and reduce the impacts of marine debris on turtles by creating tools to facilitate collaboration within joint projects among stakeholders.
Millions of tons of waste are dumped into the oceans each year. Their impact on wildlife is significant, particularly on marine turtles, which tend to ingest debris or become entangled. French territories, which host globally important habitats, carry a high conservation responsibility. A survey conducted by GTMF experts in 2011 confirmed that all marine turtle species visiting French territories are affected: necropsies showed that 10–35% of observed turtles had ingested macro-debris, reaching 100% in Corsica by 2021. To support international negotiations on combating plastic pollution, it is urgent to collect as much information as possible on the observed impacts on marine turtles in French territories.
Objective 1: Structure monitoring networks for interactions with marine debris
- Characterize the 2021 monitoring network tracking the impact of debris on marine turtles in French territories
- Prepare a dynamic atlas of photos showing interactions between turtles and debris in French territories
Objective 2: Organize technical exchanges among stakeholders
- Facilitate and create tools for exchanges within the working group on interactions between turtles and marine debris
Objective 3: Unite stakeholders around joint projects
- Develop a national research and development project on interactions between turtles and marine debris in French territories
