Seaturtles nesting at Melbourne beach,Florida, II. Post-nesting movements of Caretta caretta

Recaptures of 34 loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta tagged at Melbourne Beach, Florida, indicate post-nesting dispersal to widely distributed foraging grounds in the Bahamas, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, along the eastern seaboard of the United States, in the Florida Keys, and in the Gulf of Mexico. The most distant recovery was made 1500 km from Melbourne Beach in the Dominican Republic. Three turtles were captured in the Port Canaveral Ship Channel, which was recently discovered to be a hibernation site for Caretta. Travel against the Gulf Stream current is suggested by the recapture of a loggerhead on the north coast of Pinar del Río, Cuba, 11 days after it was tagged at Melbourne Beach. A minimum speed of travel of 70 km day^?1 is indicated by this return, which constitutes the most rapid migratory speed reported for Caretta. At least 14 of the 34 turtles were captured in nets intended for other marine species.