This dataset contains tracking durations for several species of sea turtles tagged with satellite tags between 2008 and 2019. It contains information on species, turtle size, capture methods, tag type, how many days each tag transmitted, whether or not the tag was still attached upon recapture, fouling 'status' of the tag, and foraging region. This dataset thus allows estimation of tracking durations for four species of marine turtles tagged in different study sites in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.

This data contains one comma-delimited file with data collected from dive-logging satellite tags placed on loggerhead sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico. Specifically, the file contains the turtle's platform transmitter terminal (PTT; satellite tag) number, the date and time (in UTC) of the dive data collected, the behavioral mode of the turtle on that date, and the dive data values. These values are identified by the column "bin_type_num" which includes the type of bin and what level, as well as "value", which includes either the number or percent of dives.

This dataset includes details of loggerhead and green turtles captured and satellite tagged between 2009 and 2021; the turtles presented here have tracking days within Biscayne National Park. A subset of turtles was captured within Biscayne National Park, whereas others were tracked to the study site, and tagged elsewhere. The dataset contains information related to satellite tracking (e.g., tracking period), biology (e.g., sex, species), and animal behavioral mode determined from a switching state-space model (SSM). The SSM had a time step of 24 h (1 point per day), accounted for location error, and estimated movement parameters jointly across individuals to enhance behavioral mode estimation. Each SSM location was categorized into a behavioral mode based on the behavioral state estimation produced by the SSM, either: “area-restricted searching" behavior ("foraging") or “transiting” behavior ("migration").

This dataset contains cumulative threat data for several species of male sea turtles tagged with satellite tags between 2009 and 2020. It contains information on species, capture date, days during tracking spent in marine protected areas, shipping lanes, near the coast, near oil rigs, and within known fishing operations. This dataset thus allows estimation of threat levels from these anthropogenic pressures for sea turtles tagged in different study sites in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.

A masters level student at Texas A&M University at Galveston [TAMUG] worked for the Galveston Lab and applied satellite tags to nesting turtles. When the student finished their work and moved on, TAMUG took over the satellite nestiing project, but as a condition of the USFWS permit was TAMUG had to bring the turtle back to the NOAA Galveston Laboratory for satellite tagging so the Galveston Lab continued to document information even though they were not the ones physically collecting that information. Later turtles were documented that were moved off the beach for satellite tagging, even if they didn't receive a satellite tag. In addition the Galveston Lab continued to document each time a satellite turtle was seen, even if it was not satellite tagged.

Sea turtles captured in various fishing gear (pound nets, long haul seines, gill nets) were outfitted with satellite transmitters so that their movements, migratory pathways and foraging behavior could be tracked. Despite their greater expense, satellite transmitters enable the researcher to determine long-range movements of sea turtles in comparison to acoustic and radio transmitters which delineate fine scale movements and habitat preferences. Furthermore, satellite transmitters have the capability of measuring and recording water temperature along with dive depth and duration of each tagged sea turtle. Finally, time spent on the surface can be measured and recorded.

This dataset contains all input parameters required to perform integrated step selection analysis (iSSA) to quantify marine turtle habitat selection relative to marine protected areas throughout coastal Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. The iSSA is a flexible approach to compare the environmental attributes of observed steps (the linear segment connecting two consecutive observed positions of an animal) against a group of alternative steps taken from the same starting location. Information contained in the dataset includes original PIT (passively induced transponder, a unique identifier for each turtle), step ID, step length and log of the step length, turning angle and cosine of turning angle, start and end date time of each step, protected status of location of each step ID (unprotected, multi-use or no-take, water depth (in meters), and chlorophyll concentration (in mg/m3).

Tagging information, including migration and foraging behavioral data, for female reproductive loggerhead marine turtles (Caretta caretta) that were satellite tagged at nesting beaches at Gulf Shores (Alabama [AL]), Dry Tortugas National Park (DRTO, Florida [FL]), and Everglades National Park (ENP, FL) from 2011–2019. Variables include the tagging date, tagging site, the curved carapace length-notch (CCL-n, cm), the size category (≤ 87 cm CCL-n or > 87 cm CCL-n), and the first and last date of satellite tracking. Migration and foraging behavioral data include the first and last migration dates, the number (no) of days in migration mode, the length (distance) of the migration path distance (km), the mean depth along the migration path (m), the total number of days the turtle exhibited a stopover during migration, the first and last foraging dates, the no of days in foraging mode, the depth at the foraging centroid (m), the distance to shore from the foraging centroid (km), and the total number of days the turtle exhibited a migration foray during foraging.

Species identification, morphometrics, tagging information, hooking locations, and gear and interaction characteristics are recorded by fisheries observers and NMFS researchers during incidental encounters with sea turtles. Pelagic longline, shark bottom longline, and driftnet observer data relating to the incidental capture of sea turtles during fishing activity are used in bycatch reports, sea turtle life history research, bycatch mitigation research, and for management purposes.

This long-standing marine turtle tagging program monitors numbers of nesting green turtles on John Wayne Beach on the west coast of Barrow Island. New and remigrant nesting turtles are tagged and data (carapace measurements, egg counts etc) are collected. Data are sent to DEC's Science Division in Woodvale. DEC Pilbara Region produces basic summary reports to meet DEC Animal Ethics Committee requirements. These are held at the DEC office in Karratha.