The leatherback sea turtle, the largest of the five species in the northern Gulf of Mexico, is notable for its size, with a shell length of 6-7 feet and weight between 800-1000 pounds. These turtles, which are occasionally seen by fishermen and divers, have been observed nesting in the area. They feed primarily on jellyfish, even following them close to shore.
Dr. Christopher Sasso of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration led a recent tagging project to study these turtles. The team used a satellite tag to track the turtles, leveraging the fact that leatherbacks must surface to breathe and are often found near the surface. The tagging process was complex, requiring a spotter aircraft, a chase boat, and a large net. After capture, the turtles were measured, blood samples were taken, and a PIT tag was inserted before attaching the satellite tag.
From 2015 to 2019, 19 leatherbacks were tagged in the northern Gulf, including 17 females and 2 males. The data from these tags showed that the turtles’ behavior alternated between foraging (feeding on jellyfish) and transiting (direct swimming). Most turtles foraged in the Gulf until fall, then moved south along the Florida shelf towards the Keys.