Post-breeding dispersal of nesting marine turtles from the NEOM Islands, Saudi Arabia

Marine turtles, such as green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), face numerous threats across their habitats. While they nest in the Red Sea, limited knowledge exists about their inter-nesting habitats and post-breeding movements. The NEOM Islands support ~ 95% of all documented nesting in the northeastern Red Sea, are crucial for turtle conservation. This study tracked 17 turtles (11 hawksbills, six greens) using platform terminal transmitters during two nesting seasons on Shusha and Walah Islands. We identified inter-nesting areas, migratory pathways, and foraging grounds, with displacements to foraging areas ranging from 34.8 to 501.7 km. Six feeding grounds were identified, four within Saudi Arabia and two in Egyptian waters. Hawksbills used broader inter-nesting habitats, particularly reef systems, emphasizing the need for conservation strategies targeting both nesting beaches and adjacent reefs. Our findings highlight the shared migratory routes of NEOM turtles with other Red Sea rookeries and support the importance of NEOM's feeding and migration habitats for long-term conservation. The establishment of NEOM as a nature reserve will further enhance protection efforts for these species.