BB29 - Loggerhead turtle abundance at sea (MT2)
| Field | Description | Validated Entry |
|---|---|---|
| [ProgrammeName] | Name of monitoring programme. | BB29 - Loggerhead turtle abundance at sea (MT2) |
| [ProgrammeDescription] | Description of the monitoring programme. | The MT2 indicator aims to monitor the abundance of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) at sea in OSPAR Region V, focusing primarily on the Macaronesian subregion, including the Azores. These areas provide critical habitats for juvenile loggerheads, which originate predominantly from the Northwest Atlantic rookeries and remain in these waters for feeding and developmental stages. The primary objective of the monitoring programme is to detect spatial and temporal trends in the relative abundance of loggerhead turtles, contributing to the evaluation of Good Environmental Status under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and other international conservation frameworks. The indicator supports the assessment of whether population abundance is maintained at levels that ensure long-term viability and informs management actions if adverse trends are detected. Monitoring efforts focus on the key life stages when loggerheads use OSPAR coastal habitats. Given that nesting does not occur in the region, the programme relies on at-sea observations rather than nesting counts. Data are primarily collected through dedicated line-transect surveys using shipboard and aerial platforms, following standardized methodologies such as distance sampling. These surveys are designed to capture seasonal variability and long-term trends in loggerhead presence. Coordination among the three Macaronesian archipelagos—Azores, Madeira, and Canary Islands—is promoted through EU-funded initiatives like the MISTIC SEAS projects, which aim to harmonize marine biodiversity monitoring across the subregion. The latest assessments (e.g. MISTIC SEAS II) have produced abundance estimates using shipboard survey data, applying robust modeling techniques to inform regional assessments. While the MT2 indicator currently does not explicitly link abundance trends to anthropogenic pressures, future developments may integrate additional data sources to support cause-effect analyses. |
| [OtherPoliciesConventions] | Monitoring for other Union legislation or international agreements that contributes to the programme. | OSP-CEMP |
| [Contracting Parties monitoring] | Which other countries are involved in practical implementation of this monitoring programme. | PT |
| [Contracting Parties implementing] | Indicate the degree of cooperation among countries within the same (sub)region for this monitoring programme | Coordinated data collection |
| [Contracting Parties supplying data] | ||
| [Contracting Parties with an "opt out"] | ||
| [TemporalScope] | Start (and end) date of the programme. | 2001-9999 |
| [SpatialScope] | Spatial coverage of the programme according to the jurisdictional zones of marine waters. | Coastal waters (WFD) |
| [Aggregation of Data] | At which scale can the data from the sub-programme be aggregated for environmental assessments? |
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| [MarineReportingUnit] | Area(s) where the programme takes place. |
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| [RegionalAssessmentArea] | Area of the marine region or subregion where the assessment was originally undertaken and for which the assessment results have been used to apply to the national MRU. | |
[MonitoringPurpose] | Purpose of the programme aimed at collecting data and information. | Environmental State and Impacts |
| [MonitoringType] | Type of monitoring (in-situ, remote sensing, etc.). | |
| [Indicator Metric] | Feature(s) monitored (ecosystem components, pressures, activities). | RepTurtles |
| [Element] | Element(s) monitored (e.g. species, habitats, contaminants). | Caretta caretta |
| [ElementMonitored] | ||
| [Parameter Measured] | Parameter(s) monitored. | ABU |
| [MonitoringMethod] | Guidelines/protocols describing the method for monitoring. | OTH |
| [MonitoringMethodOther] | Guidelines/protocols describing the method for monitoring. | https://www.ospar.org/documents?v=63712 |
| [Quality Assurance Procedures in Place] | In addition to a specified method, is there any additional Quality Assurance used? | National, other |
| [QualityControl] | What type of Quality Control is used? | Quality assurance of the data is maintained following protocols for data collection, validation and analysis. |
| [MonitoringFrequency] | Frequency of the monitoring. |
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| [RelatedIndicator] | Indicator(s) to which the programme contributes. | MT2 |
| [DataAccess] | Link to where monitoring data can be accessed (Art. 19(3)). |
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| [Data Custodian] | OSPAR | |
| [Assessment Guidelines] | https://www.ospar.org/documents?v=63712 | |
| [Assessment tools available] | ||
| [Nature of data] | Product |