Green turtle satellite telemetry: identifying spatial movements, residency patterns, and habitat associations in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

Sea turtle conservation relies largely on the identification of ecologically significant marine areas. Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) are resident in Aotearoa New Zealand waters, yet much of their spatial ecology remains undefined. To address this, satellite telemetry was used to map juvenile and sub-adult green sea turtle spatial movements, residency patterns, and habitat associations. Our findings provide the first evidence of individual fine-scale habitat use and long-term residency in New Zealand waters. Data will contribute to regional and global efforts to identify ecologically significant sea turtle habitat, including Important Marine Turtle Areas (IMTAs) and Blue Corridors for Turtles (BC4T), and help advance conservation efforts.