Abstract
Factors affecting the number of loggerheads (Carew caretta) landing at the Tokushima coasts were examined from three viewpoints, namely, beach topography changes, annual fishery catch and sea surface temperature (SST). First, it was confirmed that the landing-number of loggerheads evidently decreased atter the construction of detached breakwaters at Gamouda beach. Secondly, it was found that annual fisheryc atches of shellfishes, which are principal foods of loggerheads, and those of seaweeds have positive correlations with the landing-number Subsequently, a multivariate regression model using the fishery catches as explanatory variables was developed. Thirdly, relation between SST in the Pacific Ocean Coast and the landing-number was examineda nd it was clarifiedt hat there is a negativec orrelationb etweent hem. In particular, the increase in SST measured during winter closely relates to the decrease of the landing-number.
