Movements of green turtles from foraging areas of the United Arab Emirates: regional habitat connectivity and use of marine protected areas

Abstract Adult sea turtles migrate between foraging areas and nesting sites that may be 100 s–1000 s of km away. Little is known the connectivity these in Arabian region for green turtles. We document linkages two United Arab Emirates (UAE) with key provide insights on effectiveness marine protected Tracking 45 adult Chelonia mydas from UAE, we show primary destination Bu Tinah UAE Ras al Hadd Oman. The use waters Iran Oman during breeding migrations generally stay ~ 20 off coast, 10–20 m deep except when crossing Sea Turtles display substantial fidelity to original sites, often traversing other returning migration. A small proportion also utilise more than one site. Our data indicate Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve Abu Dhabi broadly coincident offering protection fishery activities area Al Khaimah would effective protecting if it extended offshore along coast. These contribute targeted national international management conservation initiatives region.