Bright nights and dynamic seascape features drive leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) interactions in an Australian pelagic longline fishery

Lisa A. Walton; Zachary A. Siders; David S. Schoeman; Kylie L. Scales

doi:10.1016/j.pocean.2026.103740

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Bright nights and dynamic seascape features drive leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) interactions in an Australian pelagic longline fishery

Lisa A. Walton, Zachary A. Siders, David S. Schoeman and Kylie L. Scales

Progress in Oceanography, Vol.245, pp.1-13

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2026.103740

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Abstract

Bluelink ReANalysis

Bycatch risk

East Australian Current

Ensemble random forest

Leatherback turtle

Longline fishery

Lunar illumination

Marine wildlife bycatch is a persistent and pervasive issue limiting sustainable fisheries management. Key gaps in knowledge include the spatio-temporal dynamics of where fisheries and marine wildlife overlap, and what drives interactions between them. The Critically Endangered Western Pacific subpopulation of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) migrate and forage along the east coast of Australia, where they interact with a pelagic longline fishery. This region is characterised by a western boundary current system with a highly dynamic seascape, yet little is known about how leatherback turtles use this pelagic habitat or the drivers of fisheries interaction risk. Here, we use Ensemble Random Forests to examine the influence of surface and subsurface conditions derived from outputs of an openly available data-assimilative ocean model, season, and lunar illumination, on fisheries interactions with leatherback turtles. We found the highest risk areas for leatherback interactions were also the most oceanographically dynamic. Persistent links between leatherback turtle interactions and dynamic ocean features, particularly those associated with the East Australian Current, are explored. We hypothesise that turtles are likely using these features to forage and conserve thermal energy. The risk of interaction also increased during brighter periods of the lunar cycle; a finding likely driven by foraging ecology. These findings provide new information of value to industry and managers and a foundation for testing the utility of data-assimilative ocean models as the basis of decision-support tools for bycatch avoidance.

Details

Title: Bright nights and dynamic seascape features drive leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) interactions in an Australian pelagic longline fishery
Authors: Lisa A. Walton (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Zachary A. Siders - University of Florida
David S. Schoeman - University of the Sunshine Coast
Kylie L. Scales - University of the Sunshine Coast
Publication details: Progress in Oceanography, Vol.245, pp.1-13
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Date published: 2026
DOI: 10.1016/j.pocean.2026.103740
ISSN: 1873-4472
Data Availability: The data that has been used is confidential.
Grants: Sustainable fisheries in dynamic seascapes: understanding the physical drivers of fisheries bycatch of marine megafauna, DE210100367, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991226815302621
Output Type: Journal article

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