Consequences of the ingestion of fishing line by free-living sea turtles

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2022-12, Vol.185, p.114309, Article 114309
• Main Authors: Lima, Samara Rosolem, Barbosa, João Marcos da Silva, Saracchini, Paula Gabriella Veiga, Leite, Juliana da Silva, Ferreira, Ana Maria Reis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chelonia mydas; Eretmochelys imbricata; Injury; Intestinal tract; Irregular fishing line disposal
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114309

The objective of this study was to describe, in detail, the lesions and pathogenesis observed in free-living sea turtles that ingested fishing lines and to relate the physical characteristics of these lines with tissue damage. Thirty sea turtles were analyzed and eight of these had ingested fishing line. Three out of eight had severe macroscopic lesions, but all eight had microscopic lesions. Therefore, ingestion of fishing line by free-living sea turtles is frequent and always causes injury, with predominance of microscopic lesions, and characterized by decrease, degeneration, congestion, and hemorrhage of the villi. The ingested fishing lines can be long or short, and monofilament or multifilament. In the severe cases, the development of intestinal plication, twisting, intussusception, and fecalomas in different portions of the gastrointestinal tract can be observed, with the ingested fishing lines. In less severe cases, there were only small quantities of line fragments. The severity of injuries to the gastrointestinal tracts of sea turtles that ingested fishing lines was revealed in this study, which demonstrated that these injuries impair quality of life and can result in death. [Display omitted] •Thirty sea turtles were analyzed and eight of these ingested fishing line.•All turtles that ingested fishing line suffered microscopic injury.•The most relevant microscopic changes affected the mucosa.•Three turtles developed intestinal plication, torsion, intussusception and fecaloma.