Gulf of Mexico offshore sea turtle capture/release record and morphometric data from June 1, 2015 to July 26, 2017

Sea turtles are long-lived, highly migratory species that undergo ontogenetic habitat shifts during different stages of their lives. Little is known about sea turtles during their first years at sea, from the time hatchlings leave nesting beaches through their early years as oceanic juveniles, and the period they transition back to coastal habitats. Oceanic juvenile turtles were captured by dip-net from a boat in blue-water habitats within 80 miles of launch locations in Venice, Louisiana and Cortez, Florida. Morphometric data was recorded for each turtle captured and an internal and satellite tag was applied. Environmental conditions at each capture site when later combined with satellite imagery and oceanographic models, will be used to characterize the oceanographic conditions/features encountered by oceanic stage turtles, and satellite telemetry will identify fine-scale habitat selection, dispersal and migration routes.