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Home , Ascension Island, Bermuda, Montserrat

Marine turtlemanagementandlegislation guide totheUKOverseasTerritoriesandMEAs Overseas Territoryparticipationintheseagreementsissummarisedhere.Youcandownloadacomplete Territories andworkswiththeirgovernmentstodecidewhichMEAstheywouldlikecommitto.TheUK depend. TheForeignandCommonwealthOffi ce isresponsiblefortheexternal affairsoftheUKOverseas to helpensurethesurvivalofendangeredspeciesliketurtlesandmarineenvironmentonwhichthey There arevariousMulti-lateralEnvironmentalAgreements(MEAs)whichprovideimportantframeworks between OctoberandMayinclusive contemporary legislation.Currentlyanyturtleweighingmorethan20lbs(9.07kg)canbecaught the TurtlesOrdinanceof1951,althoughFisheriesDepartmentisinprocessdraftingmore at muchreducedlevelscomparedtohistoricalharvests.’sturtleharvestisregulatedby The currentmarineturtlefi shery inMontserrattakesmainlygreenandhawksbillturtles,apparently scene, Brendan Godley/MTRG• Greenturtleandjellyfi sh, DougPerrine/seapics.com •Turtletrack, BrendanGodley/MTRG Juvenile green turtleoverseagrass, PeterRichardson/MCS •Fisheriesoffi cer withhawksbill , ofMontserrat• Front cover images: Email: [email protected] http://www.montserratnationaltrust.com/ Montserrat National Trust http://www.gov.ms/ministries/agriculture.htm Headquarters, BradesTel:1-664-491-2546 E-mail:[email protected] Montserrat Fisheries Department, About marine turtlesandtheirconservation: About marineturtlesinthe UKOverseasTerritories: About theTUKOTproject: Other sourcesofinformation: www.unfccc.int CLIMATE CHANGE(KYOTOPROTOCOL) THE UNFRAMEWORKCONVENTION ON www.seaturtle.org/iac PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OFSEA THE INTERAMERICANCONVENTION www.ramsar.org ESPECIALLY AS WATERFOWL HABITAT OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE THE RAMSARCONVENTION http://www.cep.unep.org/law/cartnut.php CARIBBEAN REGION MARINE ENVIRONMENT OF THE WIDER THE OF DEVELOPMENT PROTECTION AND THE CARTAGENACONVENTION www.ukcites.gov.uk www.cites.org SPECIES CONVENTION ONTRADEINENDANGERED www.cms.int/ WILD ANIMALS CONVENTION ONMIGRATORYSPECIESOF whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm HERITAGE THE WORLDCULTURAL AND NATURAL CONCERNING THEPROTECTIONOF WORLD HERITAGECONVENTION www.biodiv.org CONVENTION ONBIODIVERSITY www.unece.org/env/pp JUSTICE INENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS IN DECISIONMAKING AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION, PUBLICPARTICIPATION AARHUS CONVENTION KEY N/A not applytothisOverseasTerritory) Not Applicable(Thisagreementdoes Signed up

(SPAWPROTOCOL) ON ACCESS TO ON ACCESS ON WETLANDS PO Box393Olveston Montserrat,Tel:1-664-491-3086 www.seaturtle.org/mtrg/projects/tukot Signed up Not FOR THE FOR THE Ministry ofAgriculture, P.O.Box292,Government

www.mcsuk.org www.seaturtle.org/mtrg/projects/tukot/MEA_Guide.pdf N/A N/A ASCENSION N/A N/A N/A N/A

and BRITISH INDIAN www.seaturtle.org/mtrg/projects/tcot/ OCEAN TERRITORY www.seaturtle.org/MTN BRITISH

CAYMAN ISLANDS N/A N/A

MONTSERRAT N/A N/A N/A N/A ST HELENA

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS GOVERNMENT OF MONTSERRAT Montserrat marine turtlesof TURTLES INTHE TUKOT UK OVERSEAS TERRITORIES

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0 1 2m Threats to marine St Johns turtles St Peter’s Over-exploitation For centuries marine turtles, their eggs and meat were an important source of protein for fi shing communities. Bethal Hawksbill turtle nesting Salem In addition, the shell of marine turtles, in particular that of the hawksbill turtle (also known as tortoiseshell), was made into jewellery and sold to tourists. Many marine turtle populations around the world have been decimated as a result of decades of over-harvest. Plymouth (abandoned) Incidental capture Marine turtles are often accidentally caught in fi sheries targeting other species. Trawl nets and gill nets St Patrick’s entangle turtles and many drown before they can be released. Turtles are attracted to the baited long-line hooks set on the high seas for and swordfi sh and KEY end up hooked or entangled in the lines themselves. It Passage TURTLE NESTING is estimated that more than 250,000 turtles are caught Hawksbill turtle hatchlings in long-line fi sheries operating around the globe each year. Although the turtle fi shery in Montserrat is now very much reduced, at sea, Montserrat’s turtles are exposed Marine Turtles of to all the pressures of large scale fi sheries. Montserrat Habitat loss Loss of habitat, often associated with tourist or industrial developments is a major problem for both nesting and The people of Montserrat have had an enduring foraging turtles. Foraging grounds, especially coral relationship with marine turtles. Turtles have served as reefs and seagrass beds, are degraded by declining a food item and and have added to the diversity of water quality, boat anchorage, and destructive fi shing this unique island. Marine turtles migrate vast distances practices. In Montserrat, although has been between their breeding grounds and feeding areas reduced as a result of the recent volcanic crisis, beach and visit the waters of many different countries on mining for sand and rocks as part of the reconstruction their travels. Montserrat’s turtles are therefore a has reduced the quality of some nesting . On shared resource and their conservation depends on the other hand, nesting has been observed on new international cooperation. beaches that formed as a result of volcanic activity and although resultant success is as yet unassessed, Turtle nesting in Montserrat these may offer useful nesting habitat. Research has shown that few nests are now laid on the island in comparison with past numbers. Green Climate change and hawksbill turtles nest annually in Montserrat, but Montserrat is no stranger to turbulent weather and JJuvenileuvenile ggreenreen tturtleurtle in critically low numbers and urgent conservation Montserratians have survived hurricanes in the action is needed to ensure the survival of the nesting past. Global climate change is set to create huge populations. The Montserrat Fisheries Department is environmental challenges for people, but is also monitoring turtle nesting around the island, so please considered a massive potential threat to turtles. Sea pass on any information about nests. Their contact level rise, increased temperatures and increased details are listed on the back of this leafl et. storminess may seriously impact nesting and foraging sites. Turtles in Montserrat’s waters Predation At some sites around Montserrat you may occasionally At all stages of their life cycle marine turtles are see young green and hawksbill turtles popping their predated upon by other animals including crabs, heads above water to breathe. These juveniles are like night herons, feral animals, and other mostly unrelated to the nesting turtles. They come to large fi sh. In some cases predator numbers can be Montserrat to feed on the reefs and seagrass beds. unnaturally high. If large numbers of nests are being Once they reach a certain size they will leave and destroyed, there is no recruitment to the population travel to distant foraging sites before returning to the and this can have devastating effects on marine beaches where they hatched to breed. Loggerhead turtle numbers. In Montserrat, feral pigs have become turtles are also occasionally spotted in Montserrat’s a proven problem to marine turtles, with nests being waters. exposed and eggs consumed.

A green turtle fi tted Images: Images: with a satellite tag Hawksbill turtle nesting at Woodlands beach, Tony Glaser • Hawksbill hatchlings, Peter Turtle eggs, Montserrat Department of Fisheries • Entangled green turtle, Doug Perrine/Seapics. Richardson/MCS • Juvenile green turtle, Doug Perrine/Seapics.com • Satellite tag attachment in com • Digger, Corinne Martin • , Brendan Godley/MTRG • Beach , Corinne Montserrat, Brendan Godley/MTRG Martin • Night heron, Juliet Savage The turtle’s tale A marine turtle’s life is an epic journey. Throughout their long lives they roam the world’s oceans, facing many threats at 6 every stage. This is the turtle’s tale.

1 Mike Daines • Leatherback turtle World travellers Upon reaching adulthood, males and females migrate thousands of

Green turtles • Doug Perrine/Seapics.com kilometres between their adult feeding The mating game and breeding grounds. Covering Until they become adults at about these vast distances takes a lot out of 25 years old, male and female turtles the turtles and so they don’t usually look very similar. When males reach undertake their migration every maturity they develop a long tail, season. Leatherback turtles however used to deposit sperm during mating. are the ultimate ocean wanderers Courtship and mating take place in the and continually roam the high seas. water near the nesting beach and can last for several hours. 4 5 2

3 Doug Perrine • Peter Richardson Peter Richardson/MCS • • Hawksbill turtle Juvenile hawksbill turtle

Nesting green turtle The lost years Back in the shallows The big night There are many predators in coastal In all species other than the Female turtles come ashore at night waters including sharks and other large leatherback, juveniles migrate back to lay their eggs on the same beach Green turtle hatchlings • Peter Richardson/MCS fi sh. Once in the water, hatchlings to coastal waters after several years on which they were born. They are Happy birthday hatchlings instinctively paddle against the waves, when they are about the size of a vulnerable on land and are scared by About 6-10 weeks later the eggs swimming non-stop, straight out to the dinner plate. They then adopt specifi c lights and movement on the beach. If begin to hatch. Digging out of safer open ocean for about 24 hours. feeding grounds such as coral reefs undisturbed, the female carefully digs the nest is a team effort and the This is known as the “juvenile frenzy”. and seagrass beds. In these nursery a nest up to 1 metre deep in the sand hatchlings emerge from the nest as a It’s unclear how hatchlings survive in areas, young turtles from distant at the back of the beach. She lays group in the cool of the night. They their fi rst “lost years”, but hatchlings of nesting sites live together. They tend to about 100 soft, white eggs. Females make a dash for the sea, fi nding their some species have been found in mats spend long periods at a single site, but nest several times in a season, laying way by heading for the lightest and of seaweed fl oating far out in open will typically use several foraging sites hundreds of eggs. lowest natural horizon, the sea. ocean currents. before they reach adulthood. Background image: Juvenile loggerhead turtle • Doug Perrine/ Seapics.com Marine turtles in the UK and the UK Overseas Territories Although small in land , the UK Overseas Territories host extremely The juvenile turtles foraging in the waters around the Overseas high levels of biodiversity, in total far more than Great Britain and Territories are usually unrelated to the nesting adults. The map below Northern . Many islands are tropical and subtropical and host shows which species are found in each of the Territories where turtles important habitats for marine turtle nesting and foraging. occur and whether they are nesting adults or foraging juveniles.

1 2 3 BERMUDA 4 There are small There are small Bermuda’s green Adult foraging nesting populations nesting populations turtle nesting leatherback turtles of green, hawksbill of leatherback, population is now visit UK waters every and possibly hawksbill and green extinct and only very summer. Juvenile loggerhead turtles. turtles. The islands rare loggerhead loggerhead, Kemp’s The islands are a are a signifi cant nests are laid. ridley, green and signifi cant foraging foraging site for Bermuda remains a hawksbill turtles site for juvenile juvenile green and signifi cant foraging are occasionally green and hawksbill hawksbill turtles. site for green and recorded. turtles. hawksbill turtles.

12 5 GIBRALTAR There are small As a result of its green and location, the waters loggerhead nesting of Gibraltar are an populations. The important pathway islands are a for immature foraging site for loggerhead and juvenile green and adult leatherback hawksbill turtles. turtles into and out of the Mediterranean.

11 ANGUILLA 6 BIOT There are small Early indications are nesting populations that the British Indian of green, Ocean Territory hosts leatherback and signifi cant nesting hawksbill turtles. The and foraging green island is a signifi cant and hawksbill turtle foraging site for populations. juvenile green and hawksbill turtles.

10 MONTSERRAT 9 PITCAIRN ISLANDS 8 7 ST HELENA There are small There is a small Ascension island has St Helena now has green and hawksbill population of green the second largest very little sandy turtle nesting turtles nesting on nesting population coastline, and rare populations and the these remote and of green turtles in green turtle nests island is a foraging isolated islands. Most the are occasionally site for juvenile nesting occurs on (4,000 females/ recorded. Mating green and hawksbill Henderson Island, year), and a small green turtles and turtles. which is a World foraging population juvenile hawksbills Heritage Site. of juvenile hawksbills. are a regular sight in St Helena’s waters.

Images: 1. Measuring a green turtle (Peter Richardson/MCS), 2. Staff and leatherback turtle (CFD), 3. Child with hawksbill -Bermuda (Bermuda Aquarium), 7. Mating green turtles (Doug Perrine/Seapics.com) 8. Children observing research (Brendan Godley), 9. Nesting green turtle (Peter Richardson), 10. JJ with green 4. Leatherback turtle (Mike Daines), 5. Loggerhead turtle (Graeme Cresswell), 6. Juvenile hawksbill turtle - (Brendan Godley) turtle hatchling (Brendan Godley), 11. Green turtle (Sue Ranger), 12. Satellite tagged loggerhead turtle (Janice Blumenthal)