Sept. 18, 1999
Richard Polatty

SEA TURTLES DYING OFF THE COAST OF ECUADOR

Since late July, at least 754 sea turtles have washed up dead on the coasts of Ecuadorian Provinces of Guayas and Manabí. One key point where the deaths have been recorded are the areas near Isla de La Plata where the turtles nest. Many have been found dead near the nesting areas. Ecuador's National Institute of Fisheries has found 355 dead turtles in the villages of Engabao and Playa Pelao. Also, 219 turtles were found near San Vicente and Canoa. Fundación Natura has counted 180 dead near Engabao, Playa Bruja, and Mantañita en the Guayas.

The turtles have mainly been Olive Ridley Turtles. They are considered a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and are among the smallest of sea turtles, weighing as much as 99 pounds with olive-shaped shells 24 to 30 inches long. Ecuador's National Institute of Fisheries (INP) has rejected the idea that fisherman are to blame. There is no evidence of mistreatment. The turtles usually wash up in an advanced stage of decomposition. Lowered ocean temperatures are now being thought as the most likely cause.

Ocean temperatures that should be around 72 degrees Fahrenheit have dipped 6 to 8 degrees lower than normal, said Franklin Ormaza, director of IMP. ``There's a direct relation between the water temperature and the death toll,'' he said. ``It weakens the turtles' immune systems, making them vulnerable to viruses.'' Scientists said they do not know if diseases carried by the turtles could be passed to humans, and have urged coastal residents not to eat the creatures. Live but sick turtles are being sought for bacteriological study.

The PMRC (Program for Management of Coastal Resources) believes that ingestion of the "jaiba mora" (a type of crustacean)  is responsible. In the 1982 El Niño the jaiba was found in the stomachs of turtles as it is now. Possibly it could be a combination of post Niño stress, colder than normal water and resulting thermal stress, and ingestion of the crustaceans. For now, the main hope is to study live specimens to at least determine if it is viral or bacterial.

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