Issue Number 111 January 2006
Leatherback turtle fitted with harness, Tortuguero Beach, Costa Rica (Troëng et al. pp. 6-7). IN THIS ISSUE:
Editorial: Does the Mediterranean Green Turtle Exist?...... N. Mrosovsky Comment on the Guest Editorial by Paul J. Ferraro...... P.C.H. Pritchard Response to Comment by Peter C.H. Pritchard...... P.J. Ferraro
Articles: Report on Long-Term Transmitter Harness Retention by a Leatherback Turtle...... S.Troëng et al. Marine Turtles on the Southern Coast of Bioko Island (Gulf of Guinea, Africa), 2001-2005...... H. Rader et al. Incidental Capture of Marine Turtles in Marine Fisheries of Southern Spain...... J. C. Báez et al. First Evidence of Leatherback Movement from Africa to South America...... A. Billes et al.
Notes: Charybdis hellerii, a Non-indigenous Portunid Crab from the Gastrointestinal Contents of a Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempi) in Georgia, USA...... M. Frick & K. Williams An Update on Eritrea’s Marine Turtle Programme and First Record of Olive Ridley Turtle Nesting in the Red Sea...... N. Pilcher et al. Epibionts Associated with Chelonia mydas from Northern Brazil...... S. Pereira et al. Small Leatherback Found in Dominica...... R. Byrne & S.A. Eckert
MTSG Update Announcements News & Legal Briefs Recent Publications Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 1 ISSN 0839-7708 MTN Online - The Marine Turtle Newsletter is available at the MTN web site:
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Karen L. Eckert (Editor Emeritus) Roderic B. Mast WIDECAST, USA Conservation International, USA
George H. Balazs Nicolas J. Pilcher National Marine Fisheries Service, Hawaii, USA Marine Research Foundation, Malaysia
Lisa M. Campbell Manjula Tiwari Duke University Marine Lab, USA National Marine Fisheries Service, La Jolla, USA
Angela Formia Kartik Shanker University of Florence, Italy ATREE, Bangalore, India
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Marine© Turtle Marine Newsletter Turtle No. Newsletter 111, 2006 - Page 1 EDITORIAL: Does the Mediterranean Green Turtle Exist?
N. Mrosovsky Department of Zoology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G5 (E-mail:[email protected]) Problems in red listing of widespread species. Green turtles in the Mediterranean. When a widely distributed species is abundant and increasing in For sea turtles only one such subpopulation listing has been made some places but perilously depleted in other places, how should it so far, that for Mediterranean green turtles, listed as Critically be categorized on lists of threatened species? If weight is put on Endangered separately from other green turtles which were listed the depleted populations, and a high degree of threat is assigned to as Endangered (Baillie & Groombridge 1996; IUCN 2004). The the species as a whole, that may influence in inappropriate ways present article argues that this subpopulation listing is currently the regulations that are applied to the thriving populations. But inappropriate and not justified by IUCN’s own criteria. if more weight is put on the populations that are doing well, on The evidence from studies of DNA strongly suggests that there the logical grounds that they will be likely to prevent the species is genetic interchange between green turtles in the Mediterranean as a whole from going extinct, then it may affect the enthusiasm and those elsewhere in the Atlantic (Roberts et al. 2004). Male and attention devoted to conservation in areas where the species is mediated gene flow is thought to contribute importantly to this barely clinging on. interchange, on the basis of comparisons between mitochondrial The obvious solution is to list different populations separately, (mt) and nuclear (n) DNA (Roberts et al. 2004). rather than the species as a whole. At the 24th Turtle Symposium What this amounts to is that one must distinguish between in Costa Rica in 2004, the Red List Authority (RLA) of the IUCN green turtles in the Mediterranean -- a regional matter -- and the Marine Turtle Specialist Group (MTSG) spoke optimistically Mediterranean green turtle. The latter does not exist. The current about a regional approach. But IUCN either instructed or strongly evidence indicates that there is exchange of genetic material encouraged the MTSG first to make a listing for the species as a between turtles in the Mediterranean and those in other regions. whole. Therefore, green turtles in the Mediterranean should not be However, IUCN also allows listing below the species level. classified in the Red Lists as a separate subpopulation. Examples of subpopulations listed differently from the species as a whole occur with gray whales and Irrawaddy dolphins. The Three assumptions. Asian stock of gray whales is considered Critically Endangered In arriving at this conclusion, three assumptions have been made. (formerly Endangered), but the species as whole is put in a lower First, it is assumed that for determining whether individuals in risk category (Baillie & Groombridge 1996; IUCN 2004). Some a particular area constitute a genetically isolated subpopulation, subpopulations of Irrawaddy dolphins are listed as Critically the onus of proof is on those who propose this is so. The default Endangered, but the species as a whole is in the Data Deficient option, in the absence of data, must be that animals in that region category (Baillie & Groombridge 1996; IUCN 2004). are part of a larger population. Otherwise small numbers of But for listing a subpopulation separately, in a different category animals in marginal habitats at the edge of a species’ range could from that of the species globally, certain considerations should be designated as subpopulations and then, probably, given some be kept in mind. One must distinguish between regional listing threatened status. and subpopulation listing. Anyone can make a list of threatened Second, it is assumed that a combination of mt and nDNA animals in a particular region. They can use the IUCN regional provides a more complete and therefore better basis for criteria (IUCN 2003a), or some other criteria (e.g., De Iongh et understanding population structure than relying on mtDNA alone. al. 2003). But, although IUCN encourages regional listing, it The latter, being maternally inherited, limits its use to evaluating does not permit such listings to be part of its official Red Lists. To the population structure of females. Genetic interchange through exert quality control on such a potentially huge number of listings the males may be missed. To learn about genetic isolation/exchange appears to be beyond its resources. and about differences in life histories between males and females, In contrast, subpopulations may be part of the official IUCN Red data on both mt and nDNA are helpful, but for the purposes of Lists, provided that they meet the definition of a subpopulation: red listing subpopulations as defined by IUCN, the information on nDNA is the more important. And after all, it is the nDNA that Subpopulations are defined as geographically provides the principal coding for the proteins and the physiological or otherwise distinct groups in the population and behavioural phenotype of the animal. between which there is little demographic or Third, it is assumed that in the definition of subpopulation genetic exchange (typically one successful migrant given above, for slowly maturing species with a long generation individual or gamete per year or less). time, to base genetic isolation on one or fewer migrants or gamete (IUCN 2001) exchanges per year is inappropriate. Indeed one wonders whether those who drafted this section really meant gamete exchange per generation, rather than per year. Using generation times is one of
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 1 the few concessions the Red Lists allow for species differences. diverse populations in their various predicaments, subpopulation For an animal that may take two or more decades to mature, the or regional lists would at least allow people to focus in on specific opportunity for genetic interchange in a year is severely limited areas and problems. I hope IUCN and the MTSG will examine compared to that for a species that has one or more generations the views put down here, and the underlying assumptions. If they per year. Fortunately, the word typically in the definition of are found wanting, then the RLA should come up rapidly with subpopulation above allows room for flexibility and common documentation justifying and supporting a subpopulation listing for sense. Most accounts of differentiation of populations use gamete/ greens in the Mediterranean as Critically Endangered; this listing migrant exchange per generation. was first made in 1996. If, however, my points are considered sound, then I hope that, in the absence of any new data or insights Delisting is not the same as devaluing conservation. from studies of nDNA, subpopulation status will be withdrawn Recognizing that the evidence currently available does not warrant from green turtles in the Mediterranean, and that the MTSG will designating green turtles in the Mediterranean as a separate press ahead with regional or well-supported subpopulation listing subpopulation does not devalue conservation efforts undertaken of sea turtles. on behalf of turtles in that region. Those who treasure green turtles in the Mediterranean may decide to do everything they can to BAILLIE, J., AND GROOMBRIDGE, B. (Compilers and Editors) 1996. prevent them disappearing from that region. I hope they will meet 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland with success. and Cambridge, UK. DE IONGH, H.H., O.S. BÁNKI, W. BERGMANS & M.J. VAN DER Controversy and agreement. WERFF TEN BOSCH. 2003. The Harmonization of Red Lists for Red listing of widespread and slowly maturing species is not always threatened species in Europe. In: Proceedings of an International straightforward. For further reading on listing of green turtles, see Seminar 27 and 28 November 2002, The Netherlands Commission for Seminoff (2004a; 2004b) and Mrosovsky (2003; 2004). Although International Nature Protection, Mededelingen No. 38, Leiden. differences in outlook and disagreements on technical matters may IUCN. 2001. IUCN red list categories and criteria: version 3.1. IUCN sometimes seem salient, not too far in the background there is Species Survival Commission, Gland, Switzerland. 30 pp. agreement on some essential points: “the system often fails when IUCN. 2003a. Guidelines for application of IUCN Red List criteria at it comes to globally distributed species such as sea turtles”, and regional levels: Version 3.0. IUCN Species Survival Commission. IUCN, “the risk of extinction as indicated by Red List global assessments Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. ii + 26 pp. (e.g. Endangered, Critically Endangered) does not always reflect IUCN. 2003b. Guidelines for using the IUCN Red List categories and the actual risk of extinction in the wild” (Seminoff 2004b). The criteria.
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 2 Comment on the Guest Editorial By Paul J. Ferraro
Peter C.H. Pritchard Chelonian Research Institute, 401 South Central Avenue, Oviedo, FL 32765, USA (E-mail: [email protected])
Dr Ferraro’s editorial (Ferraro 2005) is important reading for anyone responsiveness of the target species, the personality of the conser- seeking to develop a workable theoretical unpinning for marine turtle vationist, the reasonableness of the suggested undertakings, and the conservation programmes, especially those involving interactions mindset of the key members of the target community. Is there good with local people. But I believe it is not just selection bias and the “chemistry” between teacher and pupil? Will benefits continue after Hawthorne effect that make this task difficult, or even impossible. the conservationist has departed? (Yes—sometimes. The island of My first observation would be that good science requires that Mussau, north of New Ireland, was visited by 7th Day Adventist Mis- experiments be undertaken with the use of a single variable param- sionaries in the 1930s, and everyone was converted to the faith. The eter, all others being kept constant. The results, positive or negative, rules of the Church forbid the eating of many forms of wild meat, can then be correlated with the variable parameter. Subsequently, including sea turtles, and when I visited in 1978, decades after the other parameters can be varied, one at a time, and further insight into missionaries had left, the ban remained absolute and the now very cause and effect may be gained. But this process takes time – time abundant sea turtles were still never eaten. Pritchard 1979). that may not be available if there is any kind of conservation emer- Another question: is the community able to organize in such gency to be overcome. The classic example is that of Kemp’s ridley. a way as to control those individuals who fail to respect a com- This species was so depleted that we of the Bi-national Team tried munity consensus, a public good, or will the Commons forever everything we could think of – protective legislation, beach patrols, remain a Tragedy? And – the key question – can one ever assume hatcheries, head-starting, TED usage, educational programmes, even that conservation gains will follow automatically if one provides use of helicopters to carry hatchlings over the huge Ixtoc oil spill. general community benefits or alternative protein programmes, or And it seems that this mix of activities generated the desired result does one have to “insist” on this, requiring that good outcomes be – the species is apparently recovering well, with over 10,000 nests demonstrable if largesse is to continue? Or will people do things in 2005. But such comprehensive conservation effort inevitably that they know will please you just out of decency, or because you results in bad science – we do not, on this evidence alone, know have been kind to them? which was the key factor in generating the observed outcome; and Community responses to conservation-inspired manipulations perhaps there was no key factor – all the different components may can be highly positive, or they may sometimes take us into the mine- have made their contribution. field of Unintended Consequences. An excellent positive response in Secondly, there is a very long delay between instigation of any Papua was actually reported in MTN 109 (Suganuma et al. 2005), marine turtle conservation effort (simple or complex) and detectable just three pages after the Ferraro editorial. This involved the people results on turtle populations, and even if good things happen, one of the Wau community on the north side of the Vogelkop Peninsula, cannot, in most cases, be certain that one caused them oneself (but who had traditional rights to Wermon Beach and its turtle resource. see below for an exceptional case). Moreover, good results may A number of members of the community habitually gathered turtle be masked by the, often massive, natural fluctuations in the usual, eggs for food. Four villagers were employed to generate data on measurable population indices such as numbers of female turtles nightly nest counts, and after a couple of months it was found that coming to nest each season. Thus, one has to proceed with com- egg collection had stopped completely (although about 15% of eggs monsense activities, reducing or eliminating whatever natural or were still predated by dogs and monitor lizards). The egg collectors man-induced sources of mortality one can, with no actual feedback had been exposed to a different ethic, and they responded positively; for many years before one has any clue as to whether one was doing or perhaps they just didn’t want to get into arguments. any good. Maria Teresa Koberg had a similar outcome at Playa Grande, Thirdly, it is the very nature of educational efforts that one’s Costa Rica, when she arranged for parties of boy and girl scouts to long-term results are hard to interpret. Children in school may gather around nesting turtles; the hueveros had the decency not to take their exams seriously, but then never give another thought to disgrace themselves before such an idealistic audience, and were the subject matter in later life. Or sometimes they do give many too lazy to dig the eggs out later after the turtles had covered them subsequent thoughts to their lessons, add their own concepts, and up and disguised the site. become contributors to the worlds of both ideas and action. The My own work in Suriname in the 1960s (Schulz 1975) included teacher faced with a brand new crop of first-graders every year will two seasons of purchasing olive ridley eggs (about 300,000 per do his best to teach them, but it is an act of faith, not an experiment season) from the local Carib people at a small arribada beach called with quick results. Other teachers in later grades will try their best, Eilanti. We hatched the eggs and released the hatchlings. All seemed and there ultimately may be some successes, but this is hardly to go well, although there was some muttering behind the scenes. The something subject to cause-and-effect analysis; too many causes, third year, 1968, the government declared the area (Eilanti Beach) too many effects. Similarly, in community interventions one tries to be a nature preserve, and the egg-buying programme stopped. to do something fair, reasonable, and potentially conducive to good In the years that followed, the turtle population dropped rather conservation outcomes, but whether these actually occur depends than increased, presumably because of the many years of failed upon the criteria for success that one chooses, the basic biology and recruitment through 100% egg collection. Later the beach itself
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 3 changed for the worse, with the buildup of extensive mud flats, Finally, there is another side to the issue of marine turtle conser- heavy growth of young mangroves at the back of the beach itself, and vation being a “weakest link production technology,” at the mercy of growing inaccessibility to nesting turtles. Fewer and fewer ridleys abuse or negligence at any one of the many phases of the life cycle. nested, although much later – actually not until the last few years But sometimes one can override these hard-to-quantify stresses by – our colleagues in extreme eastern French Guiana have reported the relatively simple procedure of pumping as many hatchlings into that the beaches east of Cayenne (near the Brazilian border) were the supply line as possible, by maximizing protection at the nesting starting to be utilized by olive ridleys, and the latest news (Laurent beach stage. At least two marine turtle nesting colonies – the olive Kelle, pers. comm.) is that small arribadas of 100 or more have ridleys at Escobilla (Mexico) and the green turtles at Tortuguero been seen. One presumes the displaced Eilanti population shifted (Costa Rica) – have maintained or even enhanced their numbers, to a better beach. in the face of chronic heavy exploitation on the feeding grounds, So far so good. But the main Unintended Consequence was the by this means. In both cases it is highly probable that the “natural” damage to my own reputation. Last year, while sipping cocktails with demography, in which old adults predominated in the population two senior Carib Casiques in French Guiana, I was told a story of a and recruitment to the adult ranks was relatively low, was replaced tall young white man who frequented the Eilanti area nearly forty by an “artificial” demography with younger adults predominating, years ago, and proceeded to put metal tags on the nesting ridleys. relatively high adult mortality, but enhanced levels of recruitment This abuse of the turtles, they reported, caused the turtles to depart, of neophyte breeders. and they had never come back. This sinister figure, who drove the turtles away became known to the tribe as “Kadalu Yolokan” (“Turtle FERRARO, P.J. 2005. An economist’s reflections on the 25th Annual Devil,” in the Carib language). I had to confess to the Casiques Symposium for Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation: Empirical program that the Yolokan was actually myself, but, far from being a devil, evaluation and direct payments for sea turtle conservation. Marine Turtle I am personally confident that the new French Guiana arribadas of Newsletter 109: 2-6. olive ridleys comprise “my” turtles, derived from the hundreds of thousands of hatchlings that we produced and released at Eilanti all FERRARO, P.J. & A. KISS. 2002. Getting what you paid for: direct pay- ments as an alternative investment for conserving biodiversity. Science those years ago. There was no other source in the region. 268: 1718-1719. So direct payments can work, but you usually have to require that the desired restraints and behavior changes actually occur, as Ferraro PRITCHARD, P.C.H. 1979. Marine turtles in Papua New Guinea. Report and Kiss (2002) have argued. Moreover, the payments don’t always on a consultancy, Wildlife Division, Konedobu, PNG. 122 p. need to be continued forever. Societies and civilizations change, SCHULZ, J.P. 1975. Sea turtles nesting in Surinam. Zoologische Verhan- and the practice of living off nesting sea turtles is something that a delingen 143: 1-143. community can simply outgrow, as it progressively moves into the SUGANUMA, H., A. YUSUF, Y. BAKARBESSY & M. KIYOTA. cash economy, or becomes more law-abiding. I have observed this 2005. New leatherback conservation project in Papua, Indonesia. in Vieques Island, where egg collection was a severe stress upon Marine Turtle Newsletter 109: 8. turtles in the 1960s, but is hardly a crucial factor anywhere in Puerto Rico today.
Response to Comment by Peter C.H. Pritchard
Paul J. Ferraro Department of Economics, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, GA 30302-3992 USA. (E-mail: [email protected])
Dr. Pritchard’s comments (MTN 111: 3-4) are a welcome contribution biologists and policy practitioners repeat too frequently the to the debate about appropriate evaluation methods in conservation “conservation science as a crisis discipline” refrain. The case policy. In particular, they highlight the difficulties of adapting of the Kemp’s ridley may not have been an appropriate case for evaluation methods from other social policy fields to the field of experiments, but are there no regions of the world in which species conservation policy. Although I agree that Dr. Pritchard describes such as the green turtle or loggerhead are not (and have not been) in real and substantial obstacles to conducting experimental policy imminent danger of extinction and in which one could experiment trials in conservation, I fail to see how they justify the complete with different interventions? absence of experimental or quasi-experimental conservation The effect of the crisis approach to biodiversity policymaking is policy trials. Has there been not a single opportunity for such an most clearly observed in the case of the United States Endangered evaluation in the last thirty years? Moreover, even if the obstacles Species Act (ESA), a pioneering law for species protection raised in Dr. Pritchard’s comment were to block all implementation laws established in 1973. Over thirty years after the Act was of randomized conservation experiments, they do not explain why implemented, diametrically opposed views of its performance appropriate statistical methods for evaluating initiatives post hoc exist side-by-side. Supporters call the ESA the crown jewel of the are not being used (see MTN 109: pp. 3-4 of my editorial). nation’s environmental legislation and an absolutely essential tool With regard to Dr. Pritchard’s first comment about conservation for protection biodiversity. Opponents claim that, at best, the ESA emergencies, I fully agree. However, I also believe that conservation is ineffective and costly; at worst, it is perversely damaging to
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 4 species recovery (because private citizens take pre-emptive actions education are complex and nuanced, but this complexity does not stop to destroy habitat and species, and thereby avoid regulations). These other policy fields (health, criminal rehabilitation, poverty reduction) two views can co-exist more than thirty years after implementation from evaluating the effects of education on outcomes of interest. In because the ESA was not designed with the intention of evaluating my opinion, the too-many-causes-too-many-effects argument simply its effectiveness. It was not until the 1980s that the government supports the status quo in which conservation practitioners do not began tracking the population status of the listed species, and need to be explicit about what they are attempting to do (it also the government has never selected control species nor collected bolsters my argument that experimental conservation interventions data on such species. Now the U.S. government is attempting to are important). An educational program can certainly have multiple overhaul the Act with little interpretable data from the past and, most effects on a community, some related to conservation and others importantly, without the intention of evaluating the effectiveness of not. However, if one of the main objectives of the educational effort the overhauled Act. is to reduce turtle poaching and by-catch and the effort does not With regard to the long time delay between instigation of any achieve these objectives, the effort’s supporters must at least ask marine turtle conservation effort and detectable results on turtle themselves, “Why is this effort worth continuing?” populations, I fully agree that such delays make it difficult to draw Finally, with regard to Dr. Pritchard’s comments about the inferences in a timely manner. However, I am not convinced that use of economic incentives for conservation purposes, his points such delays mean that our interventions must simply be guided are well taken, but I have a few comments. First, the strength of by “common sense.” Common sense, particularly that held by community institutions is critical for any successful conservation those untrained in analyzing and affecting human behavior, is not intervention. Second, there may be some cases of conservation necessarily the best guide to conservation policy. Furthermore, if agreements glued together by nothing more than reciprocity (good we must wait many years for unambiguous feedback (as in the case will), but my experience leads me to believe that, in most cases, of the U.S. ESA), I believe it would be preferable to know at the such glue is only a short-term solution and tends to crack and fall end of this period if one or two of our interventions are working so apart over time without more substantial and tangible incentives that we can focus or change our efforts for the future. One should (unless the conservation outcome causes little sacrifice). The cases also note that our conservation interventions are often targeted at that Dr. Pritchard discusses are useful fodder for the debate, but changing human behavior. We certainly can observe changes in conservation policy science is too frequently guided by point human behavior on short time scales and thus should at least be and counterpoint with case studies from initiatives that were not testing whether our interventions aimed at changing human behavior designed with the intention of being evaluated. Although I believe are indeed having the desired effect (e.g., reductions of turtle nest case studies can be useful, I also believe that we can only move poaching, adoption of new technologies, reduced sales of turtle meat forward if we begin to design at least some of our important in open markets, etc.). If education efforts, for example, have no initiatives with the intention of evaluating their effectiveness. measurable effect on behavior, then the issue of whether the change The intention of my editorial was not to pretend that well- in behavior will have a large effect on turtle populations is moot. designed evaluation or the use of direct payments in the context of One might argue that it can take generations to observe behavioral turtle conservation would be easy or successful. I merely wished changes from education, but one then must also explain why such to instigate a debate in the turtle conservation community about education is worthwhile given conservation funds are scarce and the reasons why such evaluations and payments are not common. the need for medium-term action is high. I thank Dr. Pritchard for helping to continue this debate and raise The latter example brings me to Dr. Prichard’s points about the issues that I had not explored in my editorial. difficulty of evaluating educational efforts. Yes, the outcomes from
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 5 Report on Long-Term Transmitter Harness Retention by a Leatherback Turtle
Sebastian Troëng1, Roberto Solano2, Ana Díaz-Merry3, Jimmy Ordoñez3, Joshua Taylor3, Daniel R. Evans4, David Godfrey4, Dean Bagley5, Llew Ehrhart5 & Scott Eckert6 1Caribbean Conservation Corporation, Apdo. Postal 246-2050, San Pedro, Costa Rica, (E-mail: [email protected]) 2Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas, Costa Rica, 3Asociación Salvemos las Tortugas, Parismina, Costa Rica, 4Caribbean Conservation Corporation, Gainesville, Florida, 5University of Central Florida, 6Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST)
Satellite telemetry is an increasingly popular technique for the Excavation of the nest after hatchling emergence revealed that nine study of migratory behavior in sea turtles. Transmitters have eggs produced hatchlings that emerged from the nest, 24 eggs had become more affordable, and application methods are readily partly or completely developed embryos but did not hatch, 10 eggs available to researchers around the world. For hard-shelled species died without producing visible embryos and the remaining 34 eggs of sea turtle, transmitters are easily attached to the carapace using were depredated. The emerged hatchlings and embryos show that fiberglass or epoxy resins (e.g. Balazs et al. 1996) and increased the still attached harness had not impeded the female leatherback hydrodynamic drag is the main health concern (Watson & Granger from successfully mating prior to emerging to nest. 1998). For the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and flatback Asociación Salvemos las Tortugas coordinates sea turtle (Natator depressus) turtles that have soft skin covering the carapace, monitoring and conservation efforts in Parismina. Their staff transmitter attachment can be problematic. For these species observed the harnessed leatherback and quickly informed their team different types of harnesses are the most commonly used attachment leaders who arrived to observe the turtle. Portions of the harness technique (Eckert & Eckert 1986; Sperling & Guinea 2004). were covered in ectobiota, mainly barnacles but also small crabs In this brief note, we report on the effect of a prolonged harness and algae. The transmitter and transmitter platform (1/4” plexiglass deployment on a leatherback turtle, which returned to nest after a plate) were almost completely covered with ectobiota and had two-year period with the harness still attached. We also provide shifted slightly to the right from its original position. The webbing recommendations for future leatherback telemetry studies using was significantly less affected by ectobiota and it remained similar harnesses as the transmitter attachment method. to the original attachment position. The central hub of the harness, On June 7, 2003, a nesting leatherback was fitted with a harness which is made up of elastic cord covered by silicon tubing, was and KiwiSat transmitter on Tortuguero Beach, Costa Rica, as part of embedded into the central carapace ridge at two places, to depths a collaborative project between Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute of approximately 8 cm and the waist strap and stainless steel rings (HSWRI), Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) and the used to attach the strap to the central hub had become encrusted University of Central Florida (UCF) (see front cover). The harness into the skin. The waist strap had cut into the turtle several cm at the used in this project was based on one long used by S. Eckert (Eckert lateral ridges. Once the harness was detached by cutting the silicon 1998; Eckert & Sarti 1997; Ferraroli et al. 2002; James et al. 2005a) tubing and elastic cord, it was easily removed. Soft tissue and skin and others (e.g. James et al. 2005b). The essence of the design fragments were exposed where the harness had pushed against the involves two vinyl covered straps made of webbing that lace over carapace. The vinyl tubes which encase the shoulder straps, and the shoulders and are connected to a strap that encircles the turtles to which the transmitter platform was attached had rubbed against midsection (= “waist strap”). The end of the straps meet dorsally at the skin on the shoulders and front flippers and caused callusing. a central elastic ring equipped with D-rings for ease of adjustment. Detailed observations of the turtle and harness were made possible The straps, transmitter platform and transmitter were painted with by A. Díaz-Merry, J. Ordoñez and J. Taylor, who encountered the anti-fouling paint of the brand Interlux UltraKote (copper level animal on the beach and documented its condition. After completing 76%). While the harness was based on the Eckert design and built nesting, the turtle returned to the sea. Once the ectobiota had been by individuals trained by Eckert, this harness had some dissimilar removed from the transmitter, it resumed functioning, though the features, in particular, the reduced size of the dorsal elastic ring and unit was not re-deployed. the type of connector inside the elastic ring. The same turtle was observed a second time in Parismina, on The female was encountered on the 9th April 2003, approximately April 12, approximately 3.6 km to the south of the April 2 nest 1 km north of Jalova lagoon at the southern end of Tortuguero site. The turtle had already nested when encountered and returned National Park, Costa Rica and the satellite tag attached. The turtle to the water at midnight. The beach patrollers recorded the flipper renested again approximately 65km south of the release site before tag numbers and also noted that the turtle presented scarring on the beginning a northerly migration. The final transmission was received central ridge and on the lateral ridges. They did not observe any on January 25, 2004 when the turtle was located off the northeastern open wounds, ten days after the harness had been removed. By seaboard of the USA. A map showing the movements of the turtle her third nesting (depositing 85 normal and 35 yolkless eggs on named “Chica Tica” following release is available at http://www. May 1, 2005, north of the Pacuare river, and approximately 15 km cccturtle.org/sattort_chica-tica.htm. south of original transmitter attachment location) no injuries were Almost two years later, on April 2, 2005 the leatherback nested recorded by the observers so it is probable that the harness injuries again at Parismina, Costa Rica, approximately 7 km south of the had healed rapidly. transmitter attachment location. Nesting behavior was normal Leatherbacks and other species of sea turtle are classified as and the turtle deposited 77 normal eggs and 14 yolkless eggs. Endangered or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List (IUCN
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 6 2004), Critically Endangered in the case of the leatherback, and North Atlantic (minimum return distance 9,000+ km), successfully any researcher working with these species must be extra careful in foraging, mating, and returning to lay fertile eggs at least three times considering the well being of the individual animals. We believe with normal renesting intervals at her usual nesting site within a there are several lessons about attaching instruments to leatherbacks conventional two-year remigration interval. Also, based on the to be learned from this long-term return. It is possible that the harness subsequent observation of this individual on April 12 and May 1, had been applied too snugly, that the elastic ring was too small to 2005, the damage sustained by the female appears to have quickly accommodate the subsequent weight increases characteristic of begun healing once the harness was removed. We believe that any these animals during non-breeding seasons (James et al. 2005b), permanent damage to the turtle from the harness and transmitter is that the strapping material used for the belly and shoulder straps had unlikely in this case. However, if the female had not been recaptured constricted over time, and/or that there were design problems in the and the harness removed, her ability to migrate, forage and mate flexible hub and the link used to hold the hub together. The hub on could have been affected. this particular harness did not include a link designed to corrode over time; however the effects of the harness were observed within the Acknowledgements: Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute (HSWRI) planned lifetime of harnesses designed to fall off after approximately provided the funding for the transmitter, harness and satellite time for this two years. It is possible that superficial carapace damage is difficult project. Carlos Drews (WWF), Andy Myers and an anonymous reviewer to avoid completely when harnesses remain attached to leatherbacks provided useful comments on draft versions of this contribution. for long periods of time. A total of five leatherback turtles were BALAZS, G.H., R.K. MIYA & S.C. BEAVER. 1996. Procedures to attach fitted with the same type of harnesses in Caribbean Costa Rica a satellite transmitter to the carapace of an adult green turtle, Chelonia in 2003 and 2004. Given the normal remigration interval of 2-3 mydas. In: J.A. Keinath, D.E. Barnard, J.A. Musick & B.A. Bell years, we expect these turtles to return to nest during the 2006 and (Compilers) Proceedings of the 15th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle 2007 nesting seasons. Additional lessons regarding the effect of Biology and Conservation. US Dept. Commerce. NOAA Tech Memo the harness may be learnt from observing these animals when they NMFS-SEFSC-37, pp 21-26. return to the nesting beach. ECKERT, S.A. 1998. Perspectives on the use of satellite telemetry and other A variety of steps have been taken to eliminate the potential electronic technologies for the study of marine turtles, with reference to problems in harness attachments. The original designer of such the first year long tracking of leatherback sea turtles. In S. P. Epperly and harnesses (S. Eckert) has been consulted to help determine J. Braun (Eds) Proceedings of the 17th Annual Sea Turtle Symposium, : if differences in this harness design and/or application may U.S. Dept Commerce, NOAA Tech Memo NMFS-SEFSC-415, p. 294 have contributed to the problems observed, and whether other ECKERT, S.A. 1999. Data acquisition systems for monitoring sea turtle leatherbacks encountered after long-term harness attachments behavior and physiology. K.L. Eckert K.A. Bjorndal F. A. Abreau- have exhibited similar conditions. These consultations have led to Grobois & M. Donnelly, (Compilers). In Research and managment increases in harness flexibility and a lengthening of the elastic ring techniques for the conservation of sea turtles. IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle to reduce tension and pressure on the carapace as well as to allow for Specialist Group Publication No. 4. Washington D.C. PP. 88-93. growth by the turtle; a change in antifouling paint to Interlux Micron ECKERT, S.A. & K.L. ECKERT. 1986. Harnessing leatherbacks. Marine 66
Heidi Rader1, Miguel Angel Ela Mba1,2, Wayne Morra1 & Gail Hearn1 1Arcadia University, Glenside, Pennsylvania USA (E-mail: [email protected]) 2Universidad Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea is the largest of the four Gulf of daily counts of turtles and nests on southern beaches. After a two Guinea islands (2027 km2) and the nearest to mainland Africa, year hiatus, seasonal nest counts were resumed under the auspices situated 32 km off Cameroon. Four species of marine turtles of the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program (BBPP), an academic (leatherback, Dermochelys coriacea; green, Chelonia mydas; partnership between Arcadia University (Glenside PA USA) and olive ridley, Lepidochelys olivacea and, hawksbill, Eretmochelys the Universidad Nacional de Guinea Equatorial (UNGE; Malabo, imbricata) nest on the 15 km of black sand beaches along the Equatorial Guinea). Preliminary results from this five-year project island’s southern coast, which is within the legally protected Gran (2001-2005) are reported here and compared to results obtained by Caldera and Southern Highlands Scientific Reserve (Figure 1). Tomás et al. (1999). The remainder of Bioko’s 150 km coastline is either structurally Bioko Island’s southern beaches consist of black volcanic sand unsuitable for nesting (~120 km of cliffs or narrow rocky beaches), interspersed with outcroppings of lava and basalt. Loose rocks, or too close to roads and villages (approximately 15 km sandy rounded by the action of the surf, have accumulated along some beaches along the northern and western coast). of the beaches. Wave action is strong, driven by prevailing winds Steep terrain, the result of two volcanic peaks (Gran Caldera from the south. Villagers from Ureca, were employed to collect daily de Luba, 2260 m a.s.l. and Pico Biao, 2010 m a.s.l.) less than 10 information on sea turtles coming ashore on the five major beaches km apart and within 15 km of the turtle beaches, plus the lack of (Figure 1 A-E; total length = 15.64 km) between Punta Oscura (N nearby roads and villages protect the southern beaches of the island 3o 16.50, E 8o 26.65) and Punta Santiago (N 3o 12.65, E 8o 40.50). from most human predation. There is only one settlement, along Many of these local people were originally trained by Tomás in the southern coast, Ureca, with a population of approximately 100 1996. Additional training in turtle census techniques was provided to people. To reach the rest of the island, these villagers must either UNGE and Arcadia personnel during the XI Course on the Biology traverse a 20 km footpath that crosses a 1343m pass between the two and Conservation of Marine Turtles at Puy Puy, Venezuela in July volcanoes or wait for intermittent boat service (once or twice per 2001 and to local workers on site in January 2002 and November month). However, during the nesting season poachers arrive multiple 2004. times per month by boat at Moraka Playa (~12 km west of Ureca and Working in five teams, the villagers traversed nesting beaches one of two places where boats can land along the southern coast) at least twice nightly. Date, time, weather and tide, presence and to harvest turtles, both on the beach (overturning them to prevent width of tracks, evidence of nesting, species of turtle, width and escape) and in the waters immediately offshore. Poachers are less length of carapace, presence of tags, distance between the nest and interested in turtle eggs, but other predators including drill monkeys the high tide line, and distance between the nest and the vegetation (Mandrillus leucophaeus), brush-tailed porcupines (Atherurus line were recorded. Each nest was given a consecutive number, but africanus), monitor lizards (Varanus niloticus), pied crows (Corvus no attempt was made to follow up on the success of the nest. Records albus), palm nut vultures (Gypohierax angolensis), ghost crabs were organized and maintained by personnel at UNGE. BeachES (Ocypode spp.), ants, and Ureca village dogs take advantage of this were monitored daily throughout the turtle nesting season (October seasonal food source (Tomás et al. 1999). - April) for five years (2000/2001 season through 2004/2005 season). For all four marine turtle species, the nesting season corresponds Turtles typically nested at night, but daytime nests also occurred. to the dry season on the island, beginning in late October, peaking in Turtles sometimes came ashore and nested at other times of the year, January and extending to the end of March. Bioko’s southern coast but in small numbers. receives more than 11,000 mm of rain each year (Terán 1962), and Number of monitoring days during each nesting season varied. even during the dry season, rainfall feeds intermittent streams that All five BBPP-paid seasons ended in April, but the 2003/2004 season wash across the beach destroying turtle nests. began in September, the 2001/2002 and 2002/2003 seasons began Before the 1990’s little was known of the species and magnitude in October and the 2000/2001 and 2004/2005 in November. Early of nesting on Bioko’s southern beaches. (Butynski 1996; Castroviejo season nests (September and October) accounted for less than 1% et al.1994). For example, in January 1963 German naturalist of the season total for all species. The data collected by Tomás et al. Martin Eisentraut spent two weeks in Ureca and determined that (1999; shown in Figure 2) were for the period 7th October – 15th April four different species of marine turtles nested on nearby beaches. in 1996/1997, and 15th September – 7th March in 1997/1998. However only two were common enough to positively identify; the Tomás et al. (1999) recorded, in total, between 2000 and 3000 green and the hawksbill. At that time the green turtle was by far the nests in each of two seasons (1996/97 and 1997/98) with green most common species (Eisentraut 1964). turtles producing more nests than leatherbacks in both seasons The first systematic study of Bioko Island began in the 1996/1997 (Figure 2). When counts were resumed by BBPP two years later, a season (Tomás et al. 1999). Nesting for the following season very different picture emerged: more than 6000 nests were recorded (1997/1998) was also recorded. Trained locals were responsible for in the 2000/2001 season, due to an almost five-fold increase in
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 8 leatherback turtle nests. This pattern was maintained for three seasons and then leatherback nests were recorded at lower levels. Because very few leatherbacks were tagged it is impossible to know if the high nest numbers were the result of more frequent visits by the same turtles or by an actual increase in the number of nesting turtles. The number of green turtle nests fluctuated much less (mean = 1240, S.D. ± 379 nests/season) and did not appear to be influenced by the number of leatherback nests. Likewise, the number of olive ridley nests remained relatively stable (mean = 68, S.D. ± 20 nests/season), possibly even increasing since the most recent season had the highest number (100 nests). In contrast, the number of hawksbill nests remained low (mean = 8, S.D. ± 6), and probably continued to decrease since the earliest season had the highest number of nests (19). The most surprising change in marine turtle nesting patterns on Bioko Island has been the increase in leatherback nests since 1990. For example, Butynski (1996) reports seeing no leatherback nests when Figure 1. Map of Bioko Island and the turtle beaches on the southern coast. he walked the southern beaches during the nesting season in 1986. Likewise in 1990 when one of the authors similar to that “permitted” in recent seasons. (GWH) was present, no leatherback nests were seen but local Hawksbill turtles, once the second most common species nesting people were able to identify it as a nesting species (Butynski 1996). on Bioko Island (Eisentraut 1964), are now very rare and rapidly Although Tomás et al. (1999) identify the green turtle as the most declining with only 6 nests recorded in 2003/2004 and only 3 in common nesting species on Bioko during their 2 yr study, by the 2004/2005. The olive ridley, always a rare species on Bioko Island, time BBPP surveillance began in the 2000/2001 season, leatherback may be experiencing a slight increase in nests although the numbers nests far outnumbered those of green turtles. remain too low to be conclusive. One possible explanation for the dramatic increase might be These results demonstrate the value of multi-season longitudinal the very heavy rainfall during the 1997 rainy season (an El Niño studies in assessing the relative importance of marine turtle nesting year), which resulted in numerous landslides on the southern part sites, particularly for leatherback turtles. These conclusions also of Bioko Island. Local helicopter pilots remarked on the plumes of support the previously established status of Bioko Island’s southern sediment flowing from Bioko’s rivers into the Gulf of Guinea. These coast as an important breeding ground for marine turtles in the Gulf El Nino-related weather changes might have selectively influenced of Guinea and underscore the need for greater protection (Formia leatherback turtles (Hays 2000). However, this explanation does not et al. 2003; Fretey 2001; Tomás et al. 2001). account for the initial appearance and increase in leatherback nests recorded by Tomás et al. (1999). Acknowledgements: We thank the villagers of Ureca, especially project The recent decline in leatherback nests on Bioko Island also coordinator Epifanio (Paco) Mueleri Biri, for collecting the information seems to be part of a larger Gulf of Guinea pattern with other summarized in this publication. We are grateful for preliminary analysis sites, for example the leatherback nesting beaches at the Gamba of the data by students from UNGE (Vicente Onvá Masá Ntóngono and Complex in Gabon (Verhage & Moundjim 2005), reporting similar Santiago Nsue Esono), from Arcadia (Nicole Arms, Nicole Sims, Steph variation. Ludwick and Cali Ross), and from the University of Wisconsin (Jennifer Bradsby), and for comments by Jesus Tomás on an earlier version of this In contrast to the fluctuating leatherback nesting patterns, the manuscript. We are grateful to the CMS Energy Foundation, the Tombros number of green turtle nests has remained relatively stable even Foundation, Disney Wildlife Conservation Foundation, and New England though poachers, apparently protected by military officials, continue Aquarium Conservation Action Fund for their financial support. to harvest approximately 250 green turtles each season. Despite this recent stability, it is clear that green turtle numbers are greatly reduced from the 1985/1986 season, when local people from Ureca BUTYNSKI, T.M. 1996. Marine turtles on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. reported a capture rate of 100/turtles per night. By 1990, only 200- Oryx 30-2: 143-149. 500 turtles were harvested per season (Butynski 1996), a level CASTROVIEJO, J., J. JUSTE B, J. PÉREZ DEL VAL, R. CASTELO, & Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 9 Figure 2. Total number of turtle nests recorded on the southern beaches of Bioko Island between 1996/1997 and 2004/2005. The 1996/1997 and 1997/1998 nesting seasons are reported in Tomás et al. (1999), and the seasons since 2000/01 are reported in this study. a) leatherback and green turtles; b) olive ridley and hawksbill turtles.
R. GIL. 1994. Diversity and status of sea turtle species in the Gulf of TERÁN, M. 1962. Sintesis geografica de Fernando Poo. IEA & Inst. Juan Guinea islands. Biodiversity and Conservation 3:828-836. Sebastian Elcano (CSIC), Madrid, Spain. EISENTRAUT, M. 1964. Meereschildkröten an der Küste von Fernando TOMÁS, J., J. CASTROVIEJO, & J.A. RAGA. 1999. Sea Turtles in the Poo. Natur und Museum 94:471-475. South of Bioko Island (Equatorial Guinea). Marine Turtle Newsletter 84:46. FORMIA, A., M. TIWARI, J. FRETEY & A. BILLES. 2003. Sea turtle conservation along the Atlantic coast of Africa. Marine Turtle TOMÁS, J., A. FORMIA, J. CASTROVEIJO & J.A. RAGA. 2001. Post- Newsletter 100:33-37. nesting movements of the green turtle, Chelonia mydas, nesting in the south of Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, West Africa. Marine Turtle FRETEY, J. 2001. Biogeography and Conservation of Marine Turtles of Newsletter 94:3-6. the Atlantic Coast of Africa. CMS Technical Series Publication No. 6, UNEP/CMS Secretariat, Bonn, Germany. VERHAGE, S.B., & E.B. MOUNDJIM. 2005. Three years of marine turtle monitoring in the Gamba Complex of Protected Areas, Gabon Central HAYS, G. C. 2000. The implications of variable remigration intervals for Africa, 2002-2005. Report for World Wide Fund for Nature, Gland, the assessment of population size in marine turtles. Journal of Theoretical Switzerland. 64 pp. Biology 206:221-227.
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 10 Incidental Capture of Marine Turtles in Marine Fisheries of Southern Spain
José C. Báez1, Juan A. Camiñas2 & Lucía Rueda1 1Sociedad Española de Cetáceos, (E-mail: [email protected]); 2Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, 29640 Fuengirola, Málaga. Spain.
Andalusia (South of Spain) is the European region where the formerly and that today they are rare, however, for the majority of Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean connect. It is also fishermen the rate of incidental capture was estimated to be similar an important area for the conservation of both the Atlantic and to past levels. Based on the testimony of the fishermen interviewed, Mediterranean loggerhead (Caretta caretta) populations, as this it appears that surface long-lines interact most frequently with region represents an important connecting corridor for this and marine turtles, followed by coastal trawlers, purse seiners, and other marine turtle species (Camiñas 1988; 1997). Fishing gears trammel nets (Table 2). Sea turtles captured by the purse seiners which have been recorded as resulting in high levels of incidental can be released without damage because they do not get tangled capture and mortality of marine turtles in the region include up in the net. Fishermen using artisanal coastal trammel nets also driftnets, bottom trawls and surface long–lining (Camiñas; 1988; suggested that sea turtles incidentally captured by this gear are 1997; 2002; González 1990; WWF 2003). Perhaps the most released in good physical conditions. There may be more concern significant factor negatively impacting sea turtle populations for turtles captured by trawlers but as suggested by our survey and world-wide is captures in surface long-line fishing (Heppell et according to data collected by the IEO (Spanish Oceanographic al. 1999). Of the 147 stranded loggerhead sea turtles found alive Institute) onboard observers programme, incidental capture of sea along the coast of Andalusia by volunteers in 2000, 48% showed turtles is rare on trawlers. clear signs of interaction with fishing gear. Of these, 73% appeared Moroccan surface driftnets (Tudela et al. 2003) and Spanish to have interacted with long-line fisheries (Aula del Mar 2000). surface long-lines targeting swordfish have in previous studies been Incidental captures are detrimental, not only to sea turtles but shown to be the fishing gears that interact most significantly with also to fishermen, since they can result in economic loss in time and sea turtles in this region. Our data confirm long-lining as a major gear components as well as personal injuries during manipulation interacting fishery but we sampled only one driftnet vessel. It is of the hooked or entangled turtles. It is therefore a matter of important to research the factors involved in incidental capture and interest to both fishermen and conservationists to detect the fishing develop new methods to minimize impact, such as changing fishing gears that interact significantly with sea turtles as well as the areas depth, using alternative hooks and baits, etc. and times of the years when captures are more frequent. It is also During the interviews we asked the fisherman for proposals necessary to take into account the practical proposals of fishermen to reduce the turtle captures. Regarding proposals to minimize as to how incidental capture may be mitigated, encourage them turtle captures by surface long-lines, 10 fishermen agreed that a to take turtles to recovery centres and if that is not possible, to type of long-lining gear called “rulo” would be the best system to liberate the captured turtles with minimum damage. avoid it, 2 said the best would be to reduce the number of attracting Within the framework of a European Union LIFE project on lights and 2 more suggested that greater enforcement of the current conservation of marine mammals and turtles in Andalusia and Spanish regulations regarding the number of hooks and the total Murcia, we interviewed fishermen in the main fishing harbours of gear length would help. Andalusia. Interviews were carried out at the fishing dock, when Nine of the interviewed fishermen used the long-line named the fishing boats had returned to harbour. There are 28 fishing “rulo”. This modified surface long-line has an increased distance harbours in the study area, 13 in the Mediterranean sector and 15 in between hooks (21m in traditional long-line and 90m in rulo) and the Atlantic. Interviews were carried out in 15 harbours, selected to is longer (30-40 miles in traditional long-line and 60-70 miles total encompass fleets using a range of fishing gears that can be grouped length in rulo). In addition rulo typically has fewer than 1,000 into 9 categories: bottom longlines, coastal trawls, deep water trawls, hooks versus the traditional surface longline that have 2,500 hooks driftnets, octopus pots, purse-seiners, surface longlines, trammel on average. Apparently fewer sea turtles are captured by the rulo nets and other artisanal gear. A total of 169 interviews were carried gear. This may be due to the fact that the time needed to board the out, with only one interview per vessel (Table 1). Approximately gear (6-7 hours) is 2-3 hours less than for traditional long-line. 9% of the total fleet was interviewed, 17% of the coastal and deep Consequently, the amount of time that the rulo’s hooks are in the water trawlers, 8% of purse seiners, 41% longline, 43% surface water and available to be incidentally ingested by turtles is less drifting longline, and 4% of other categories (setting trammel nets, than the traditional surface longline. In addition, the size of the driftnets, octopus pots and other small scale gears). The jobs of the swordfish catch seems to be higher. interviewees were 104 skippers, 57 sailors, 3 engine officers, 1 cook, Three of the long-lining fishermen noted that it is almost 1 net sewer and 3 were retired. We asked for very simple estimates impossible to solve the problem of incidental capture of sea of the average number of turtles captured per year (Table 2). All the turtles as it takes place mainly in the summer when bluefin tuna fishermen interviewed agreed that turtle incidental capture is more and swordfish enter to the Mediterranean to spawn. Turtles, which frequent in the summer. It must be pointed out that some fishermen are also more abundant in the region at this time, have similar (3.6 %) answered that incidental captures were more frequent distributions and migratory routes to bluefin tuna and swordfish.
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 11 Artisanal Purse Surface long- Bottom long- Area Harbours Trawlers gears seiners liners liners I. Cristina 14 0 0 0 0 Pta. Umbria 0 10 6 2 0 Sanlucar 14 3 7 0 0 Chipiona 10 0 0 0 0 Atlantic Rota 0 11 0 0 0 Conil 0 4 0 0 10 Tarifa 0 0 0 1 1 Algeciras 0 0 0 3 0 La Línea 0 2 0 0 1 Marbella 5 4 3 0 0 Motril 12 0 1 2 1 Mediterranean Adra 1 2 1 2 0 Carboneras 0 1 0 20 0 Garrucha 7 5 0 2 1 Table 1. Fishing harbours and number of interviews by gear grouping.
Long-lining fishermen are not very willing to board the turtles CAMIÑAS, J.A 1997. Capturas accidentales de tortuga boba Caretta for three reasons: they can damage the turtle when boarding it, the caretta (Linnaeus, 1758) en el Mediterráneo occidental en la pesquería operation takes a long time and it can be a dangerous manoeuvre de palangre de superficie de pez espada (Xiphias gladius L.). International because the hook can come free and injure the fisherman, which Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic tunas (ICCAT). Collective has already happened in a some cases. Small long-lining boats Volume of Scientific Papers, vol. XLVI (4): 446-455. fishing near the coast (Camiñas &Valeiras 2003) do take turtles CAMIÑAS, J.A. 2002. Estatus y Conservación de las tortugas marinas en sometimes to recovery centres if incidental captures has taken España. pág. 386-420. En: Atlas y Libro Rojo de los Anfibios y Reptiles place at the end of the fishing operation although they complain de España (Pleguezuelos, J.M., Márquez,R. & Lizana, M. eds.). that recovery centres are very far away. Dirección General de Conservación de la Naturaleza, Madrid. CAMIÑAS, J.A., J. VALEIRAS 2003. Critical areas for loggerhead and Acknowledgements: This work was funded in the context of the project leatherback marine turtles in the western Mediterranean sea and the LIFE NATURE (LIFE02NAT/E/8610) of the Spanish Cetacean Society Gibraltar Strait region. In D. Margaritoulis & A. Demetropoulos (eds). and in collaboration with the Malaga Centre of the Oceanographic Spanish 2003. Proceedings of the First Mediterranean Conference on Marine Institute. Turtles. Barcelona Convenction –Bern Convenction- Bonn Convenction (CMS). Nicosia, Cyprus: 80-85. AULA DEL MAR 2000. Informe de tortugas marinas liberadas en 2000. Resumen de actuaciones CREMA. http: //www.auladelmar.info/crema/ GONZÁLEZ, L.M. 1990. Situación de las tortugas marinas en el estadisticas.htm Mediterráneo. Quercus, 49: 23-31. CAMIÑAS, J.A 1988. Incidental captures of Caretta caretta (L.) with HEPPELL, S.S., L.B. CROWDER & T.R. MENZEL. 1999. Life table surface long-lines in the western Mediterranean. Rapport Commision analysis of long-lived marine species with implications for conservation international Mer Méditerranée, 31, 2:285 and management. American Fisheries Society Symposium 23: 137- 148. TUDELA, S., P. GUGLIELMI, M. EL ANDALOSSI, A. KAI KAI & F. Gear Type BLL DN OP PS SLL TN/A CT DWT MAYNOU. 2003. Biodiversity impact of the Moroccan driftnet fleet Never 14 4 49 15 19 operating in the Alboran Sea (SW Mediterranean). A case study of Exceptional 1 1 7 16 15 the harmful effects inflicted by current IUU large-scale driftnet fleets in the Mediterranean on protected and vulnerable species. WWF Rare 8 4 3 Mediterranean Programme. Rome. Vi + 78 pp. Moderate 3 Frequent 32 WWF. 2003. Tortuga boba: situación, amenazas y medidas de conservación. Propuesta de WWF/Adena. 30, Madrid. Irregular 2 2 Table 2. Results of the interviews in terms of quantum estimated average levels of annual incidental capture rates. Key accidental capture frecuency: Never= 0, Exceptional= 1 turtle per year, Rare >1<10 turtles per year, Frequent >10 turtles per year, Irregular= highly variable among years. Key: BLL- Bottom long-line, DN- Drift net, OP- Octopus pots, PS- Purse seiners, SLL- Surface long-lines, TN/A- Trammel nets and other artisanal gear, CT- Coastal trawlers, DWT- Deep water trawlers.
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 12 First Evidence of Leatherback Movement from Africa to South America
Alexis Billes1, Jacques Fretey2, Bas Verhage3, Bas Huijbregts3, Bruno Giffoni4, Laura Prosdocimi5, Diego A. Albareda6, Jean-Yves Georges7 & Manjula Tiwari8
1Programme Kudu, Cellule de coordination ECOFAC, BP 15115, Libreville,Gabon (E-mail: [email protected] ), 2UICN-France, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, 36 rue Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 75005 Paris, France (E-mail: [email protected]), 3WWF-Gamba, Gabon (E-mails: [email protected] & [email protected]), 4Projeto TAMAR - IBAMA, Rua Antônio Athanasio no 273, Itaguá, Ubatuba - SP / Brazil. Cep: 11680-000. (E-mail: [email protected]) 5Dpto. de Ecología Genética y Evolución, Facultad Cs. Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires and Peyú Project – PRICTMA, Argentina (E-mail: [email protected]) 6Aquamarina - PRICTMA and Buenos Aires Aquarium – PRICTMA, Argentina (E-mail: [email protected] & [email protected]) 7Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre d’Ecologie et Physiologie Energétiques, CNRS UPR 9010, 23 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg, France (E-mail: jean-yves. [email protected]) 8Marine Turtle Research Program, NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA (E-mail : [email protected])
Descriptions of trans-Atlantic migrations of female leatherbacks 2 years and seven months later on 30th July 2005, by a longline focus essentially on movements from the western Atlantic to the vessel in Brazil at 31.22°S and 49.53° W (Fig. 1). The observer put eastern Atlantic. Bleakney (1965) speculated that some female another tag on the female, which was released in good condition, leatherbacks from Guyanese nesting sites may migrate across to without any hooks or monofilament lines on her. Europe. In April 1971, a leatherback tagged at Bigisanti Beach, Suriname, in May 1970 was recaptured at Salt Pond in Ghana Turtle 3: This leatherback (CCL: 147 cm) was tagged while nesting (Pritchard 1973). Females tagged in French Guiana have been at Mayumba Beach (between 3.68ºS-10.93ºE and 3.72ºS-10.97 ºE) captured at various locations in the northeastern Atlantic (Fretey on 22nd December 2003, and was found renesting on 21st January & Fernandez-Cordeiro 1996; Fretey & Girondot 1996). More 2004, on the same stretch of beach. Approximately 21 months later, recently, satellite telemetry has detailed the routes actually used by on 9th October 2005, this turtle was found freshly dead in a gill net, leatherbacks from different western Atlantic nesting sites during in Itacuruça, (23.02°S and 43.93°W; Fig. 1) a city located in Rio their migrations across the Atlantic (Eckert 1998; Ferraroli et al. de Janeiro State, Brazil. 2004; Hays et al. 2004). Here we present the first evidence of trans-Atlantic migrations Turtle 4: This leatherback (CCL: 144 cm) was tagged on 7th by female leatherbacks nesting in the eastern Atlantic, in Gabon, February 2003 at Mayumba Beach (between 3.68ºS -10.93ºE and to western Atlantic waters. Gabon supports one of the largest 3.62ºS -10.87ºE). This animal was found dead on the island of leatherback nesting beaches in the world along with the Guianas and Ilhabela, located on the northern coastline of São Paulo State, Brazil has an annual nesting population between 6,000 to 7,000 females (23.82°S and 45.38°W; Fig. 1) on 26th August 2005. on a 90-km beach in southern Gabon alone (unpublished data). Four leatherbacks flipper-tagged on the beaches of Gabon were No satisfying explanation has been found to explain trans-Atlantic recently recovered in the waters of Argentina and Brazil (Fig. 1). migrations of leatherbacks. If the presence of foraging grounds Tagging location and recapture location information as well the in the eastern Atlantic explains the direct west to east migration curved carapace length (CCL) measurement (from nuchal notch routes observed in leatherbacks from western populations (Eckert to tip of caudal peduncle along the crest of the midline vertebral 1998; Ferraroli et al. 2004) as well as the 7000-km migration by a ridge) at the nesting beach are provided below for each of the four leatherback nesting in Tongaland in the Indian Ocean to Namibian leatherbacks: waters in the Atlantic (Hughes et al. 1998), then further investigations are required to understand why leatherbacks nesting in Gabon would Turtle 1: This leatherback (CCL: 170 cm) was tagged while nesting migrate to Argentinean and Brazilian waters. A first hypothesis may on Gamba Beach, Gabon (between 2.83°S-10.07°E and 2.79°S- be that the 6-month lag between nesting seasons for leatherbacks in 10.02°E), on 15th December 2003. She was recaptured almost 14 the eastern Atlantic (November-January) and the western Atlantic months later on 9th February 2005 in the waters of San Clemente (April-June) may result in different trophic conditions at the onset of del Tuyú, Buenos Aires Province, (36.37ºS and 56.65ºW; Fig. 1) their migrations. Satellite telemetry studies are currently underway in Argentina, more than 7,000 km straightline distance. The turtle in Gabon and French Guiana to identify the actual determinants of was entangled and dead in an artisanal gillnet in San Clemente del at sea movements in this endangered species. Tuyú. Acknowledgements: We thank all the sea turtle monitoring programme Turtle 2: This leatherback (CCL: 154.5 cm) was tagged while nesting participants on Gamba Beach and Mayumba Beach, Gabon. In Gabon, this on Mayumba Beach (between 3.68ºS-10.93ºE and 3.72ºS-10.97 project was carried out within the framework of the KUDU programme ºE) on 21st November 2002 and was seen nesting again on 20th by the NGOs Ibonga, Biotopic, WWF-Gamba, and was funded by the December 2002, on the same stretch of beach. She was recaptured European Union programme ECOFAC and WWF-Gamba. We also thank
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 13 Figure 1. Recapture locations in Brazil and Argentina of four leatherbacks tagged on nesting beaches in Gabon. the Gabonese Forestry Commission, the National Council of the Gabonese FRETEY, J. & A. FERNANDEZ-CORDEIRO. 1996. Desplazamientos National Parks (CNPN), the Field Veterinary Program of the Wildlife hacia el este de hembras de Tortuga Laúd (Dermochelys coriacea) Conservation Society in Argentina, and the Franciscana Doplhin Project of después de una nidificación en la región americana intertropical. Boletin Aquamarina, Argentina, for their help. In Brazil, we thank Fabiano Peppes, De La Asociacion Herpetologica Espanola 7:2-6. Leonardo Flach, Bernardo Galvão Ariz Grieco, and Paula Baldassin for FRETEY, J. & M. GIRONDOT. 1996. Leatherback turtles, Dermochelys their help. coriacea, nesting in French Guiana, 1978-1995. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 2:204-208. BLEAKNEY, J. 1965. Report of marine turtles from New England and Eastern Canada. Canadian Field-Naturalist 79:120-128. HAYS, G.C., J.D.R. HOUGHTON & A.E. MYERS. 2004. Endangered Species: Pan-Atlantic leatherback turtle movements. Nature 429:522. ECKERT, S.A. 1998. Perspectives on the use of satellite telemetry and other electronic technologies for the study of marine turtles, with reference HUGHES, G.R., P. LUSCHI, R. MENCACCI & F. PAPI. 1998. The 7000- to the first year long tracking of leatherback sea turtles. In: S.P. Epperly km oceanic journey of a leatherback turtle tracked by satellite. Journal and J. Braun (Compilers). Proceedings of the Seventeenth Annual Sea of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 229:209-217. Turtle Symposium. U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA Technical PRITCHARD, P.C.H. 1973. International migrations of South American Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-415. pp. 44-46. sea turtles (Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae). Animal Behaviour FERRAROLI, S., J-Y.GEORGES, P.GASPAR & Y. LE MAHO. 2004. 21:18-27. Where leatherback turtles meet fisheries. Nature 429:521-522.
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 14 Charybdis hellerii, a Non-indigenous Portunid Crab from the Gastrointestinal Contents of a Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempi) in Georgia, USA
Michael G. Frick & Kristina L. Williams Caretta Research Project, P.O. Box 9841, Savannah, Georgia, USA (E-mail: [email protected])
The portunid crab Charybdis hellerii originates from the Indo- In Florida, Charybdis hellerii occurs in high densities in Pacific region (Japan, Philippines, New Caledonia, Australia estuarine habitats consisting of both muddy and sandy sediments and Hawaii) and the Indian Ocean (including the Red Sea). This (Dineen et al. 2001). Specimens are found amongst and under rocks, species was introduced into the eastern Mediterranean (Israel and oysters, dense algal growth, mangrove roots and coralline ledges - Egypt) via the Suez Canal and ship traffic from this region is likely habitats similar to those of foraging turtles. A congener of C. hellerii, responsible for introducing C. hellerii to Colombia, Venezuela and C. natator, occupies similar habitats to C. hellerii and has been Cuba. Recently, C. hellerii has expanded its range in the western documented from the diets of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) North Atlantic, presumably through larval dispersal, to the Indian in Australia (Limpus et al. 2001). It is possible that C. hellerii is River lagoon system in Fort Pierce, Florida, USA, Brazil and French or may become an important prey item for western Atlantic turtles. Guiana (Dineen et al. 2001). Here we report the occurrence of C. In areas like the Indian River Lagoon in Florida, where L. kempi hellerii from the stomach contents of an immature Kemp’s ridley often forage and where C. hellerii is firmly established, it would sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempi) from Georgia, USA – the first record be interesting to note the presence or absence of C. hellerii in local of C. hellerii as a prey item of sea turtles and a range extension for turtles and, if the crab does occur from turtles, what percent of the this non-indigenous decapod. diet consists of C. hellerii. An immature L. kempi was found dead on the beach at Wassaw Island, Georgia, USA (31o53’N, 80o50’W) at 0600 hours on 11 June Acknowledgements: We thank the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the 2003. The turtle measured 43.1 cm (straight carapace length) and Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Wassaw Island L.L.C. and 45.4 cm wide and bore no external signs of injury or decomposition. the PADI Foundation for supporting our epibiont research. We also than Internal analyses of the turtle suggested that the animal was healthy J. Dineen and R. Lemaitre for providing us with reprints of their work cited herein. Two anonymous reviewers greatly improved an earlier draft prior to death as all viscera were intact and appeared normal, the of this manuscript. animal was not emaciated and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract was full of prey items. DINEEN, J.F., P.F. CLARK, A.H. HINES, S.A. REED & H.P. WALTON. The GI tract of the turtle consisted primarily of adult-sized 2001. Life history, larval description, and natural history of Charybdis crabs: Libinia dubia, Libinia emarginata, Hepatus epheliticus, hellerii (Decapoda, Brachyura, Portunidae), an invasive crab in the Persephona mediterranea, Panopeus herbstii and Porcellana western Atlantic. Journal of Crustacean Biology 21: 774-805. sayana (in descending order of the amount of each prey item LEMAITRE, R. 1995. Charybdis hellerii (Milne Edwards, 1867), observed). Approximately 1/3 of the turtle’s GI tract contained a nonindigenous portunid crab (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) tubicolous polychaete worms, Diopatra cuprea. Moon snails, discovered in the Indian River lagoon system of Florida. Proceedings of Polinices duplicatus, were the least common prey item observed the Biological Society of Washington 108: 643-648. from the turtle. Amongst the aforementioned prey items encountered LIMPUS, C.J., D.L. DE VILLIERS, M.A. DE VILLIERS, D.J. LIMPUS were the remains of an unidentified portunid crab. The specimen & M. READ. 2001. The loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta in Queensland: was in two large pieces consisting primarily of the walking legs feeding ecology in warm temperate waters. Memoirs of the Queensland and chelipeds – obviously crushed in half when consumed by the Museum 46: 631-645. turtle. MANTELLATO, F.L.M. & R.B. GARCIA. 2001. Biological aspects of the Further analyses of the portunid revealed it to be C. hellerii. nonindigenous portunid crab Charybdis hellerii in the western tropical Despite the condition of the crab’s carapace, six anterolateral South Atlantic. Bulletin of Marine Science 68: 469-477. marginal teeth and a single spine on the postero-marginal border of the carpus of each fifth walking leg aided in the identification of the specimen (Lemaitre 1995). Because the carapace was damaged, we estimated the size of the C. hellerii using data presented by Mantelatto and Garcia (2001), where the authors demonstrated the relative growth of carapace width in relation to the length and height of the propodus of the major chelae. These data are also presented with respect to gender and life stage of C. hellerii. The morphometrics of the C. hellerii major chelae propodus was 21.1 mm high and 63.2 mm long, placing the specimen somewhere between 60 and 70 mm carapace width, and likely an adult male (see data presented by Mantelatto and Garcia 2001).
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 15 An Update on Eritrea’s Marine Turtle Programme and First Record of Olive Ridley Turtle Nesting in the Red Sea
Nicolas Pilcher1, Sammy Mahmud2, Steffan Howe2, Yohannes Teclemariam2, Simon Weldeyohannes2, Tekle Mengsu2 & Mahta Giotom2 1Marine Research Foundation, 136 Lorong Pokok Seraya 2, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. (Email: [email protected]) 2Eritrea Coastal Marine and Island Biodiversity Project, Ministry of Fisheries, P.O. Box 58, Massawa, Eritrea
This note describes the first documented incidence of nesting by Observer data indicate that olive ridleys have not been recorded the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) on the southern west as bycatch in the commercial fishery, and fishermen claim they coast of the Red Sea, along the southern shores of Eritrea, as well rarely see any hard-shelled turtle other than the green and hawksbill, as Eritrea’s fledgling turtle conservation initiatives. suggesting olive ridleys are not abundant in the area. Given the lack The Eritrean coast is home to a formidable diversity of marine of previous documented encounters, no firm estimates of abundance wildlife, with marine turtles constituting an important food resource of L. olivacea can be made, but we believe they constitute less for coastal people. As a key component of the Eritrea Coastal, than 1% of all turtles in the southern Red Sea based on this single Marine and Island Biodiversity (ECMIB) Project, marine turtles encounter compared against > 100 carapaces of green and hawksbill along Eritrea’s coast are today the focus of comprehensive studies turtles. and critical conservation initiatives. These include public awareness, The future of marine turtle conservation has a bright outlook in international linkages, and the protection of key nesting and foraging Eritrea. After nearly thirty years of civil war during which marine habitats. resources were hardly exploited, the present condition of the coastal In November of 2004, the ECMIB initiated its turtle conservation belt is considered to be in excellent condition. While commercial programme with a ten-day intensive training course in marine trawling does take place, and turtles are taken as bycatch, the turtle biology and conservation, attended by more than 24 staff turtle conservation project intends to train the onboard observers and specialists of the project and various stakeholder groups in turtle release techniques, and it is envisioned that TEDs will (including the Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism, and the become compulsory in the near future, with the adoption of a Environment). From the participants, a team of four ECMIB Project National Action Plan for the conservation of Marine Turtles and staff were selected to form a core turtle research and conservation their Habitats. Subsistence take occurs but is low, and the public group, and began surveys of the coastal areas, collecting information awareness component of the ECMIB project aims to educate the on locality and seasonality of nesting, species present, and uses and fishermen and their families as to the importance of marine turtles, captures where applicable. From this work two main species were following which it is expected some reduction in direct take will found to be present in Eritrean waters, the hawksbill (Eretmochelys occur. With the support of the UNDP-funded ECMIB Project, imbricata) and the green (Chelonia mydas). Initials findings plans are also underway to link Eritrea with the IOSEA MoU, an indicated subsistence take has occurred along the entire southern agreement directed specifically at marine turtle conservation (see half of the coast (some 650 km), and numerous discarded carapaces http://www.ioseaturtles.org), and further education and training were found at artisanal fishing villages. Through interviews, turtles for the turtle team is being coordinated. Marine turtles also feature were found to be killed though incidental capture in nets primarily, prominently in plans to set aside marine protected areas, which will although a level of directed take also exists. An additional pressing safeguard these resources and leave behind a longstanding legacy problem was bycatch in the mechanised trawl industry, through for future generations. which hundreds of turtles had been caught over the previous few years (Eritrea Ministy of Agriculture, unpub. data) FRAZIER, J. & S. SALAS, 1984. The status of marine turtles in the In May 2005, during a field excursion undertaken by a team of Egyptian Red Sea. Biological Conservation 30: 41-67. 15 people including the authors, the turtle team, representatives of GASPARETTI, J., STIMSON, A., MILLER, J., ROSS, P. & P. partner agencies (Ministries of Agiculture, Tourism and Fisheries), GASPARETTI. 1993. Turtles of Arabia. Fauna of Saudi Arabia 13: 170- and various support personnel, the project recorded a regional first 367. with the nesting attempt by an olive ridley turtle. This is the first time HILLMAN, J.C. & T. GEBREMARIAM. 1995. The status of marine this species has ever been documented nesting on the Red Sea coast turtle conservation in Eritrea. Resources and Environment Division. Ministry of Marine Resources, Massawa. 16 pp. (http://www.seaturtle.org/cgi-bin/imagelib/index.pl?photo=2210). Identification was confirmed by the turtle’s distinctly more rounded HOWE, S.A., ASFAHA, B. & J.M. KEMP, 2003. Turtle strandings along the Southern Eritrean Red Sea. Marine Turtle Newsletter 103: 4-7. carapace, with slightly upturned margins, and eight left and six right MILLER, J.D. 1989. Marine Turtles, Volume 1: An assessment of the costal scutes with the first costal scutes touching the nuchal scute. conservation status of Marine Turtles in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Previous work in Eritrea (Hillman & Gebremariam 1995; Howe et Report No. 9, MEPA, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 289 pp. al. 2003) and in the region (Frazier & Salas 1984; Gasparetti et al. PILCHER, N.J. & M. AL-MERGHANI. 2000. Reproductive biology of the 1993; Miller 1989; Pilcher & Al-Merghani 2000), and a regional green turtle Chelonia mydas at Ras Baridi, Saudi Arabia. Herpetological review (Ross & Barwani 1982) have indicated the presence of the Review: 32: 142-147. olive ridley turtle in Red Sea but none of these authors suggested ROSS, J.P. & M.A. BARWANI. 1982. Review of sea turtles in the Arabian that nesting has ever been documented. Area. In: Bjorndal K.A (Ed) Biology and Conservation of Sea Turtles. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. pp. 373-382. Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 16 Epibionts Associated with Chelonia mydas from Northern Brazil
Sara Pereira1, Eduardo H. S. M. Lima1, Luís Ernesto2, Helena Mathews2 & Anunciação Ventura 3 1Projeto TAMAR-IBAMA, Base de Almofala, Ceará, Brazil (E-mail: [email protected]), 2 Universidade Federal do Ceará, Brazil, 3 Departamento de Biologia, CCPA Universidade dos Açores, Portugal
Epibionts have been documented from all extant sea turtle species. We were not surprised to find C.testudinaria on all the turtles The loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) appears to support the that we observed, as this species is commonly observed on most sea greatest diversity of epibionts (Frick et al. 1998; Frick et al. 2000). turtle species – including green turtles from the Galapagos Islands The green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is also commonly colonized by (Green 1996). Similarly, none of the turtles examined during this a variety of commensals (Bugoni et al. 2001; Hirth 1997). To date, study seemed to be physically affected by its barnacle load, including there is a paucity of information on the epibionts of green turtles in small juveniles and turtles suffering from fibropapillomatosis. northern Brazil. Here we present results of a survey of epibionts from Given the aforementioned locations reported for barnacles green turtles incidentally captured in local fishing gear in Ceará, on the host turtle carapace, we hypothesize that the turtles, when Brazil following the methods of Marcovaldi et al. (2001). resting, may lay their flippers over the anterior half of the carapace Epibionts were collected from 32 live turtles captured in fishing - contributing to the observed epibiont colonization pattern. Other traps that were placed adjacent to Almofala beaches between Praia factors that may contribute to the distribution of barnacles and de Almofala (02º 91’ S, 03º 83’ W) and Volta do Rio (02º 85’ other epibionts on the carapace include intentional or inadvertent S, 03º 95’ W) from February - July 2005. Captured turtles were scratching against hard surfaces by the host, predation, stress and juveniles and subadults (mean curved carapace length = 67.6 cm). hydrodynamic drag. Future research goals for our program include Epibionts were removed from the carapace and soft body tissues and a survey of the potential differences between commensals on immediately preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol. Soft-bodied organisms adult and juvenile turtles and also between epibionts of different were placed in 10% MgCl2. Samples were then sorted to the lowest turtle species occurring in Brazil. We will also try to elucidate the taxon possible. behavioural, physical or even physiological factors associated with We identified two phyla associated with green turtles in C.mydas that might explain why this species is relatively lacking northern Brazil: Arthropods (barnacles, Chelonibia testudinaria in epibionts, given that it co-exists in Brazilian waters with highly and unidentified Balanidae) and an Annelid (leech, Ozobranchidae), recruited hosts like loggerheads and hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys which was likely Ozobranchus brachiatus as this leech is more imbicata) (Frazier et al. 1992). common as an ectoparasite of green turtles than its congener O.margoi (Hirth 1997). C.testudinaria was by far the most Acknowledgements: Projeto TAMAR-IBAMA and Dr. Leandro Bugoni. frequent barnacle observed from northern Brazilian C.mydas (100 The TAMAR project is supported by PETROBRAS. % occurrence). This species has been reported from C.mydas populations worldwide (Hirth 1997) - including C. mydas from BUGONI, L, L. KRAUSE, A.O. DE ALMEIDA & A.A DE PADUA BUENO. 2001. Commensal barnacles of sea turtles in Brazil. Marine southern Brazil, state of Rio Grande do Sul (Bugoni et al. 2001). Turtle Newsletter 94: 7-9. C.testudinaria density ranged from 3 - 25 individuals per turtle. Unidentified balanid barnacles were not as common as CAINE, E.A.1986. Carapace epibionts of nesting loggerhead sea turtles: C.testudinaria (3 turtles, 9.4 %). Given the numerous species of Atlantic coast of USA. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology & balanids reported from northern Brazil (Newman & Ross 1976), Ecology 95: 15-26. the unidentified specimens could represent one or more species. FRAZIER, J.G., J.E. WINSTON & C. RUCKDESCHEL. 1992. Epizoan Bugoni et al. (2001) reported the balanids Balanus improvisus and communities on marine turtles III. Bryozoa. Bulletin of Marine Science B.venustus from green turtles in southern Brazil and it is likely that 51: 1-8. they occur on C.mydas in northern Brazil as well. Barnacles were largely confined to the scutes of the posterior FRICK, M.G., K.L., WILLIAMS & M., ROBINSON. 1998. Epibionts and marginal areas of the host turtle’s carapace – a similar location associated with nesting loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in noted for epibionts of Atlantic loggerheads (Caine 1986) and Georgia, USA. Herpetological Review 29: 211-214. noted as an ideal region for the recruitment of large filter-feeders FRICK, M.G., K.L. WILLIAMS, D. VELJACIC, L. PIERRARD, J.A. like C.testudinaria (Matsuura & Nakamura 1993). We also found JACKSON & S.E. KNIGHT. 2000. Newly Documented Epibiont Species barnacles commonly situated on inconel flipper tags. from Nesting Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) in Georgia, USA. We did not find a large variety nor a large number or organisms Marine Turtle Newsletter 88: 3-5. on the same turtle. Our results suggest that epibionts do not GREEN, D. 1996. Epizoites of Galapagos green turtles In Proceedings of the colonize green turtles as gregariously as other turtle species. Also Sixteenth Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation, noteworthy is that the leeches we observed were always associated NOAA Tech Memo NMFS-SEFSC-412, 139 pp. with masses (possible fibropapillomas; 11 turtles, 34 %) and leech egg masses were commonly found along the front flippers of HIRTH, H.F. 1997. Synopsis of biological data on green turtle Chelonia host turtles - zones of high turbulence and aeration that are likely mydas (Linnaeus 1758). U.S. Fish and Wildservice. Biological Report conducive for embryonic development. 97, 120 pp.
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 17 MARCOVALDI, M.A., B.G. GALLO, E.H.M.S. LIMA, M.H. GODFREY. barnacle Chelonibia testudinaria on the carapace of nesting loggerhead 2001. Nem tudo que cai na rede e peixe: an environmental education turtles Caretta caretta. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi, 59, 1803 pp. initiative to reduce mortality of marine turtles caught in artisanal fishing NEWMAN, W.A. & A. ROSS. 1976. Revision of the Balanomorph nests in Brazil. Ocean Yearbook 15: 246–256. barnacles; including a catalog of the species. San Diego Society of MATSUURA, I. & K. NAKAMURA. 1993. Attachment pattern of the Natural History Memoir 9, 108 pp.
Small Leatherback Found in Dominica
Rowan Byrne1 & Scott A. Eckert2 1Project Director, Rosalie Sea Turtle Initiative, 4 Great Georges Street, Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica W.I. (E-mail: [email protected]) 2Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST), Marine Laboratory of Duke University, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516-9721 USA (E-mail: [email protected])
On October the 20th 2004, a small leatherback sea turtle The stranding of small leatherbacks of this size in tropical waters (Dermochelys coriacea) stranded alive on the shore of Scott’s has been reported previously in the Marine Turtle Newsletter (Prince Head Marine Reserve, southeast Dominica and was transported to 2004), however such reports are rare. However, the occurrence is government fisheries division headquarters in Roseau (Figure 1). consistent with the finding that juvenile leatherback > 100cm CCL The turtle was placed in a small tank one metre long 0.5m deep and reside in tropical Caribbean waters < 26 °C (Eckert 2002). retained for observation over the weekend at fisheries headquarters. It was then transferred to a substantially larger tank, 4m deep, & Acknowledgments. RoSTI staff would like to Chief fisheries officer of the 20metres wide at the Oceanographic Institute Portsmouth north Dominican Fisheries Division, Mr. Andrew Magloire for his support Mr. of Dominica on the following Monday. However, that evening Fred Verrier and other individuals for reporting the stranding RoSTI would just before release, it was discovered dead in a nearby holding also like to thank the Oceanographic Institute located at Portsmouth for housing the young leatherback. tank and had either died and been washed through to this tank or been drowned when drawn through a connecting intake tube. The ECKERT, S. 2002. Distribution of juvenile leatherback sea turtle turtle measured 13.3 cm curved carapace length; 10.5 cm curved Dermochelys coriacea sightings. Marine Ecology. Progress Series 230: carapace width; 11cm plastron length; weight was approximately 289-293. 230g (0.5lbs). PRINCE, L.T. 2004. Stranding of small juvenile leatherback in Western Australia. Marine Turtle Newsletter 104: 3-5.
Figure 1. Juvenile leatherback, Dominica - Photo:
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 18 MTSG UPDATE: IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group Hosts the First Multi-Species Bycatch Mitigation Workshop
Nicolas J. Pilcher1, Roderic B. Mast2 & Brian J. Hutchinson3 1Co-Chair, IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group, Marine Research Foundation, 136 Lorong Pokok Seraya 2, Taman Khidmat, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia (E-mail: [email protected]) 2Co-Chair, IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group, Conservation International, Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, 1919 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 USA (E-mail: [email protected]) 3Program Officer, IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group, Address as above, (E-mail: [email protected])
This MTSG update summarizes the outcomes of the recent The resulting workshop brought together a coalition of marine MTSG-led workshop on multi-species bycatch mitigation, held resource specialists composed of managers and policy makers, in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia (September 26-30). The meeting was scientists, NGOs, IGOs, industry representatives and fishers, from co-hosted by the MTSG, the Marine Research Foundation, WWF 14 countries sharing a wealth of global experience. The group International and Birdlife International. In addition to MTSG staff, defined an overarching challenge to develop integrated, multi- Nick Pilcher, Roderic Mast and Brian Hutchinson, MTSG members species approaches that generate effective long-term solutions to Alan Bolten, Liz McClellan, Carlos Drews and Mike McCoy the bycatch of non-target species (including sea turtles, seabirds, provided marine turtle expertise. Others provided immeasurable marine mammals and sharks) in pelagic longline fisheries, which are pre-workshop input, including Jack Musick, Larry Crowder and scientifically sound, socially acceptable, practical and transferable, Michael Coyne, who helped a lot with the preparations. Several and economically and ecologically sustainable. of the participants had worked extensively with turtle bycatch The final technical report will feature, as one of the two key mitigation and were able to provide data and input into the process outputs, a comparative matrix to assess the commonalities, synergies and form the backbone of the turtle side of mitigation. and conflicts between species groups and mitigation measures for During the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Bangkok target (and non-target) species, and identify criteria for evaluating (November 2004), and following a number of presentations on trade-offs in the application of bycatch mitigation methods. The marine conservation and bycatch issues, a small side meeting document highlights the potential for the use of risk-based methods between the MTSG (Nick Pilcher), WWF (Amanda Nickson) and for assessing: i) bycatch reduction priorities, and, ii) the multi-species Birdlife International (John Croxall) identified the need for a forum effects of bycatch reduction methods and strategies, and suggests at which bycatch issues could be considered at a multi-taxa level. means of monitoring and evaluating the efficacy of mitigation efforts Recognizing that several very effective bycatch reduction measures with respect to performance indicators and adaptive management are already in place, concerns were raised that there was insufficient approaches. The outcomes also highlight research priorities such as communication and collaboration among the various species groups filling data gaps, and conducting trials for promising new mitigation impacted by longline fisheries, and that opportunities might exist methods and strategies (including avoidance). The goal of these is to for promoting cross-group information sharing and collaboration. raise awareness of the data needs that exist across taxa on this issue, Further, such a workshop could assist in maximizing the efficacy and to encourage governments and industry to collect standardized of information and advice provided to fisheries management and multi-species data in all observer programs. The Technical Report species conservation stakeholders around the world. The workshop is envisioned to form the basis of a ‘roadmap’ or plan of action with was intended as a forum to: regard to multi-species bycatch mitigation, and will be circulated to industry and regulatory bodies, and research and conservation 1. Exchange knowledge on bycatch problems and mitigation agencies to further promote a more ecological approach to bycatch techniques among four key species groups (turtles, seabirds, mitigation. cetaceans, sharks) while remaining open to the future A second key outcome of the workshop was a preliminary inclusion of additional species groups; concept of a mathematical model based on existing mitigation 2. Identify conflicts/mutual benefits of mitigation gears and measures and intended for fisheries managers to assist in decision fishing strategies in relation to bycatch of different species making. Realizing that not every mitigation option is available groups as well as target and non-target fish species; or even necessary in every fishery, the group developed a model 3. Share knowledge on the spatial-temporal overlap of decision-making process for determining the top priorities for distributions of turtles, seabirds, sharks, cetaceans (and mitigation, both in terms of the bycatch species and the mitigation identify global databases through which these data can be options. While the model is still in its early stages of development, shared); the group was able to run some case studies and envision the potential 4. Identify needs, priorities and opportunities for collaborative such a model could have in fisheries and bycatch management. In mitigation research; and, brief, the model requires an up front determination of the species 5. Define a priority global agenda to create a significant being impacted by a given fishery, which can then be assigned and measurable reduction in longline bycatch within 3-5 ‘conservation values’ or some form of risk assessment weighting years. based on existing criteria such as the Australian ERA values, the
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 19 Hawaiian PBR-based ranking or an IUCN Red List status. Based on several of the workshop participants have agreed to pursue the the groups of species being impacted, a list of all potential bycatch finalization of this model and seek funding for its development. mitigation measures is then assembled, and a matrix drawn up of These steps will include: the input of expert advice across the range the potential positive or negative impact of any given measure of species and within industry and regulatory bodies with regard to on any given species or species group. For instance, circle hooks mitigation impacts; further refinement of the mathematical model may represent a positive impact on mitigating sea turtle bycatch and weighting system, and; integration of existing assessment but a negative impact on mitigating shark bycatch, and no impact criteria. The final ownership and residence of the model will also on mitigating seabird bycatch. Tori lines (deterrent streamer lines be considered as part of this development process. strung out behind longline vessels) may work well for birds, but Indirectly, the workshop raised the awareness and knowledge of have no impact on catch rates of sharks, cetaceans and turtles. Once workshop participants, provided international points of contacts for the matrix is developed (a process expected to require significant each species group, and established a new network of stakeholders expert input), a mathematical modeling process then assigns weights working on bycatch. In the wake of the meeting Alan Bolten has to species value, factors these against mitigation measures, and already established an email listerver for the participants, and the prioritizes the top mitigation measures available to managers. Once list is already being used to exchange information on bycatch and completed, the model is envisioned to be a key tool in decision- ongoing mitigation efforts. We take this opportunity to thank all making taking into account variations in ‘species conservation value’ those MTSG members who contributed to the workshop in one way and providing a list of realistic options to managers and industry for or another, and will keep you updated of further developments of mitigating bycatch at a multi-species level. Following the workshop, both the Technical Report and the aforementioned model.
Recommendations for Mediterranean Marine Turtles from Barcelona Convention
Dimitris Margaritoulis MTSG Vice Chair - Mediterranean, ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, Solomou 57, GR-10432 Athens, Greece (E-mail: [email protected])
The 7th Meeting of the National Focal Points for Specially Protected 5. To take note of the results of the Workshop on the Standardization of Areas (SPAs), in the context of the Barcelona Convention, took Tagging and Centralization of Information, and to promote tagging place in Seville (Spain) on 30 May-3 June 2005. During the meeting programmes that comply with the general recommendations and a set of important recommendations were proposed for adoption the principal guidelines of this Workshop. at the higher level meeting of MAP Focal Points held in Athens 6. To support participation in the 26th International Sea Turtle (Greece) on 21-24 September 2005. The recommendations reflect Symposium to be held on 3-8 April 2006 in Greece. the so far implementation of the Action Plan for the Conservation of Mediterranean Marine Turtles, adopted by all Mediterranean Request the Secretariat (RAC/SPA): countries in the context of Barcelona Convention, and the outcome 1. To assist countries to fulfilling obligations pertaining to the of the Second Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles (Turkey, implementation of the Action Plan, by supporting and/or 4-7 May 2005). More information on the Second Mediterranean coordinating actions where necessary. Conference has been presented in the MTN 109 (pages 10 and 12- 2. To support initiatives to improve knowledge of the distribution 14). The Action Plan can be found in the website of the Regional of populations of marine turtles at sea. Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA) at: http:// 3. To strengthen collaboration with FAO/GFCM to address the www.rac-spa.org/index1.htm. problem of the interaction of fisheries with marine turtles. The final adopted recommendations, as presented in the 4. To take into consideration the results of the Regional IUCN meeting’s report UNEP(DEC)MED WG.270/19 Annex III page Red List Assessment of Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas and 18, are the following: Dermochelys coriacea which is being prepared by IUCN’s Marine II.B.1.2. Implementation of the Action Plan for the Conservation Turtle Specialist Group (MTSG) and all relevant inputs in order of Mediterranean Marine Turtles to propose, as appropriate, an update of the Action Plan at the 8th Meeting of RAC/SPA National Focal Points. Recommendations to the Contracting Parties: 5. To support the organization of the 26th International Sea Turtle 1. To fulfill their obligations in relation to the implementation of Symposium in Greece and the 3rd Mediterranean Conference on the Action Plan, and particularly the recommended actions at Marine Turtles, to be held in Tunisia. national level for each country. 6. To promote awareness measures and education for various 2. To ensure legal protection measures for known nesting sites (incl. target stakeholders (including fishermen, tourists and decision adjacent waters) and other aggregation areas. makers). 3. To encourage pilot studies on tested methods to reduce turtle At the time of writing this, the report has not yet been uploaded in by-catch and mortality in fisheries. the UNEP/MAP’s website (http://www.unepmap.org). If, however, 4. To take note of the conclusions and recommendations of the you are interested to receive the report, please contact Dimitris Second Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles. Margaritoulis.
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 20 ANNOUNCEMENTS: The 26th International Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation (Island of Crete, Greece, 3-8 April 2006) UPDATE ON PREPARATIONS
Dimitris Margaritoulis President, International Sea Turtle Society, ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, Solomou 57, GR-10432 Athens, Greece (E-mail: [email protected])
Breaking the record of submitted abstracts registered some generous donors as the National Marine Fisheries At the time of writing this note (end of November 2005) we are only Service, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, four months away from the object of our efforts, the 26th International Florida Power and Light, the Bern Convention (Council of Europe), Sea Turtle Symposium. I always knew that the Mediterranean was the UNEP/Mediterranean Action Plan. Further, we have serious popular but I had not realized quite how much; we have surpassed hopes to get funds from the Disney Animal Kingdom, the Marine all previous Symposia in the number of submitted abstracts. At the Turtle Conservation Fund, the RAC/SPA in Tunisia, the Hellenic closure of the deadline for abstract submissions we had received Centre for Marine Research in Greece, and several others. I would 501 abstracts! Thank you all for your contributions. Of course, many like to note here that ARCHELON, the Symposium local host of the “prefer oral” submissions will have to go as posters, as the organization, has drafted an agreement with Thanos Belalidis, the oral time-slots are limited and we will try to avoid, as much as we Symposium Coordinator, to undertake fund-raising actions within can, concurrent sessions. We shall give, however, enough time for Greece for the Symposium. Hopefully, we will succeed in getting poster sessions and appropriate interaction with poster authors. The some much-needed funds also from the host country. Program Committee has a heavy task to accomplish but I am sure they will do a fine job. Booking of Rooms: The deadline for hotel room reservations is approaching fast (1 March 2006). As I expect the number of Schedule and Program participants to increase beyond my initial expectations, it is advisable • On 3 and 4 April we shall have the standard regional to reserve your room now, as rooms are booked on a “first-in/first- meetings (Africa, IOSEA, Mediterranean, RETOMALA, served” basis. Please note that you can extend your stay at the WIDECAST) and associated workshops. For more hotel under the same prices. The hotel has a great flexibility in information on the regional meetings you can contact the type of rooms and bungalows in various prices and configurations. respective coordinators; their contact details are found on I remind you that the lowest price per person is 20 Euro/night incl. the Symposium website: taxes and breakfast in a room with other three people. You can
See you all on Crete. A Bibliography of The Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta Caretta (Linnaeus, 1758), Including References To Fossils Placed In The Genus Caretta The latest version of the above bibliography, dated October 2005, reports, please! If you have trouble accessing the bibliography, is now available at: contact Dr. Wayne King at the Florida Museum of Natural History
As always, I am interested in omissions, especially for theses and Dr. C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr., USGS/Florida Integrated Science Cent- publications outside the standard international herpetological, ers, 7920 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL 32653 USA (E-mail: ecological, and marine journals. No gray literature or unpublished [email protected]),
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 22 IOSEA Leatherback Post-Tsunami Assessment Underway
Several nations within the Indian Ocean/South-East Asian region the Signatory States, in late February 2006. The country-based have, or used to have, important leatherback nesting sites or foraging information on leatherback turtles will include a detailed review areas. A thorough overview of the status of leatherbacks in this vast of important aspects of leatherback turtle nesting distribution and region would help to guide management actions needed to enhance abundance, previous and current research activities, foraging area the species’ prospects for recovery. status, and threats for each country. Additionally, the tsunami of December 2004 had devastating The assessment will examine the impact that the tsunami had on effects on the coastal areas of many nations around the Indian marine turtle nesting beaches, turtle conservation projects and local Ocean. Yet the fine scale impacts on marine turtle nesting areas infrastructure and will benefit from numerous independent studies and on conservation projects in the region have yet to be examined already completed or under way. comprehensively. Based on the country reports and other sources, Advisory At the Third Meeting of IOSEA Signatory States in March 2005, Committee members Dr George Hughes (Chair) and Dr Colin member States requested the IOSEA Advisory Committee to provide Limpus will prepare an overall assessment of leatherback turtles an assessment of both the conservation status of leatherback turtles in the region, which will be included in the final report. and the impacts of the December 2004 tsunami on turtles and turtle In recent weeks, survey forms have been sent out to country habitats. representatives in each of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asian To facilitate this assessment the IOSEA MoU Secretariat is nations concerned. A number of reports have already been returned coordinating the compilation and analysis of survey information and are currently being reviewed by the project staff. on leatherback turtles in each of the Indian Ocean and South-East By pulling together all available information including the grey Asian nations, including non-signatory States. Dr. Mark Hamann, literature, we are confident that this assessment will greatly enhance working from James Cook University in Queensland, Australia, our understanding of leatherback turtles in the region. was appointed to manage the project. He is currently collaborating with a number of members of the Advisory Committee and/or IUCN For further information, please contact Mark Hamann
Oman to Host Next IOSEA Marine Turtle Conservation Forum
The Secretariat is pleased to announce that the Fourth Meeting of ioseaturtles.org/yot2006/>, the official launch of the overall YoT the Signatory States to the IOSEA Marine Turtle Memorandum of campaign is scheduled for 1 March 2006. The provisional agenda Understanding (SS4) will be held in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, from for the Signatory State Meeting will be circulated in mid-December 11-14 March 2006. This is the first time that the annual gathering will 2005; proposals for specific agenda items are welcomed. Interested be hosted by a Signatory State, and take place outside of the IOSEA non-governmental and inter-governmental organisations concerned Secretariat’s Bangkok headquarters. The meeting offers a unique by marine turtle and habitat conservation are welcome to attend and opportunity to showcase the importance of Oman, and the region contribute to the discussions. All participants are advised to submit in which it is situated, for marine turtle conservation. Renowned their registration form to the Secretariat without delay, and to begin for its nesting populations of green and loggerhead turtles, and to make any necessary arrangements to secure their visa for Oman, frequented by other rare marine turtle species, Oman is a ‘must- to avoid last minute complications. Muscat is well serviced by see’ destination for turtle enthusiasts. The Meeting of the Signatory international airlines, particularly through major air hubs such as States will be preceded, on 9-10 March 2006, by a meeting of the Dubai, less than an hour away. For further information, including IOSEA Advisory Committee. Activities to mark the sub-regional a registration form, please visit International Meeting on Sea Turtles in São Tomé. 30th January to 3rd February 2006 The ONG MARAPA (Sea Environment and Artisan Fishery), is and with all it means in a country with very little research and a lot please to inform the marine turtle community of the realization of a of needs. Secondary, and taking advantage of the experts attending meeting on sea turtles in São Tomé e Príncipe. This meeting has the the meeting, the ONG MARAPA wishes to establish contact with main objective to achieve a commitment of the government on the possible collaborators to improve the Sea Turtle Protection Program conservation of sea turtles. Actually sea turtles are treated as fish, that now develops on the Nesting Beaches. Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 23 NEWS AND LEGAL BRIEFS This section is compiled by Kelly Samek. You can submit news items at any time online at GLOBAL Judge OKs Policy on Circle Hooks Federal fisheries regulators have allowed commercial longline Web Trade Threat to Rare Species fishermen to use circle-shaped hooks that reduce unintended sea The illegal trade in wild animal products over the internet is turtle catches while still allowing longliners to reel in targeted driving the world’s most endangered species to extinction, wildlife swordfish and tuna, a federal district court judge ruled in Washington. campaigners claim. An International Fund for Animal Welfare Working with federal biologists, the fishermen showed that circular (IFAW) probe found 9,000 live animals or products for sale in one hooks in the 18/0 size reduced the numbers of turtles caught when week on trading sites like eBay. During a three month investigation, they ingested bait intended for fish, because the circular hooks IFAW found some of the world’s most endangered species for sale were less likely to be swallowed by turtles. But in response to online - almost all being traded illegally. Animal body parts included other fishermen’s worries that 18/0 sized circle hooks would reduce hawksbill turtle shells, protected by British law. IFAW wants the their fish catch, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) last Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure year agreed to allow use of slightly smaller 16/0 circular hooks in that bans are enforced. Website owners are being urged to let users most areas. Environmental activist groups Oceana and The Ocean report their suspicions and work more closely with government and Conservancy had challenged the NMFS plan. They argued the enforcement agencies. Source: BBC, 15 August 2005. smaller hook sizes had not been adequately tested, and challenged the government’s related biological opinion and environmental THE AMERICAS impact documents, which contended the new rule was adequate to protect turtles. Source: Asbury Park Press, 18 October 2005. Rare Green Sea Turtle Lays Eggs on Virginia Beach A green sea turtle has made history on the southern part of Virginia Beach Driving Dispute Settled Beach. The rare turtle dug out a nest earlier this week on the beach The battle over beach driving in Volusia County is over for at least in Sandbridge and laid 124 eggs. Wildlife biologists say Monday’s the next 25 years. Volusia County won the right to allow vehicles event was the first documented case of a green sea turtle laying a on the beach until 2030, through a federal permit granted that keeps nest of eggs in Virginia. Staffers at the Back Bay National Wildlife beach driving in place despite the potential harm to endangered Refuge transplanted the eggs to a secluded protective site on the animals. Cars have been driving on county beaches for more than refuge, protecting the eggs from predators and shading them from a century, but environmental concerns for animals that inhabit the the sun. The eggs are expected to hatch in mid-September. Source: beach, such as sea turtles and piping plovers, have posed the most Associated Press, 5 August 2005. serious obstacle to the future of beach driving. With the new permit, federal officials have decided that the harm to turtles was minimal Sea Turtle Nests Hit by Poachers and that beach driving can be allowed for a quarter-century. Source: Poachers hit seven loggerhead sea turtle nests on a Hilton Head Orlando Sentinel, 5 November 2005. Island beach, the worst such incident in recent years. All the nests, which held an estimated 125 eggs each, were in an area between the ASIA Folly and the Westin Resort that is “easy access with no buildings or houses,” said Carlos Chacon with the Sea Turtle Protection Project. Turtles are Bidding Goodbye The nests were laid between May 31 and July 14 and probably were Despite conservation efforts, leatherbacks have not returned to poached within a day or two of being laid. Source: Island Packet, traditional nesting sites in Malaysia. The same appears to be true 19 August 2005. for olive ridley and hawksbill turtles. For the first time in history, none of these species landed at the 34 traditional nesting sites in Loggerhead Turtle Nests Increase in Georgia Terengganu in June and July. The Turtle and Marine Ecosystem With the sea turtle nesting season almost over, biologists have Centre (TUMEC), hopes at least some turtles will nest at the recorded 1,219 loggerhead nests along the Georgia coast. That’s a traditional sites before the nesting season ends in early September. big improvement over the dismal 2004 season, when only 368 nests Tumec also expressed concern over the drop in the number of were counted, but it still continues the long-term downward spiral green turtles nesting. So far this year, only 1,500 have nested here for nesting. Annual nesting totals are highly variable, but the overall compared with 3,086 last year. Tumec director Dr Kamaruddin trend in Georgia shows a decline of about 1.5 percent a year over Ibrahim reported that there were no recorded landings of leatherback, the last 30 years, according to Wildlife Resources Division Wildlife olive ridley and hawksbill turtles at prime nesting areas in Rantau Biologist Mark Dodd, who serves as the Georgia Sea Turtle Program Abang, Pulau Redang, Ma’daerah and Geliga in Kemaman, and Coordinator. Source: Associated Press, 10 October 2005. Pulau Perhentian. Source: New Straits Times, 2 August 2005. Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 24 Nine Arrested for Fishing Inside Marine Sanctuary The park has been all but unguarded since summer 2003. At a The Orissa (India) forest officials arrested nine people and seized March 30 press conference, then ZNMP chairman Ioannis Pantis three mechanized trawlers and nets from them for illegally fishing threatened legal action against the Ministry of the Environment, inside the Gahirmatha Marine sanctuary despite a ban on fishing. Public Works and Urban Planning for failure to meet its financial They were fishing illegally near Chinchiri mouth under Gahirmatha obligations to the park. Source: Athens News, 5 August 2005. Marine Sanctuary of Kendrapara district violating the ban imposed by the Forest Department keeping in view the mass nesting of the OCEANIA rare and endangered olive ridley sea turtles. The Bhitarkanika Forest officials have imposed a ban on fishing activities by mechanized South Pacific Nations Announce Plan to Protect the boats inside the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary from November 1 Western Pacific Leatherback to May 31 next under the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act. Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon’s Islands will Source: WebIndia123.com, 9 November 2005. announce an agreement on October 26 to jointly develop a plan to protect Western Pacific Leatherback turtles, which EUROPE migrate thousands of miles to feed in the waters off California. They will announce their intention to protect turtle nesting Eco-disaster Looms on Zakynthos Beaches grounds and migratory routes during a meeting of the Pacific Coinciding with the publication of a report by the recently appointed Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New chairman of Zakynthos’ National Marine Park (ZNMP), the Guinea on October 26. World Wildlife Fund played a crucial Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles (MEDASSET) role in this development and the conservation group’s marine fired off an August 3 press release condemning the Greek government turtle experts can discuss its implications for the future of the and the European Commission for allowing the key nesting areas species. Agreement between the three countries is crucial for of Zakynthos to become overdeveloped tourist playgrounds. the protection of Western Pacific Leatherbacks. Working with MEDASSET founder and president Lily Venizelos notes that five conservation and research agencies such as World Wildlife years have now passed since Greece lost a European Court of Justice Fund, the governments will develop a detailed plan to protect case on sea turtle protection in Zakynthos, and ten months have their nesting sites, map out migratory routes and address the elapsed since Greece was sent a letter of reasoned opinion (the final issues that threaten them with extinction. Source: WWF press warning before once again being taken to the European Court) from release, 25 October 2005. the then European Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom. However, the situation has only deteriorated. RECENT PUBLICATIONS This section is compiled by the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research (ACCSTR), University of Florida. The ACCSTR maintains the Sea Turtle On-line Bibliography It is requested that a copy of all publications (including technical reports and non-refereed journal articles) be sent to both: 1) The ACCSTR for inclusion in both the on-line bibliography and the MTN. Address: Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research, University of Florida, PO Box 118525, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. 2) The editors of the Marine Turtle Newsletter to facilitate the transmission of information to colleagues submitting articles who may not have access to on-line literature reviewing services. RECENT PAPERS ANON. 2005. Marine turtles slaughter - call for protected area. CASALE, P., D. FREGGI, R. BASSO & R. ARGANO. 2005. Marine Pollution Bulletin 50: 909-10. Interaction of the static net fishery with loggerhead sea turtles in the Mediterranean: insights from mark recapture data. ARAI, M.N. 2005. Predation on pelagic coelenterates: a review. Herpetological Journal 15: 201-203. (Via Antonio Calderara, Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United I-00125 Rome, Italy, E-mail: [email protected]) Kingdom 85: 523-536. (Pacific Biological Station 3190 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo, British Columbia V9T 6N7, Canada, E-mail: [email protected]) Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 25 CASALE, P., D. FREGGI, R. BASSO, and R. ARGANO. 2005. GARMESTANI, A.S. & H.F. PERCIVAL. 2005. Raccoon removal Size at male maturity, sexing methods and adult sex ratio reduces sea turtle nest depredation in the Ten Thousand Islands in loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from Italian waters of Florida. Southeastern Naturalist 4: 469-472. (Clemson Univ, investigated through tail measurements. Herpetological Journal S Carolina Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, Program 15: 145-148. (Address as above) Policy Studies, G27 Lehotsky Hall, Clemson, SC 29634, USA. E-mail: [email protected]) CHALOUPKA, M. & G.H. BALAZS. 2005. Modelling the effect of fibropapilloma disease on the somatic growth dynamics JAMES, M.C., S.A. ECKERT & R.A. MYERS. 2005. Migratory of Hawaiian green sea turtles. Marine Biology 147: 1251- and reproductive movements of male leatherback turtles 1260. (Ecological Modelling Services Pty Ltd, University of (Dermochelys coriacea). Marine Biology 147: 845-853. (Dept. Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4067, PO Box 6150, Australia, of Biology, Dalhousie Univ., Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4J1 E-mail: [email protected]). Canada. E-mail: [email protected]). CLARKE, J.T. & S.A. NORMAN. 2005. Results and evaluation JAMES, M.C., R.A. MYERS & C.A. OTTENSMEYER. 2005. of US Navy shock trial environmental mitigation of marine Behaviour of leatherback sea turtles, Dermochelys coriacea, mammals and sea turtles. Journal of Cetacean Research and during the migratory cycle. Proceedings of the Royal Society Management 7: 43-50. (E-mail: [email protected]). B - Biological Sciences 272: 1547-1555. (Address as above) COYNE, M.S. & B.J. GODLEY. 2005. Satellite Tracking and JOHNSEN, S. & K.J. LOHMANN. 2005. The physics and Analysis Tool (STAT): an integrated system for archiving, neurobiology of magnetoreception. Nature Reviews analyzing and mapping animal tracking data. Marine Ecology Neuroscience 6: 703-712. (Duke Univ, Dept Biology, Durham, Progress Series 301: 1-7. This article is open-access and NC 27708, USA. E-mail: [email protected]). available for download at: http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/ meps/v301. (SEATURTLE.ORG, 1 Southampton Place, KAMEL, S.J. & N. MROSOVSKY. 2005. Repeatability of nesting Durham, NC 27705, USA, E-mail: [email protected]) preferences in the hawksbill sea turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, and their fitness consequences. Animal Behaviour 70: 819-828. DAVIS, F.R. 2005. Saving sea turtles: the evolution of the IUCN (Univ Toronto, Dept. of Zoology, 25 Harbord St, Toronto, ON Marine Turtle Group. Endeavour 29: 114-118 (Florida State M5S 3G5 Canada. E-mail: [email protected]). Univ, Dept History, 401 Bellamy, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. E-mail: [email protected]). KAPLAN, I.C. 2005. A risk assessment for Pacific leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea). Canadian Journal of Fisheries DEBROT, A.O., N. ESTEBAN, R. LE SCAO, A. CABALLERO and Aquatic Sciences 62: 1710-1719. (National Marine Fisheries & P.C. HOETJES. 2005. New sea turtle nesting records for the Service, NW Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Blvd E, Netherlands Antilles provide impetus to conservation action. Seattle, WA 98112, USA. E-mail: [email protected]). Caribbean Journal of Science 41: 334-339. (Carmabi Fdn, Piscaderabaai ZN, POB 2090, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. KELLY, J.P. 2005. The seduction of the appellate body: Shrimp/Sea E-mail: [email protected]). turtle I and II and the proper role of states in WTO governance. Cornell International Law Journal 38: 459-491. (Widener Univ, DUTTON, D.L., P.H. DUTTON, M. CHALOUPKA & R.H. School of Law, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA). BOULON. 2005. Increase of a Caribbean leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea nesting population linked to long- KELLY, T.R., W. WALTON, B. NADELSTEIN & G.A. LEWBART. term nest protection. Biological Conservation 126: 186-194. 2005. Phacoemulsification of bilateral cataracts in a loggerhead (NOAA-NMFS, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8604 La sea turtle (Caretta caretta). Veterinary Record 156: 774-77. Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, California 92038, USA. E-mail: (N Carolina State Univ, College of Veterinary Medicine, [email protected]). Environmental Medicine Consortium, 4700 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA). ENGEMAN, R.M., R.E. MARTIN, H.T. SMITH, J. WOOLARD, C.K. CRADY, S.A. SHWIFF, B. CONSTATIN, M. STAHL LIVINGSTONE, S.R. & J.R. DOWNIE. 2005. Marine turtle & J. GRINER. 2005. Dramatic reduction in predation on conservation on the north coast of Trinidad - a Darwin Initiative marine turtle nests through improved predator monitoring and Project. Testudo 6: 3-16. (E-mail: [email protected]. management. Oryx 39: 318-326. (National Wildlife Research ac.uk) Center, 4101 LaPorte Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521-2154, USA. LOPEZ-CASTRO, M.C. & A. ROCHA-OLIVARES. 2005. The E-mail: [email protected]) panmixia paradigm of eastern Pacific olive ridley turtles FELGER, R.S., W.J. NICHOLS & J.A. SEMINOFF. 2005. Sea revised: consequences for their conservation and evolutionary turtles in Northwestern Mexico: Conservation, ethnobiology, biology. Molecular Ecology 14: 3325-3334. (CICESE, Dept and desperation. In: J.-L. E. Cartron, G. Ceballos & R. S. Biol Oceanog, Lab Ecol Mol, Div Oceanol, POB 434844,Km Felger (Eds). Biodiversity, Ecosystems, and Conservation in 107 Carretera Tijuana Ensenada, San Ysidro, CA 92143, USA. Northwestern Mexico. Oxford University Press, New York E-mail: [email protected]). pp. 405-424. Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 26 LORVELEC, O. & M. PASCAL. 2005. French attempts to eradicate RIVALAN, P., A. PREVOT-JULLIARD, R. CHOQUET, R. non-indigenous mammals and their consequences for native PRADEL, B. JACQUEMIN & M. GIRONDOT. 2005. Trade- biota. Biological Invasions 7: 135-140. (INRA, Stn SCRIBE, off between current reproductive effort and delay to next Equipe Gest Populat Invas, Campus Beaulieu, F-35042 Rennes, reproduction in the leatherback sea turtle. Oecologia 145: 564- France. E-mail: [email protected]). 574. (Address as above). LUM, L.L. 2005. Beach dynamics and nest distribution of the ROOS, D., D. PELLETIER, S. CICCIONE, M. TAQUET & G. leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) at Grande Riviere HUGHES. 2005. Aerial and snorkelling census techniques Beach, Trinidad & Tobago. Revista de Biologia Tropical 53: for estimating green turtle abundance on foraging areas: A 239-248. (E-mail: [email protected]) pilot study in Mayotte Island (Indian Ocean). Aquatic Living Resources 18: 193-198. (IFREMER, Lab Ressources Halieut, BP MAFFUCCI, F., W.H.C.F. KOOISTRA & F. BENTIVEGNA. 60, F-97822 Le Port, France. E-mail: [email protected]). 2006. Natal origin of loggerhead turtles, Caretta caretta, in the neritic habitat off the Italian coasts, Central Mediterranean. SEA TURTLE ASSOCIATION OF JAPAN. 2005. A circular notice Biological Conservation 127: 183-189. (Stazione Zoologica on sea turtles in 2004. Umigame Newsletter of Japan 65: 2-41. Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale I, 80121 Naples, Italy. E-mail: in Japanese. (E-mail: [email protected]) [email protected]) SWIMMER, Y., R. ARAUZ, B. HIGGINS, L. MCNAUGHTON, MAROS, A., A. LOUVEAUX, E. LIOT, J. MARMET & M. M. MCCRACKEN, J. BALLESTERO & R. BRILL. 2005. GIRONDOT. 2005. Identifying characteristics of Scapteriscus Food color and marine turtle feeding behavior: Can blue bait spp. (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae) apparent predators of marine reduce turtle bycatch in commercial fisheries? Marine Ecology turtle eggs. Environmental Entomology 34: 1063-1070. (M. Progress Series 295: 273-278. (Pacific Island Fisheries Science Girondot, Univ Paris 11, UMR 8079, Lab Ecol Systemat Center, Natl Marine Fisheries Service, 2570 Dole St, Honolulu, & Evolut, Bat 362, F-91405 Orsay, France. E-mail: marc. HI 96822, USA. E-mail: [email protected]). [email protected]). TIWARI, M., K.A. BJORNDAL, A.B. BOLTEN & B.M. BOLKER. MAURER-SPUREJ, E. 2005. Circulating serotonin in vertebrates. 2005. Intraspecific application of the mid-domain effect model: Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 62: 1881-1889. (Dept. spatial and temporal nest distributions of green turtles, Chelonia of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and UBC Centre for mydas, at Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Ecology Letters 8: 918-24. Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, (NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada). Science Center, 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, California 92037 USA. E-mail: [email protected]). O’CONNELL, M.T., C.D. FRANZE, E.A. SPALDING & M.A. POIRRIER. 2005. Biological resources of the Louisiana WHITMORE, R.C., R.C. BRUSCA, J.L. LEÓN DE LA CRUZ, P. coast: Part 2. Coastal animals and habitat associations. Journal GONZÁLEZ-ZAMORANO, R. MENDOZA-SALGADO, E.S. of Coastal Research Special Issue 44: 146-161. (Univ New AMADOR-SILVA, G. HOLGUIN, F. GALVÁN-MAGAÑA, Orleans, Pontchartrain Inst Environmental Science, New P.A. HASTINGS, J-L. E. CARTRON, R.S. FELGER, J.A. Orleans, LA 70148, USA. E-mail: [email protected]). SEMINOFF & C.C. MCIVOR. 2005. The ecological importance of mangroves in Baja California Sur: conservation implications PETERSON, C.H. & M.J. BISHOP. 2005. Assessing the for an endangered ecosystem. In: J-L. E. Cartron, G. Ceballos & environmental impacts of beach nourishment. Bioscience 55: R. S. Felger (Eds). Biodiversity, Ecosystems, and Conservation 887-96. (Univ. N. Carolina Chapel Hill, Institute of Marine in Northwestern Mexico. pp. 298-333. Science, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA. E-mail: cpeters@E- mail.unc.edu). WILTSCHKO, W. & R. WILTSCHKO. 2005. Magnetic orientation and magnetoreception in birds and other animals. Journal of REES, A.F., A. SAAD & M. JONY. 2005. Tagging green turtles Comparative Physiology A-Neuroethology Sensory Neural (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) and Behavioral Physiology 191: 675-693. Zoologisches Institut in Syria. Testudo 6: 51-55. (ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle der J.W.Goethe-Universitaet Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Protection Society of Greece, Solomou 57, GR-104 32, Athens, 60054, Germany. Greece. E-mail: [email protected]). WITZELL, W.N. & J.R. SCHMID. 2005. Diet of immature Kemp’s RIVALAN, P., M.H. GODFREY, A.C. PREVOT-JULLIARD & M. ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempi) from Gullivan Bay, Ten GIRONDOT. 2005. Maximum likelihood estimates of tag loss Thousand Islands, southwest Florida. Bulletin of Marine in leatherback sea turtles. Journal of Wildlife Management 69: Science 77: 191-199. (National Marine Fisheries Service, 540-548. (M. Girondot, Ctr Univ Paris Sud, Lab Ecol Systemat Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, & Evolut, ENGREF, Batiment 362, F-91405 Orsay, France. Miami, FL 33149, USA. E-mail: [email protected]). E-mail: [email protected]). Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 27 WORK, T.M., G.H. BALAZS, J.L. SCHUMACHER & A. MARIE. YASUDA, T. & N. ARAI. 2005. Fine-scale tracking of marine turtles 2005. Epizootiology of spirorchiid infection in green turtles using GPS-Argos PTTs. Zoological Science 22: 547-553. (Dept. (Chelonia mydas) in Hawaii. Journal of Parasitology 91: 871- of Social Informatics, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto 876. (US Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, University, Yoshidahonmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Hawaii Field Stn, 300 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96850, Japan. E-mail: [email protected]) USA. E-mail: [email protected]). XIN, T. 2005. More on sea turtles and seaweed. Chinese Education and Society 38: 77-80. TECHNICAL REPORTS KASPAREK, M. 2005. Report on Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) ON THE CONSERVATION OF EUROPEAN WILDLIFE. T-PVS/ Conservation Monitoring in Kazanli (Turkey). CONVENTION Files (2005) 09: 9 pp. http://tofino.ex.ac.uk/euroturtle/medas/pdf/ ON THE CONSERVATION OF EUROPEAN WILDLIFE. T- Patara-CoE-2005.pdf. (Address same as above) PVS/Files (2005) 10: Commissioned by MEDASSET: 10 pp. MEDASSET-MEDITERRANEAN ASSOCIATION TO SAVE THE MEDASSET, 1c Licavitou St., 106 72 Athens, GREECE. (E-mail: SEA TURTLES. 2005. Update report on marine turtle conservation [email protected]) http://tofino.ex.ac.uk/euroturtle/medas/ in Zakynthos (Laganas Bay), Greece. CONVENTION ON THE pdf/Kazanli-CoE-2005.pdf. CONSERVATION OF EUROPEAN WILDLIFE. T-PVS/Files MEDASSET-MEDITERRANEAN ASSOCIATION TO SAVE (2005) 08: 29 pp. http://tofino.ex.ac.uk/euroturtle/medas/pdf/ THE SEA TURTLES. 2005. Update Report and Review of Nature Zakynthos-CoE-2005.pdf. (Address same as above) Conservation Measures in Patara Spa (Turkey). CONVENTION THESES AND DISSERTATIONS KARAM MARTINEZ, S.G. 2004. Variacion de microsatelites MAGNI, L.P. 2005. A Regulamentação do Comércio Internacional nucleares en la colonia reproductora de tortugas golfinas, de Camarão e seu Diálogo Econo-Ambiental: O Caso das Lepidochelys olivacea (Escholtz 1829), de Escobilla, Oaxaca. Tartarugas Marinhas no Brasil. (International shrimp trade and [Variation of nuclear microsatellites in the olive ridley, Lepidochelys its economic and environmental facets: the case of sea turtles olivacea (Escholtz 1829), rookery at Escobilla, Oaxaca.]. M.Sc. in Brazil.) Ph.D. Dissertation. 150pp. In Portuguese. (Institute Thesis, Universidad Del Mar, Oaxaca, Mexico. Spanish. of International Relations, University of Brasília, Brasil, E-mail: [email protected]). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Publication of this issue was made possible by donations from the following individuals: Dimitris Margaritoulis, Anton D. Tucker, William Redfoot and organisations: Cayman Turtle Farm, Ltd., Conservation International, International Sea Turtle Society, Sea World, Inc., Sirtrack Ltd., US National Marine Fisheries Service-Office of Protected Resources, Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, World Wildlife Fund. The MTN-Online is produced and managed by Michael Coyne. The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and are not necessarily shared by the Editors, the Editorial Board, the University of Exeter, or any individuals or organizations providing financial support. Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 28 INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS The remit of the Marine Turtle Newsletter (MTN) is to provide current Tables/Figures/Illustrations information on marine turtle research, biology, conservation and status. All figures should be stored as separate files: Excel, .bmp, .tif or .jpeg A wide range of material will be considered for publication including file. The editors will scan figures, slides or photos for authors who do not editorials, articles, notes, letters and announcements. The aim of the MTN have access to such facilities. Tables and figures should be given in Arabic is to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas with a fast turn around to numerals. Photographs will be considered for inclusion. ensure that urgent matters are promptly brought to the attention of turtle biologists and conservationists world-wide. The MTN will be published References quarterly in January, April, July, and October of each year. Articles, notes The literature cited should include only references cited in the text. All and editorials will be peer-reviewed. Announcements may be edited but journal titles should be given in full. Please use the following formats: will be included in the forthcoming issue if submitted prior to the 15th For an article in a journal: of February, May, August and November respectively. All submissions HENDRICKSON, J. 1958. The green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas (Linn.), should be sent to the editors and not the members of the editorial board. A in Malaya and Sarawak. Proceedings of the Royal Zoological Society of contact address should be given for all authors together with an e-mail or London 130:455-535. fax number for correspondence regarding the article. For a book: Text MROSOVSKY, N. 1983. Conserving Sea Turtles. 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Where there are multiple authors the initials should precede the last Scientific names should be italicised and given in full in their first name except in the case of the first author: appearance. Citations in the text should be in alphabetical order and take BJORNDAL, K.A., A.B. BOLTEN, C.J. LAGUEUX & A. CHAVES. 1996. the form of: (Carr et al. 1974; Hailman & Elowson 1992; Lagueux 1997). Probability of tag loss in green turtles nesting at Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Please keep the number of references to a minimum. Journal of Herpetology 30:567-571. SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DONATIONS The Marine Turtle Newsletter (MTN) is distributed quarterly to more than 2000 recipients in over 100 nations world-wide. In order to maintain our policy of free distribution to colleagues throughout the world, the MTN must receive $30,000 annually in donations. We appeal to all of you, our readers and contributors, for continued financial support to maintain this venture. All donations are greatly appreciated and will be acknowledged in a future issue of the MTN. Typical personal donations have ranged from $25-100 per annum, with organisations providing significantly more support. Please give what you can. Donations to the MTN are handled under the auspices of SEATURTLE.ORG and are fully tax deductible under US laws governing 501(c)(3) non-profit organisations. Donations are preferable in US dollars as a Credit Card payment (MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Discover) via the MTN website Please make cheques or money orders payable to Marine Turtle Newsletter and send to: Michael Coyne (Online Editor) Marine Turtle Newsletter 1 Southampton Place Durham, NC 27705, USA Email: [email protected] Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 29 Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 111, 2006 - Page 30