Can social media platforms play a role in sea turtle conservation efforts in Libya in times of war and political/economic instability?

Jamila Rizgalla

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5699-5321

Department of Aquaculture, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, LIBYA

Abstract

Despite the fact that Libya’s beaches are considered to be some of the main nesting areas in the Mediterranean Sea of the loggerhead sea turtle, reports on sea turtle stranding in Libyan waters are scarce. Social media platforms offer a cost-effective, alternative resource that can be used to obtain otherwise lost or unavailable information. In the present study, social media platforms were used to assess sea turtles in Libyan waters between 2010-2020. Images (n=177) shared on social media included sea turtle (live and deceased), stranding, nesting activity and egg poaching. From 159 sea turtle related posted at various conditions, 132 were found stranded, of which 34.84 % were related to fishing activity, while, for 53.7% of the cases, it was not possible to determine the cause of stranding. Furthermore, a citizen science network was used to monitor three remote nesting beaches in the centre of Libya between 18 May-3 July 2020, recording 34 nests. The usefulness of social media as a resource for assessing sea turtles stranding and nesting activity along Libyan remote beaches, especially in times of war and political instability, has been demonstrated.

Keywords: Citizen science, Gulf of Sidra, monitoring, loggerhead sea turtle, green sea turtle, leatherback sea turtle

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