Evidence of loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta, Linnaeus, 1758) injuries caused by Rapido (beam) trawling in the Mediterranean

The loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta, Linnaeus, 1758) is the most abundant sea turtle species in the Mediterranean Sea, where commercial fishing appears to be the main driver of mortality. The North Adriatic Sea (central Mediterranean) is a major feeding habitat for turtles in the demersal stage. Its shallow and flat seabed is ideal for bottom-towed gears, making interactions with sea turtles and incidental catches unavoidable. We provide evidence of the impact of Rapido trawls (a type of beam trawl) on sea turtles through the analysis of the distinctive injuries sustained by four turtles.