Loggerhead turtle nests lag, green and leatherbacks are up

From an article by Margie Kacoha in the Palm Beach (FL) Daily News:

The number of sea turtle nests recorded during the 2007 nesting season mirrors a general long-term trend of up-and-down results, depending on the species.

Loggerhead nesting is declining, while green and leatherback turtles' nesting is increasing, according to the most recent statistics.

Nesting numbers compiled and released by Florida's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute show loggerhead nests have dropped by almost 50 percent from 1998 to 2007.

Over the past year, state, county and local numbers are likewise showing a decline in loggerhead nests.

At the same time, green and leatherback turtle nests generally showed increases during the past year for the entire state, Palm Beach County and on local beaches.

A report on KTVH (Little Rock, Arkansas) includes speculation on the population differences:

While the number of loggerhead nests has been shrinking, green and leatherback turtle nests are showing an increase, in many cases at the same beaches. There's no simple answer for this disparity, said Anne Meylan, who coordinates the statewide nesting beach survey program. Disease, oil spills, red tide and boat collisions kill many sea turtles, and beach development can disturb all wildlife, she said.

One factor that could be affecting loggerheads more than other sea turtles is shrimp boat nets and long-line fishing hooks. Loggerheads eat shrimp and other hard-shelled invertebrates, whereas other sea turtles do not.