FASCINATING FACT

Sea turtles in the UK

Six of the seven species of sea turtle found on planet Earth have been recorded in UK waters. The only turtle not to have been officially recorded in the UK is the Australian flatback sea turtle (Natator depressus). This species has the smallest geographic range of any marine turtle and rarely leaves the shallow waters of the Australian continental shelf. The most turtle to join the list of UK visitors is the Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). An individual from this species (which is found most commonly in the Gulf of Mexico) washed up in Anglesey in 2016.

Other species of sea turtles are far more frequent visitors. Some argue that leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) should be considered one of the UK’s migratory species, as they visit British waters to hunt for jellyfish. Although they are most seen in late summer and early autumn, they can be spotted year-round. There are around 15 sightings of these animals in the UK each year and that number is increasing. Leatherbacks are far more tolerant of colder temperatures than other sea turtle species and can be found across all but the most northern and southern oceans. Weighing in at almost one ton, only the largest leatherbacks migrate to the UK. Only the animals with the highest body mass can withstand the cooler temperatures of British waters. Around 84% of sea turtle sightings in the UK are leatherbacks and 12% are loggerheads (Caretta caretta). Sightings of both species are becoming more common each year. The remaining hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), green (Chelonia mydas) and Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) are likely to visit UK waters by accident, however, all species are listed under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, awarding them additional protection as a British species.