North Pacific Loggerhead Sea Turtles

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND WESTERN PACIFIC SEA TURTLE Cooperative Research & Management Workshop VOLUME II North Paciﬁc Loggerhead Sea Turtles

Coordinated & Edited by Irene Kinan

Sponsored by the

1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400 Honolulu, Hawaii, 96813, USA www.wpcouncil.org/Protected To provide a forum to gather and exchange information, promote collaboration, and maintain momentum for research, conservation and management of Paciﬁc sea turtle populations.

Document Citation Kinan, I. (editor). 2006. Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research and Management Workshop. Volume II: North Pacific Loggerhead Sea Turtles. March 2-3, 2005, Honolulu, HI. Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council: Honolulu, HI, USA.

Editors’ note The papers presented at the workshop and contained in these proceedings have been edited and formatted for consistency, with only minor changes to language, syntax, and punctuation. The authors’ bibliographic, abbreviation and writing styles, however, have generally been retained. Several presenters did not submit a written paper, or submitted only an abstract to the meeting. In these instances, a summary was produced from transcripts of their presentations. The opinions of the authors do not necessarily reﬂect those of the Western Paciﬁc Regional Fishery Management Council.

A report of the Western Paciﬁc Regional Fishery Management Council printed pursuant to National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA05NMF441092

Table of Contents

5 PREFACE

6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

7 INDO-PACIFIC MARINE TURTLES

8 WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS

9 WORKSHOP SUMMARY: A Collaboration of Partnerships Around the Paciﬁc

11 INTRODUCTION: Research Story of the North Paciﬁc Loggerhead Sea Turtle Irene Kinan and Dr. Wallace J. Nichols

13 Nesting Beach Management of Eggs and Pre-emergent Hatchlings of North Paciﬁc Loggerhead Sea Turtles in Japan Dr. Yoshimasa Matsuzawa

23 The Sea Turtle Situation of Yakushima Island Kazuyoshi Ohmuta

27 The Current Status of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle Rookeries in Miyazaki, Japan Hiroshi Takeshita

31 Pelagic Research of Paciﬁc Loggerhead Sea Turtles in Partnership with Japan and Taiwan George Balazs

35 The Kuroshio Extension Current Bifurcation Region: A Pelagic Hotspot for Juvenile Loggerhead Sea Turtles Dr. Jeffrey Polovina

39 Sea Turtle Fishery Bycatch Reduction: An Update on Sensory Experiments and Field Trials Dr. Yonat Swimmer Proceedings of the Second Western Paciﬁc Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 4

Table of Contents (continued)

43 Loggerhead Turtle Bycatch in Peru Jeffrey Mangel

45 The Conservation Mosaic: Networks, Knowledge and Communication for Loggerhead Turtle Conservation at Baja California Foraging Grounds Dr. Wallace J. Nichols

49 An Integrated Approach to Reducing Mortality of North Paciﬁc Loggerhead Turtles in Baja California SUR, Mexico Hoyt Peckham

59 Reducing the Bycatch of Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) in Baja California SUR: Experimental Modiﬁcation of Gillnets for Fishing Halibut David Maldonado

69 Environmental Education on Paciﬁc Loggerhead Turtles for School Children in Mexico and Japan Kojiro Mizuno

71 Health Issues of Sea Turtles: A Conservation Medicine Approach Dr. Alonso Aguirre

77 New Caledonian Loggerhead Turtle Population Assessment: 2005 Pilot Study Dr. Colin J. Limpus

93 APPENDIX 1: North Paciﬁc Loggerhead Turtle – Threat Mix

95 APPENDIX 2: Workshop Participants Contact Information 5

Preface

This volume of papers is a record community-based Non-governmental of the Second Western Pacific Organizations (NGOs) have helped Sea Turtle Cooperative Research foster essential research and and Management Workshop that conservation throughout the Pacific convened in Honolulu, Hawaii region. To date, the WPRFMC’s sponsored by the Western Pacific management program consists of Regional Fishery Management a suite of measures that include Council (WPRFMC). The focus of sea turtle conservation projects at these proceedings is on north Pacific nesting beaches and coastal foraging loggerhead sea turtles. habitats, and actions that promote environmentally responsible longline Sea turtles migrate vast distances fisheries. across ocean basins, living complex life histories within pelagic, coastal To maintain momentum for and beach habitats of numerous continued research, conservation and Pacific nations. Consequently a management, the WPRFMC convened collaborative approach among a series of workshops that together nations, in a manner that considers comprise the Second Western Pacific their entire life history, is essential Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & for effective conservation and Management Workshop. The focus of management. Recognizing that sea these workshops were on west Pacific turtle recovery must focus on more leatherback and southwest Pacific than just fishery mitigation, the hawksbill sea turtles (May 17-21, 2004: WPRFMC, the federal authority for Volume 1; Kinan, 2005), and north fisheries in the U.S. waters of the Pacific loggerhead sea turtles Pacific Islands region, has expanded (March 2-3, 2005: Volume 2). its focus of international fishery management to include sea turtle The 13 papers presented at this conservation. workshop comprise current and comprehensive information from key In 2002, the WPRFMC convened players involved in Pacific loggerhead the first Western Pacific Sea sea turtle research and conservation. Turtle Cooperative Research and The workshop concluded by the Management Workshop to exchange development of a threat matrix scientific information, gather an for the north Pacific loggerhead update on the status of population stock. Overall, new and encouraging trends, and help build consensus information was offered as well as for a regional approach towards evidence that population level impacts research and conservation (Kinan, persist. This meeting reinforced that 2002). Through this dialogue, the effective sea turtle conservation must WPRFMC focused on the most be wide ranging and international in efficient use of its resources to aid scope, and that multi-cultural projects in the recovery of depleted Pacific involving scientists, conservationists, sea turtle populations. Since 2003, fishermen and communities are the WPRFMC, in collaboration necessary to establish effective with NOAA Fisheries and numerous long-term management solutions. 6

Acknowledgments

The Western Paciﬁc Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC) would like to thank the workshop participants for their presentations and papers prepared for the meeting. Without the dedication and enthusiasm of our participants, this meeting would not have been possible. The WPRFMC expresses its sincerest gratitude to its Turtle Advisory Committee: Mr. George Balazs, Dr. Jeff Polovina, Dr. Peter Dutton, Dr. Colin Limpus, Dr. Milani Chaloupka, Dr. Nick Pilcher, Dr. Naoki Kamezaki, and Ms. Laura Sarti for their time, energy, ideas and insights, and whose expertise and leadership we could not do without. We thank NOAA Fisheries for involvement and support of this workshop, of the WPRFMC’s turtle program, and for sharing in the vision of cooperative research and integrated sea turtle management. 7

Indo-Paciﬁc Marine Turtles

Although revered in culture and customs around the globe, sea turtles have also been exploited for their meat, eggs, shell, leather, and oil for centuries. The negative effects of this unregulated adult and egg harvest, along with impacts from habitat degradation, coastal construction, commercial trade and mortalities through accidental capture in coastal and pelagic ﬁsheries have accelerated the decline of sea turtle populations in the Paciﬁc. Today, all sea turtle populations are listed as either threatened or endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act1.

Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) Olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata)

Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) Flatback (Natator depressus) Green (Chelonia mydas)

Marine turtles of the Indo-Paciﬁc. Not pictured is the subpopulation of the eastern Paciﬁc “black” sea turtle, Chelonia agassizii (PHOTO SOURCE: DR. COLIN LIMPUS)

1 Green (Chelonia mydas), and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtles are listed as threatened, except for breeding colony populations of green turtles in Florida and on the Paciﬁc coast of Mexico and breeding colony populations of olive ridleys on the Paciﬁc coast of Mexico which are listed as endangered. 8

Workshop Participants

GROUP PHOTO: From left to right, top to bottom: Mr. Jeff Mangel, Dr. Yoshimasa Matsuzawa, Mr. David Maldonado, Ms. Anne Trevor, Ms. Tina Fahy, Ms. Kitty Simonds, Dr. Alonso Aguirre, Dr. Amanda Southwood, Mr. Mizuno Kojiro, Ms. Erika Mori, Mr. George “Keoki” Balazs, Ms. Therese Conant, Dr. Jeffrey Polovina, Ms. Brande Gerkee, Dr. Peter Dutton, Dr. Nicolas Pilcher, Mr. Hoyt Peckman, Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, Dr. Colin Limpus, Dr. Kazuyoshi Ohmuta, Dr. Hiroshi Takeshita, Ms. Cheryl Ryder, Dr. Melissa Snover, Dr. Naoki Kamezaki, Dr. Yonat Swimmer, Ms. Irene Kinan. Not pictured: Dr. Milani Chaloupka. 9

Workshop Summary: Irene Kinan WPRFMC A Collaboration of Partnerships Turtle Program Coordinator Around the Paciﬁc

The WPRFMC loggerhead sea of many nations operate in On the other side of the Pacific, turtle workshop, March 2-3, 2005, similar areas utilized by foraging Japanese colleagues from the Sea brought together researchers and migrating loggerheads. This Turtle Association of Japan and the from Japan, Mexico, the United unfortunate overlap of fishing and Miyazaki Wildlife Research Group States and Australia involved in the foraging results in severe loggerhead presented encouraging loggerhead conservation, management and bycatch and a significant source of nesting population trend information recovery of the Pacific loggerhead mortality. Recent research has thus as well as innovative education and sea turtles. Participants from the Sea refocused scientific investigation to outreach initiatives. International Turtle Association of Japan (including the open ocean and coastal stage, collaborations and exchange of both Yakushima Island), Miyazaki Wildlife where turtles are vulnerable to information and scientists among Research Group, ProPeninsula’s longline fisheries and coastal gillnets. Japan, the United States and Mexico ProCaguama project, Queensland are connecting communities and Turtle Research and NOAA Fisheries ProCaguama, a community-based cultures across the north Pacific. This discussed their results and progress campaign of the grassroots trans-Pacific experience is broadening from the 2004 field season and conservation network Grupo perspectives and increasing capacity solicited comments from the Tortuguero in Baja California, Mexico, for conservation among communities WPRFMC’s Turtle Advisory Committee is empowering local communities throughout Baja and Japan. Although (TAC) who provided valuable advice and fishers to protect endangered international collaborations are and suggestions to strengthen sea turtles and the threatened strengthening, scientific results research initiatives. ecosystems they inhabit through and data indicate that significant partnerships to eliminate bycatch environmental impacts from beach North Pacific loggerhead sea and reduce local harvest pressure. erosion, typhoons, and extreme turtles connect the ecosystems and Scientists from ProCaguama temperature continue to plague the cultures of the Pacific Rim through conducting research in Baja are north Pacific loggerhead nesting stock. their migrations; as juveniles they getting closer to understanding the travel from Japan to Mexico via foraging dynamics of loggerheads, Scientists from the NOAA Fisheries the Hawaiian archipelago, and and a number of communities Pacific Islands Fishery Science at maturity they return to their are becoming “turtle safe” from Center (PIFSC) in Hawaii presented Japanese nesting beaches to poaching and fishery bycatch. In a summary of collaborative pelagic reproduce. These “Pacific Ocean working with the halibut gillnet research projects with Japan and ambassadors” gather for decades at fishery, researchers and fishers have Taiwan, results from longline fishery the coast of Baja California Sur (BCS) acquired a greater understanding mitigation experiments, and data on to feed and mature. Nearby, off of the fishery’s dynamics and how sea turtle fishery bycatch studies in Puerto Lopez Mateos, loggerheads, the fishery as a unit interacts with Peru. A special guest from The Wildlife known locally as caguamas, forage its environment, including target Trust, the Director for Conservation especially close to shore where and non-target species. With this Medicine, provided valuable artisanal gillnet and longline fishing knowledge, fishers are better able information and insight regarding is intense. In the central north to make informed and effective conservation medicine and sea turtle Pacific, pelagic longline fisheries management decisions. health studies, with an emphasis on Baja California turtles. Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 10

Reports on an international the New Caledonian stock has not loggerhead study initiated in 2003 been studied in any detail. Preliminary between American and Japanese results indicate a modest nesting researchers have revealed the stock of approximately 60 females. importance of the north Pacific, The population has declined, and defined by the Kuroshio Extension findings suggest intensive nesting Current, as an important juvenile beach impacts from erosion, predation forage hotspot for loggerhead sea and land development. turtles. Lead scientists call the area “a nursery habitat for sea turtles,” In conclusion, long distance noting that satellite telemetry migrations through international combined with oceanography is waters, combined with a slow growth providing scientific evidence as to rate, make loggerhead sea turtles why turtle bycatch in the north extremely vulnerable to both natural Pacific is largely young juvenile and human pressures. Loggerheads turtles. Representing the work of literally connect the whole Pacific researchers from Hawaii, California, Ocean and thus conservation efforts and Japan, the study recommends have to be international in scope that conservation efforts focus on involving scientists, conservationists, identifying and reducing threats to fishermen and communities in loggerhead survival in this nutrient- collaborative, multi-cultural, and rich area that is frequented by fishing multi-lingual projects. Reducing vessels from many nations. incidental catch of loggerheads in pelagic longline fisheries represents Additionally, the results from a only one aspect of conservation pilot study to quantify the nesting efforts. Direct hunting and illegal demographics of a poorly defined and trade must be reduced, nesting unstudied south Pacific loggerhead beaches protected and turtles must nesting stock in New Caledonia be conserved in their foraging grounds were presented. In the south Pacific, from both harvest and incidental loggerhead turtle breeding is almost catch by coastal fisheries. Most entirely restricted to eastern Australia importantly, resource managers and New Caledonia. Although the must engage a holistic approach eastern Australian population has to conservation by improving their been extensively monitored and understanding of the totality of researched, including long term turtle ecosystems, such as that census trends, genetics analysis of the far-ranging loggerhead. and demographic studies since 1968, 11

Introduction: Research Story of the North Irene Kinan and Dr. Wallace J. Nichols Paciﬁc Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Adelita was the name scientists sea turtles in the north Pacific. and fishermen gave a loggerhead Once abundant along the nesting turtle (Caretta caretta) they released beaches of Yakushima Island (near nearly a decade ago, on August 10, the southern tip of Kyushu, Japan’s 1996, just off the town of Santa southernmost island), loggerhead Rosalita on the Pacific Coast of Baja turtles have been in rapid decline California, Mexico. Named after the in recent decades, with the number daughter of a Mexican fisherman of nesting females falling from an who helped researchers secure a estimated 5,000 year to only 1,000 satellite transmitter on her back, the females nesting annually by 2002. 223-pound mature female splashed into balmy Mexican coastal waters, On the other side of the Pacific, in made a beeline across the Pacific the nutrient-rich waters that surround FIGURE 1. Adelita’s 1997 track from toward Japan, and crossed into turtle the Baja California Peninsula, a Baja California, Mexico to Japan. history (Figure 1). “It was a major, similar tale could be heard. As early SOURCE: J. NICHOLS major discovery,” says Wallace J. as the 1970s, Mexican fishermen Nichols, ProPeninsula and research reported seeing fewer and fewer associate from the California turtles, long considered a delicacy Academy of Sciences. Nichols, then at traditional feasts. Even after the a graduate student at the University Mexican government outlawed the of Arizona, was part of the U.S. and eating of turtles in 1990, as many Mexican research team that set as 35,000 turtles are still consumed Adelita on her historic journey. today in the Californias, particularly during holidays such as Easter and A lot has happened since then Christmas. in understanding the far-ranging ecosystem of the highly migratory Yet little was known about the north Pacific loggerhead, a threatened Pacific loggerhead. In fact, as late as sea turtle species. But back in the early 1990s, it was still unknown 1996, although previous research where Baja California’s loggerhead had shown a genetic connection turtles came from, as there were no between loggerheads in Japan loggerhead nesting beaches along and Baja, Nichols and his fellow the Pacific coast of Mexico. Less than researchers and fishermen friends 60 years ago, the first confirmed supplied the first detailed physical report of their existence in the area proof that these turtles migrated was made in 1947, and confirmation from opposite sides of the Pacific that the species did indeed live in by tracking Adelita’s trans-Pacific the area came only in the 1960s. journey by satellite (Figure 1). Better knowledge of this species, Adelita’s journey came at a critical based on scientifically accurate time for the threatened loggerhead information, was critically needed Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 12

to turn the tide for the declining “This was such a great find, from tagging turtles to presenting north Pacific loggerhead. Adelita’s considering the paucity of tag returns plays about turtles to school historic 11-month trek across more common in turtle research,” says children. This innovative, community than 6,000 miles of Pacific Ocean Nichols. “The small turtle, which networking approach appears to proved one leg of the trans-Pacific began its journey as a 6-inch, hand- be gaining momentum for both turtle migration hypothesis – the sized juvenile, made the 6,000-plus sea turtle conservation and marine return journey to nesting beaches mile trip in the time it took me to resource management as a whole. in Japan. get my Ph.D. – six years!” Today, the work proceeds on many Nichols and other researchers “This opened exciting, new working fronts, guided by holistic recovery figured, in turn, that juvenile opportunities among scientists, strategies that attempt to address loggerheads, born in Japan, must fishermen and conservationists threats to the entire life cycle be crossing the Pacific to feed and in Japan, Hawaii, California, of these ancient and long-lived mature off the coast of Baja. It and Mexico,” explains Nichols creatures; by multilateral and would explain why the loggerheads of the growth in international cooperative conservation efforts being caught by Baja fishermen were collaborations of the Pacific among nations, and by institutional mature turtles and older juveniles. loggerhead. “The turtle has become strengthening through an expanding And it would further explain why a cultural ambassador for countries conservation framework that U.S. and international fishing fleets all working to protect this species, combines biological, socio-economic, in the north Pacific were interacting an icon for the connectedness of political and conservation measures with young juvenile loggerheads the ocean,” he adds. on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. as bycatch in longline fishing The papers in this document not operations. These international research only profile the challenges ahead to collaborations over the last decade protect north Pacific loggerheads, Then in 1999, another piece of puzzle have yielded new data that have but also the lessons learned and fell into place. A Mexican fisherman transformed what we know about scientific achievements made over came forth with a flipper tag he the turtle called the “Pacific the last few years of conservation. had removed from a loggerhead he Ocean ambassador,” as well as the had caught off the Baja California Pacific Ocean itself. New scientific coast and stuck on his keychain for data, improved technologies, and five years. Initially afraid to report expanded international cooperation his capture of a threatened species, have resulted in major discoveries the fisherman revealed his find after in understanding the life cycle, working with and trusting turtle migrations, feeding ecology and researchers. pelagic behaviors of this species. New scientific tools range from aerial The tag was from a turtle hatched surveys, satellite telemetry combined on Yakushima Island, where a third with oceanography to new fishing of Japan’s loggerheads nest. Raised methods, including educational for one year at Okinawa Aquarium outreach and community workshops by Drs. Teruya and Uchida, it was and festivals. tagged with the small metal tag #572 and released in 1988. In 1994 Bringing together scientific research (two years before Adelita began her and creative education, fishermen epic journey), it was captured in San and community leaders have Carlos, Baja California Sur, Mexico, launched a diverse community-based by the fisherman who finally revealed outreach initiative in Baja that ranges his find in 1999. 13 Nesting Beach Management of Eggs and Pre-emergent Dr. Yoshimasa Matsuzawa Hatchlings of North Pacific The Sea Turtle 1 Association of Japan Loggerhead Sea Turtles in Japan

INTRODUCTION In contrast to dedicated nesting or inundated. Moreover, last few survey, hatching success and number years it was found that egg and pre- The loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta of emergence for clutches in situ emergent mortality were relatively caretta, is a highly migratory species. are hardly examined systematically high mainly due to stomping by Hatchlings leave their nesting area in in many rookeries. However, tourists that has been increasing Japan for developmental and foraging owing to various factors such as year by year (Kudo et al. 2004). habitats in the eastern Pacific beach use by tourist, predation, (Uchida and Teruya 1988; Bowen inundation, erosion, and excessive Considering the current status of this et al. 1995). After spending years heat (Matsuzawa et al. 2002), nesting population, some aggressive in the offshore waters along the mortality of eggs and pre-emergent actions at nesting beaches are Pacific coast of California, USA and hatchlings seem to be unusually high required to address environmental Baja California, Mexico, loggerhead in Japanese rookeries. For example, and anthropogenic threats. The turtles return to Japanese waters for hatching success in the Minabe-Senri purpose of this project is to reduce reproduction (Resendiz et al. 1998; beach were 24% (1996), 50% (1997), the mortality rate of loggerhead Nichols et al. 2000). 53% (1998), 48% (1999), 62% (2000), turtles’ eggs and pre-emergent 41% (2001), 34% (2002) (Matsuzawa hatchlings from stomping, beach As a result of the dedication and unpublished data). It should be erosion, and extreme temperatures hard work of an extensive network noticed that these figures do not at loggerhead-nesting beaches involving many independent field include many clutches that were in Japan to bolster hatchling teams in Japan, annual census data washed out and were not examined. production. are available from most nesting beaches. These data indicate that The greatest rookeries in Japan In 2004 and 2005, the Sea Turtle there has been a substantial decline occur at Yakushima Island. These Association of Japan acquired (50-90%) in the size of the annual beaches were included in the funding assistance from the loggerhead nesting population in list of the important wetlands of Western Pacific Regional Fishery Japan during the last half of the Ramsar Convention in November Management Council to assist with 20th century and that the current 2004. The Inakahama Beach suffers management activities to address population level is considerably environmental disruption including the above mentioned threats to lower than the population levels of beach erosion and light pollution. loggerhead nesting beaches. In the other ocean basins, although it Nesting females and hatchlings are 2004, four beaches were included in starts on a gradual recovery trend disturbed by headlight of cars passing the project: Inakahama, Maehama, (Kamezaki et al. 2003). For example, on the road behind the beach, which Minabe-Senri, and Hii-Horikiri. In in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, used to be screened off by pine trees. 2005, a fifth project site was added 2003 and 2004 seasons, a total of Whenever a typhoon passes by the at Myojinyama-Oida beach. 2,447, 2,255, 2,589, 3,122, 4,035, island, many nests are washed out 4,519 and 4,854 loggerhead nests, respectively, were recorded on Japanese beaches.

1 Final Report to the Western Paciﬁc Regional Fishery Management Council, Contract No. 04-WPC-011. NOAA award #: NA03NMF4110017 and NA03NMF4110164. Due to the delay in producing these proceedings, results from both the 2004 and 2005 nesting season are consolidated into this one report. Proceedings of the Second Western Paciﬁc Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 14

with rope from July 15th through the end of the nesting season (Figure 2). Short sticks were put in the sand adjacent to nests when the first hatchling emergence events or hatchlings tracks for the nests were observed. Nest marked with coil markers were excavated about 10 days after first hatchlings emergence, FIGURE 2. Fences to protect nests from or expected date of emergence, human activities. to evaluate and estimate hatching success. Sand temperatures at the depth of 40 cm were measured using data loggers. Minabe, Atsumi FIGURE 1. Loggerhead turtle nesting and Miyazaki beach locations in of this project. Minabe-Senri beach, Minabe town, Wakayama prefecture is one of most FIGURE 3. Staff relocating nests laid in erosion prone areas to safer location. METHODS important loggerhead rookeries on the main island of Japan. In some seasons, loggerhead clutches Yakushima Island nested in this beach exhibit very low Inakahama Beach is located in hatching success (less than 10%) Kamiyaku-town, Yakushima Island, due to heat and inundation. Sand Kagoshima prefecture (Figure 1). temperatures at the depth of 40 cm This 1.2 km long beach is the were measured using data loggers. greatest rookery in Japan. Maehama All-night beach patrol was conducted Beach is next to Inakahama Beach throughout the nesting season, turtle FIGURE 4. Watering of nests to reduce across a river. This 1.6 km long beach nests were marked with sticks, and extreme temperatures. is the second greatest rookery in turtle eggs close to drift line were Japan. Daily and nightly patrols were relocated to an area of elevation conducted on these two beaches within a few hours of oviposition during nesting season and following (Figure 3). In order to protect eggs incubation season from April to and pre-emergent hatchlings from October. When a new nest was found the heat, the nests were sprinkled below the high tide mark or on slopes with water2 when sand temperature beside streams, it was immediately at nest depth exceeds the threshold relocated to a safer area. in the post-rainy season (Figure 4). Safety nets were set on expected egg FIGURE 5. Protective measure to protect Nesting densities in these beaches chambers to protect pre-emergent nests and hatchlings from predation. were relatively high. Therefore, hatchlings from predation (Figure 5). the best method identified to mark individual nests is by use of Hii-Horikiri Beach, Atsumi town, Aichi underground coils. A proportion prefecture is located at the tip of the of the clutches were marked with Atsumi peninsula. This 3.6 km long underground-coil markers. To protect beach has suffered serious beach eggs and hatchlings from visitors erosion due to upstream dams and walking on nests, areas of high jetties of ports. Then the beach was nesting density were surrounded armored with ranges of tetrapods FIGURE 6. Beached armored with concrete blocks that prevent loggerheads from nesting in preferred habitat, close to the

2 The Council’s Turtle Advisory Committee discussed the beneﬁts of watering nests to reduce extreme (lethal) vegetation. temperatures and concluded that this is a viable solution and encouraged the project implement this management measure. 15 Nesting Beach Management of Eggs and Pre-emergent Hatchlings of North Paciﬁc Loggerhead Sea Turtles in Japan

(concrete blocks) between the shoreline and the vegetation line (Figure 6). These blocks obstruct loggerhead females from proceeding close to vegetation line. As a result, females are forced to nest close to shoreline at this beach, and almost all eggs are eventually washed out or drowned. All eggs at this beach were relocated to an open hatchery located in safety zone.

Myojinyama-Oida Beach, is located north of Miyazaki city, where constructions of a big port and an airport caused serious beach erosion. This 6 km long beach accommodates many nesting females that come ashore to nest in the southern eroded beaches. However, this area also suffered serious beach erosion when many typhoons approached this area successively last autumn. Consequently, there are few safe areas for turtles to nest. This area FIGURE 7. The number of clutches laid on Inakahama Beach and Maehama Beach was included in the project for the throughout the 2004 nesting season. 2005 season.

RESULTS corruptions of egg chambers. 2005 Season Additionally, many uncontrolled During the 2005 nesting season, a Landing and nesting eco-tourists seemed to disturb total of 1,758 clutches were laid at The nesting season for both the females on the beach. Inakahama and Maehama Beaches 2004 and 2005 season started on (Table 2 and Figure 8). The total April 21st. This date is the earliest At the Minabe-Senri Beach, the number of nests during the 2005 ever recorded for loggerhead nesting nesting season started on April 21 season was about 0.87 times that in Japan. Although, in some other and ended on August 6. It was also of the 2004 season. One remarkable southern islands the nesting season the earliest ever recorded. A total of development of this season was that started much earlier. 92 clutches were laid during the 2004 the northeast half of the Maehama season. The total number of nests in beach that eroded in 2004 could not 2004 Season this season is about 1.23 times that be used by nesting females until At the Inakahama and Maehama of last season. The nesting success the beach was nourished artiﬁcially Beaches, a total of 2,014 clutches was also the lowest ever recorded in May of 2005. The lower nesting were laid during the 2004 nesting (only 32.2%). success in April and May of 2005 may season (Table 1 and Figure 7). This thus be related to this matter. total is about 1.24 times that of last At the Hii-Horikiri Beach, the number At the Minabe-Senri Beach, the season (in 2003). One remarkable of nests decreased compared to last nesting season started on May 22nd development of this season was season. In 2004, only 14 clutches and ended on August 20th. A total of the low nesting success. Only were laid compared to 29 during the 121 clutches were laid (Table 3). The 43.6 % of landing turtles completed 2003 season. This might be related total number of nests in this season egg chambers in 2004 compared to to the Kuroshio Current and a cold is about 1.3 times that of last season. 60 to 70% nesting success in previous water-mass off shore of this rookery; The nesting success was 52.4%. At seasons. This may be a consequence other adjacent rookeries also had the Horikiri Beach, the number of of dry sand, which causes easy lower nesting this season. nests increased. In 2005, 29 clutches Proceedings of the Second Western Paciﬁc Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 16

were laid compared to 14 last season. The nesting success was 51.8%. At the Myojinyama-Oida Beach, a total of 183 clutches were laid during this season (Table 3). The nesting success was 72.0%.

RELOCATION AND MARKING OF NESTS

2004 Season To save eggs from erosion prone areas, we conducted nightly patrols and relocated 16,511 eggs from 140 clutches on Inakahama Beach, 7,476 eggs from 65 clutches on Maehama Beach, 1,153 eggs from 14 clutches on Hii-Horikiri Beach, and 19 clutches on Minabe-Senri Beach during the 2004 nesting season (Table 4). Ninety relocated FIGURE 8. The number of clutches laid on Inakahama Beach and Maehama Beach nests and 291 in situ nests were throughout the 2005 nesting season. marked with underground-coil markers in the two beaches of Yakushima Island to assist in quantifying the hatch success of relocated nests (Table 5).

2005 Season During the 2005 nesting season, we conducted nightly patrols and relocated 123 clutches on the Inakahama Beach, 171 clutches on the Maehama Beach, 3,473 eggs from 33 clutches on the Minabe-Senri Beach, and 2,493 eggs from 29 clutches on the Hii-Horikiri Beach, and 114 clutches on the Myojinyama- Oida Beach to save nests from erosion prone areas (Table 6). At the Inakahama Beach and the Maehama Beach, 260 and 96 clutches were marked with underground-coil markers to quantify hatch success of in situ versus relocated nests. Mean clutch size in Yakushima was 111.7. Weather conditions

During the 2004 nesting season, there was relatively little rain during the rainy season, but beaches 17 Nesting Beach Management of Eggs and Pre-emergent Hatchlings of North Paciﬁc Loggerhead Sea Turtles in Japan

suffered a record number of typhoons (Figure 9). In the middle of June, unseasonal typhoons struck the Japan archipelago one after the other; Typhoon N.4 approached closest to Yakushima Island on June 10 and hit Minabe and Atsumi on June 11, and Typhoon No.6 on June 20 and 21. After Typhoon No. 10 hit Minabe at the end of July, the project sites suffered other typhoons without a break until the end of incubation season. Among them, Typhoon No. 16 at the end of August caused immense harm to Yakushima and a half stretch of Maehama Beach was washed away. In all project sites, a few nests were drowned and/or washed out with data loggers and post-emergent nests accordingly. In Minabe, sand temperatures remained higher than 31.6 in July and August FIGURE 9. Annual number of Typhoons landing on Japan between 1950 and 2004. excepting temporal drops on typhoon approached. On the other hand, sand temperatures in the Yakushima beaches did not exceed this threshold considerably (Fig. 10)

During the 2005 nesting season, three typhoons landed on the main islands of Japan. Both the Typhoon No. 7 coming in July and Typhoon No. 11 in August hitting Atsumi were relatively small and weak. But Typhoon No. 14 in September was very powerful. It hit the project sites in the Yakushima Island with full force on September 5th and 6th. And to make things worse, it coincided with the fall spring tide. A half stretch of the Maehama Beach, which had been artiﬁcially nourished in May, was washed away and collapsed again. Even the ropes and sticks fencing the high-nesting density areas in the higher elevation of the two beaches were also washed away. FIGURE 10. Sand temperatures at Inakahama (A) and Maehama (B) beaches. Arrows Because Typhoon No. 14 approached indicate typhoons affecting beaches. The temperature data were measured in the from the south of the main islands vegetation. of Japan and hit the western Japan, other three project sites also suffered huge surge and concentrated heavy Proceedings of the Second Western Paciﬁc Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 18

rain, hence serious beach erosion occurred. In all project sites, some eggs were drowned and/or washed out with data loggers and post-emergent nests accordingly. The surge reached the vegetation line at the Minabe-Senri Beach on September 4th. We therefore relocated 6 in situ clutches that were in danger of inundation to safer, higher elevation.

Additionally, the 2005 season also witnessed record heat. At Minabe, FIGURE 11. Sand temperatures at Yakushima, Miyazaki and Minabe beaches during the sand temperatures were kept higher 2005 nesting season. than 31.6 in the post rainy season excepting temporal drops on typhoon approached (Figure 11). We therefore sprinkled nests with water almost everyday. On the other hand, sand temperatures in the beaches in Yakushima and Miyazaki did not exceed this threshold considerably.

INCUBATION AND EMERGENCE

2004 Season The ﬁrst emergence of hatchlings occurred on June 30, 2004 in Maehama Beach and on July 10, 2004 FIGURE 11. Daily number of nests from which the ﬁrst hatchlings emergent was in Inakahama Beach. After this date, observed in 2004 at Inakahama (A) and Maehama (B) Beaches. hatchlings emerged from at least 637 clutches on Inakahama Beach, and from at least 485 clutches on Maehama Beach (Figure 11). Very few emergences were found in September and October.

Based on the equation provided by Matsuzawa et al. (2002), the expected due date for the clutch nested on May 31, 2004, was July 31, 2004. After this date, the number of daily nests due (smoothed with a 5 days running mean) was calculated from the daily number of nests and expected incubation period (Figure FIGURE 12. Number of due nests in Inakahama (A) and Maehama (B) Beaches in 2004. 12). These results also indicated that Data have been smoothed with a 5 days running mean. Number of due nests were less clutches are due in September. calculated from daily number of nests and expected incubation periods based on the The ratios of smoothed number of following equation (Matsuzawa et al. 2002): Incubation period = 639.8 x 1 mean sand daily due nests to smoothed number temperature - 17.6)-1. of nests from which hatchling 19 Nesting Beach Management of Eggs and Pre-emergent Hatchlings of North Paciﬁc Loggerhead Sea Turtles in Japan

emergences observed was 54.4 % in Inakahama Beach and 60.0 % in Maehama Beach during the period between July 31 and August 26, 2004 (Fig. 7).

2005 Season During the 2005 nesting season, the ﬁrst emergence of hatchlings occurred on July 19, 2005 in the Maehama Beach and on July 18, 2005 in the Inakahama Beach. After then, hatchlings emerged from at least 839 clutches from Inakahama Beach, and from at least 603 clutches from Maehama Beach, including FIGURE 13. Daily number of nests from which hatchlings emerged in Inakahama and clutches without exact data of ﬁrst Maehama Beaches in 2005. emergence. Most of emergences occurred in August (Figure 13). As for clutches marked with underground- coil markers, hatchlings emerged from 241 of 260 (92.7%) nests at Inakahama Beach and 77 of 96 (80.2%) from the Maehama Beach. Other nests were washed out or did not produce any hatchlings.

Base on the equation given by Matsuzawa et al. (2002), the expected due date for the clutch nested on May 4, 2005, was July 23, 2005. After this date, the number of daily nests due (smoothed with a 5 days running mean) were calculated FIGURE 14. Number of due nests in Inakahama and Maehama Beaches in from daily number of nests and 2005. Data have been smoothed with a 5 days running mean. expected incubation period (Figure 14). Sixteen clutches and seven the big Typhoon No. 16 struck. The and 65.8%, respectively. Supposing clutches nested before May 4 in the mean overall hatching success was that all other unexamined clutches two beaches were not included in the 78.2% (28,566 of 36,525 eggs). Of were washed out when the Typhoon ﬁgure. This result also indicated that the 331 clutches examined, 286 No. 16 approached on August 27, we not as many nests were expected were in situ and 45 were relocated can apply the same hatching success to hatch in September. Only 46 (see Table 3). The hatching success and clutch size to the 819 and 540 clutches (4.6%) in the Inakahama and of in situ compared to relocated unexamined clutches nested by July 37 clutches (4.5%) in the Maehama clutches at Inakahama Beach was 11. In this estimation, 99,239 and were estimated to be due after the 80.5 and 63.3%, respectively. In 54,281 total hatchlings were produced Typhoon 14 hit the sites. Maehama Beach, 150 of 769 clutches in Inakahama Beach and Maehama were excavated. The mean overall Beach, respectively (Table 7). Hatching success hatching success was 70.1% (11,799 of 16,834 eggs). Of the 150 clutches Among 92 clutches in Minabe-Senri 2004 Season examined, 140 were in situ and 10 Beach, thirty-three (35.9%) clutches At Inakahama Beach, 331 of 1,245 were relocated. The hatching success including 13 post-emergent clutches clutches laid were examined. Luckily, of in situ compared to relocated were washed out. Hatching success most hatchlings had emerged before clutches at Maehama Beach was 70.4 for 17 relocated clutches was 30.2% Proceedings of the Second Western Paciﬁc Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 20

those during last season. Applying mean clutch size of 105 and mean hatching success of 48.9% to the 4 in situ clutches from which hatchlings were emerged before they were washed out, then we can expect 205 more hatchlings from these unexamined clutches. Therefore, it was estimated that totally, 5,272 hatchlings were produced in this beach. This number is about 1.6 times the estimation of last season.

Although the hatchery in the Hii-Horikiri Beach was located in the vegetation area, it was inundated. Consequently, data loggers were washed out before they could be recovered. From 2,493 eggs of 29 clutches, 1,414 hatchlings were produced; the mean hatching success was 56.7%.

At Myojinyama-Oida Beach, 183 (590 of 1,952 eggs), whereas 86 relocated nests were 83.4% and total clutches were laid and 114 hatching success for 42 in situ 70.2%, respectively. At the Maehama were relocated. Of the relocated clutches was 44.8% (2,062 of 4,599 Beach, mean hatching success of 246 clutches, 35 (30.7%) were washed eggs). Applying these clutch size and in situ nests and 28 relocated nests out or predated. Hatching success for hatching success to one relocated were 74.6% and 68.0%, respectively. the other 79 relocated clutches was clutch and 12 in situ clutches from Piecing together these hatchling 74.6% (6,117 of 8,205 eggs). Assuming which hatchlings emerged before successes with mean clutch size of that clutch size, hatching success, they were washed out, then we 111.7 and percentage of clutches and ratio of damage by wave and would have expected 35 hatchlings from which any hatchlings emerged, predation were the same between and 1,314 hatchlings from these it is expected that 70,640 hatchlings relocated clutches and in situ unexamined clutches. Therefore, it is from in situ nests and 8,941 clutches, it is estimated that 3,710 estimated that 3,276 total hatchlings hatchlings from relocated nests hatchlings were produced from were produced in this beach. were produced from Inakahama 69 in situ clutches. Beach and 43,172 hatchlings from Although the hatchery in Hii-Horikiri in situ nests and 10,417 hatchlings CONCLUSION Beach was located in the vegetation from relocated nests were produced area, it was inundated frequently. from Maehama Beach (Table 8). The most critical component of Consequently, two clutches and understanding the functioning of a a data logger were washed out, Among 121 clutches in the Minabe- nesting beach is to understand its and many embryos died during Senri Beach, nine (7.4%) clutches productivity. This project supported incubation. From 1,153 eggs of including 4 post-emergent clutches nightly beach patrols to monitor 12 clutches, 171 hatchlings were were washed out and 8 clutches were and management activities to produced; the mean hatching predated. Hatching success for the reduce impacts and maximize success was 14.8 %. 33 relocated clutches was 41% (1,426 hatchling production through the of 3,473 eggs), whereas hatching successful relocation of nests laid 2005 Season success for 71 in situ clutches was in erosion prone areas. Additionally, At Inakahama Beach, mean hatching 48.9% (3,641 of 7,446 eggs). These researchers identiﬁed new sources success of 312 in situ nests and hatch success rates are better than of environmental threats (i.e., high 21 Nesting Beach Management of Eggs and Pre-emergent Hatchlings of North Paciﬁc Loggerhead Sea Turtles in Japan

beach temperatures and extreme To reduce impacts from extreme nests and 56.7 to 70.2% for relocated erosion due to weather and beach weather, namely erosion (due to nests at Inakahama and Maehama armoring) that have the potential to typhoons and other beach conditions Beaches. Of total hatchlings produced, significantly impact the productivity associated with beach armoring), the approximately 19% were a result of of nesting beaches of Japan. The TAC strongly encouraged additional management activities to relocate project has plans to mitigate these relocation of clutches (within the eggs laid in erosion prone areas. impacts during the upcoming 2005 constraints of project logistics), nesting season. since it is evident that the project REFERENCES is producing more hatchlings from In 2004, the Sea Turtle Association the beach by management efforts Bowen, B.W., F.A. Abreu-Grobois, G.H. of Japan acquired funding assistance to relocate clutches [if eggs are not Balazs, N. Kamezaki, C.J. Limpus from the Western Pacific Regional relocated, zero percent hatchling and R.J. Ferl. 1995. Trans-Pacific 3 Fishery Management Council production results]. The project migration of the loggerhead turtle (Council) to assist with management leaders recognize that other kinds (Caretta caretta) demonstrated activities to reduce the mortality of effects due to relocation are with mitochondrial DNA markers. rate of loggerhead turtles’ eggs unknown, but any level of hatch Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. 92: 3731- and pre-emergent hatchlings from success (even 10%) is better than 3734. stomping (beach use), beach erosion, zero percent. If one wants to think Kamezaki, N., Y. Matsuzawa, O. Abe, and extreme temperatures at four in terms of adults, a beach needs to H. Asakawa, T. Fujii, K. Goto, S. Japanese loggerhead-nesting beaches produce a lot of hatchlings to produce Hagino, M. Hayami, M. Ishii, T. at Inakahama, Maehama, Minabe- an adult some decades later. The Iwamoto, T. Kamata, H. Kato, J. Senri, and Hii-Horikiri. In 2005, the TAC thus encouraged the project Kodama, Y. Kondo, I. Miyawaki, project was expanded to include to move hundreds of clutches to K. Mizobuchi, Y. Nakamura, Y. Myojinyama-Oida Beach. maximize hatchling production to Nakashima, H. Naruse, K. Omuta, have those extra adults in the future. M. Samejima, H. Suganuma, In 2004, management activities were The TAC further supported that the H. Takeshita, T. Tanaka, T. Toji, supported to maximize hatchling project experiment with watering M. Uematsu, A. Yamamoto, T. production and save nests laid in of nests in effort to reduce extreme Yamato, and I. Wakabayashi. erosion prone areas. In total, 240 temperatures at project sites. 2003. Loggerhead Turtles Nesting nests were relocated from certain in Japan. In: Loggerhead Sea destruction, and restrictions (such Based on the advice from the Turtles. Edited by A.B. Bolten and as fences) were placed at high TAC, and after acquiring greater B.E. Witherington. Smithsonian density nesting areas to reduce understanding regarding the goals Institution. P.p. 210-217. anthropogenic impacts from foot and objectives of the Council, Kudo, H. Murakami, A. Watanabe, S. traffic and beach use. Approximately the project was able to refine the 2003. Effects of sand hardness 157,000 total hatchlings were project’s results to calculate the and human beach use on released from the four study sites number of hatchlings released due to emergence success of loggerhead (Table 7), and the hatching success management intervention. During the sea turtles on Yakushima Island, rate ranged from 70.4 to 80.5% for 2005 nesting season, 470 nests were Japan. Chelonian Conservation in situ nests and 63.3 to 65.8% for relocated (Table 8). It is estimated and Biology, 4(3): 695-696. relocated nests at Inakahama and that these relocated nests resulted Matsuzawa, Y. Sato, K. Sakamoto, Maehama Beaches. in the release of approximately W. Bjorndal, K. A. 2002. Seasonal 28,315 hatchlings that would have fluctuations in sand temperature: In March 2005, the Council’s otherwise been lost to erosion effects on the incubation period Turtle Advisory Committee or other environmental impacts. and mortality of loggerhead (TAC) reviewed this project and In total, 149,478 hatchlings were sea turtle (Caretta caretta) encouraged management actions produced at the five project sites pre-emergent hatchlings in and experimental research to further (Table 8). The hatching success rate Minabe, Japan. Marine Biology, reduce environmental impacts. ranged from 74.6 to 83.4% for in situ 140(3):639-646.

3 Interactions with threatened loggerhead sea turtles have the potential to compromise the long-term continuity of U.S. pelagic longline fisheries. The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (Council), the federal management authority of fisheries operating in the Pacific Islands Region, has therefore implemented an integrated approach to sea turtle conservation to address anthropogenic and environmental threats to turtles in various phases of their life history. In 2004, the Council began supporting nesting beach management actions in Japan, because 100% of the loggerhead turtle/fishery interactions by the Hawaii-based longline fishery occur with the north Pacific loggerhead turtle nesting stock. Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 22

Nichols, W.J., A. Resendiz and C. Mayoral-Russeau. 2000. Biology and conservation of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) in Baja California, Mexico. In: Proceedings of the 19th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Conservation and Biology. NOAA Tech-Memo NMFS-SEFSC-443. Pp. 169-171. Resendiz, A., B. Resendiz, J. Nichols, J. Seminoff, N. Kamezaki. 1998. First confirmed east west transpacific movement of a loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta, released in Baja California, Mexico. Pacific Science 52: 151-153. Uchida, S. Teruya, H. 1988. Transpacific Migration of a Tagged Loggerhead, Caretta caretta and Tag- Return Results of Loggerheads Released From Okinawa Island, Japan. In: Uchida, I. ed., Proceedings of International Symposium on Sea Turtles in 1988 in Japan. Himeji City Aquarium, Himeji City, Japan. p69-182. 23

Kazuyoshi Ohmuta The Sea Turtle Situation The Sea Turtle Association of Japan of Yakushima Island

INTRODUCTION

The circumference of Yakushima Island, Kagoshima prefecture in southern Japan is approximately 130 kilometers, surrounded by the East China Sea and the Paciﬁc Ocean. The three primary sea turtle nesting beaches, Maehama, Inakahama and Yotsusehama, are on the northern side of the island associated with Nagata, Kamiyaku-town (Figure 1). Together, these beaches comprise approximately 40% of all loggerhead nesting in Japan (Kamezaki et al., 2003). The Sea Turtle Museum, Umigame Kong, is also located at Inakahama Beach. FIGURE 1. Bird’s eye view of the three primary nesting beaches of beaches Yakushima Inakahama Beach, is about one Island: Maehama, Inakahama and Yotsusehama beaches. kilometer long, but the shore line changes as the season change. In May and June, there is more sand, but sand erodes during the nesting season and the beach becomes quite rocky. Maehama Beach is about 600 meters long and is protected with concrete berms, and Yotsusehama Beach is approximately 240 meters long. Unfortunately, sand erosion is very serious problem at Maehama (Figure 2). During the winter, typhoon season, the sand is drastically removed. FIGURE 2. Maehama beach sand erosion following a typhoon. Proceedings of the Second Western Paciﬁc Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 24

in about 29 years. Hopefully, this will be conﬁrmed with the PIT tags. I’m assuming that these turtles will go to Baja, so please take care of them.

Based on research and beach monitoring surveys, Figure 6 is a graph of the number of female turtles landing (top line), and nesting (bottom line). As you can FIGURE 3. Volunteers and staff at the sea see the number of both landing and turtle museum (Mr. Omuta, center). nesting individuals were increasing FIGURE 4. Measuring a loggerhead turtle until about 1991, then gradually nesting at Yakushima Island. decreasing until 2002, and then CONSERVATION RESEARCH increasing through 2004 (Figure 6). About 500 loggerhead turtles come to lay eggs at the three beaches of MANAGEMENT MEASURES Yakushima Island. There are also green turtles, but the greatest percentage In 1973, laws were enacted to are loggerhead turtles. Research is prohibit people from eating sea undertaken from May to September turtle eggs. The law was limited first and work is conducted by about 40 to to Yakushima Island, but in 1988, a 50 volunteers. Thanks to the volunteer similar law was enacted for the entire program, research has flourished Kagoshima Prefecture. Additionally, (Figure 3). There is a dormitory for up until 1999, there were many kinds Researcher PIT tagging a volunteers that houses a maximum of fishing operations near the coast FIGURE 5. loggerhead hatchling. of six volunteers at one time. of Yakushima, but fish catch rates

We estimate that the program tags about 99% of turtles that nesting at Yakushima Island (Figure 4). In addition to tagging and measuring, however, our project transplants eggs that are laid in erosion prone areas to safer locations, and undertakes studies on hatchling success to gather information on the reproductive success of turtles, as well as understand the hatch success of relocated nests.

We also have a project to tag hatchlings with Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT) tags. Between 1988 and 2004, the project has PIT tagged 1,450 hatchlings (Figure 5). There are two main purposes for this study, one is to see how long it will take the turtles to become sexually mature, and the other is to see if they will return to the home beach. We estimate that loggerhead turtles from FIGURE 6. Number of female loggerhead turtles emerging (top line) and nesting Yakushima grow into mature females (bottom line) at Yakushima Island between 1985 and 2004. 25 The Sea Turtle Situation of Yakushima Island

FIGURE 7. Fence placed around highest density nesting areas for conservation.

decreased and poundnet and gillnet We would like to begin restricting ﬁshing stopped. Since 1999, ﬁshing beach access at Inakahama Beach pressure near Yakushima Island has in July, but cannot because this is no longer been a problem. when we have the most tourists and so we need to focus on education. In Figure 6, the nesting numbers Fences are placed in August. We decrease from 1991 to 1999. However, know that the fences increase nesting numbers have increased hatchling success, because data since 1999. In 2002, the nesting suggests a 10 percent increase numbers have doubled and continued in August compared to July. In to increase. It is my estimation that comparison, at Maehama Beach FIGURE 8. The public listening to a sea the reason for the drastic increase of where tourism was less during turtle presentation. nesting females from 2001 to 2004 summer (2004), there was a 14 is due to the law enactment in 1973. percent increase in hatchling success People are no longer eating sea turtle versus Inakahama. eggs. So those eggs (hatchlings) are now coming back as nesting females. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

Hatching success rates are Sea turtles have become popular influenced by typhoons (as discussed for ecotourism at Yakushima, and in Matsuzawa’s paper of these the number of visitors coming to proceedings) and beach use by people see turtles has increased over the or tourists at Yakushima Island. To past few years. At Inakahama Beach, reduce foot traffic and protect nests we have therefore begun a project FIGURE 9. School kids learning what is like from stomping, we mark areas to keep to show local tourist nesting sea to be a turtle and dig a “nest.” people away, or off of nests (Figure 7). turtles (Figure 8). We give talks For the sake of sea turtles, we would about turtles, and elementary school like to put a fence all around the students come to learn about sea beach, but that is not possible, so turtles (Figure 9). Public education we place fences where the highest and outreach are big parts of our density of nests are laid. program to conserve loggerhead turtles at Yakushima Island. Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 26

QUESTIONS in fisheries, in high seas fisheries, of how the little turtles survive for and on the foraging grounds. But awhile in the aquarium and that Mr. Limpus: Could you explain just they are only going to detect the might require internal examination a little bit more about the pit tag of pit tags if they are using scanners. by a veterinarian. But so not an the hatchlings? How many pit tags, So perhaps I would be interested to answer right now, but if someone how many tags on each turtle and have further discussion of the various could give me an answer please. what sort of tags are they? people that are catching juvenile turtles on foraging grounds. If no one Mr. Dutton: While we were on the Mr. Dutton: As a related question, is looking for those pit tags with the subject of pit-tagging, one of my I’m particularly interested in the right equipment, we’re missing on favorite subjects, you mentioned you brand. opportunity. have been looking for effective ways of tagging the adults with external Mr. Ohmuta: Troban. One per turtle. Mr. Ohmuta: I’m looking forward to flipper tags. I would also urge you further discussion about this issue. that if you get funding to do more Mr. Dutton: Size? Are they just Thank you. pit-tagging that you also consider standard 14 or 12 millimeter. pit-tagging the adults to allow you to Mr. Peckham: Mizuno has been evaluate tag retention and also more Mr. Ohmuta: 11 millimeters. coming over to Baja and has been effective long-term tagging of your using a scanner on the small turtles. Mr. Limpus: How many years has he juveniles, as well as dead ones the been doing the pit tagging on the beach. Over the last two summers, Mr. Ohmuta: We’re going to put 500 hatchlings. he’s probably looked at 200 or 250 or pit tags on adult sea turtles this year. so, and has not found any tags. But Mr. Ohmuta: Four years. the turtles might be too large, were not sure. Mr. Pilcher: Have any of the hatchlings being kept in captivity Ms. Kinan: Does he have plans to after being pit-tagged to check for continue pit tagging? whether there is any impact on survival of the hatchling from using Mr. Ohmuta: I would like to put the pit tag? more pit tags on turtles, but since it’s expensive equipment, I need to Mr. Ohmuta: There is an aquarium discuss with people on how to go that has done it at Minamichi, and about this. their study indicates that it doesn’t affect the survival of hatchlings. Dr. Limpus: I commend you for the innovative approach to tagging Mr. Balazs: Are they inserted into the hatchlings. I do have a question that body cavity or where exactly are they I would like to get an answer, not inserted? now, but with collectively perhaps from the group, if you could give Mr. Ohmuta: In the cavity. us an answer. You are using an extremely sharp needle to inject Mr. Aguirre: Have you recovered any an object into the body cavity of of those tags? a hatchling. I would like to know that there has been a veterinary Mr. Ohmuta: None. examination to establish that you are not seriously injuring the Mr. Dutton: An issue for further digestive tract because where you discussion is the chances of detecting inject is right next to the stomach those, if they are surviving, you are of the turtles. And I would like more likely -- there are opportunities to be satisfied from a veterinary where observers are catching turtles perspective, not just a question 27 The Current Status Hiroshi Takeshita of Loggerhead Sea Turtle Miyazaki Wildlife Research Group Rookeries in Miyazaki, Japan

INTRODUCTION eggs (to reduce poaching). Today our research group surveys nine main This presentation is about the nesting beaches, gathered in the research and conservation activities center of the prefecture (Figure 3). occurring at loggerhead sea turtle The beaches are bordered by rivers, rookeries of Miyazaki, Japan (Figure harbors and an airport. 1). Miyazaki Prefecture is located on the eastern Kyushu Island of Beach surveys start May 20th and Japan. The coast facing the Pacific end August 10th every year. Between stretches 400 kilometers. It has deeply 1973 to 1979, the southern six sites indented coast lines with many vast (16km) were surveyed, however, FIGURE 1. Kyushu Island is the largest sand beaches in the central region. since 1980 all nine sites have been southern island of Japan. Loggerhead turtles land and nest on surveyed (total 26km). In the first these beaches (Figure 2). few years, surveys were done by foot, but in 1977, we began using cars. In I first encountered loggerhead turtles 2001, we resumed walking, because when I came to Miyazaki in 1971. At cars were prohibited on the beach. the time, I recognized that about 85 percent of them were taken by people Beaches are walked in the early in to sell at market. I decided to try to the morning to count and record the protect them, but the authorities were footprints (turtle tracks) and nesting indifferent about sea turtles in those plots during the daytime survey. days. I then began walking along the In the night survey, the beach is beach to count and make a record of walked from 9:00 p.m. to midnight turtle tracks. In 1973, some members to check for turtles and nests. If a joined my survey, and this was the turtle is encountered, we observe beginning of the Miyazaki Wildlife their behavior and record the nesting FIGURE 2. The primary loggerhead Research Group. location and take measurements rookeries on Miyazaki Island. (the length of the shell, head and RESEARCH AND flippers). We began tagging turtles in 1977 with hand made number plates CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES attached to the shell (Figure 4). However, we now tag turtles in the In the early days, we observed a flipper with metal tags supplied by loggerhead’s behavior from landing the Sea Turtle Association of Japan. until the end of egg-laying. Following nesting, we measured and tagged In 1978, one year after tagging the turtle with a handmade number in 1977, a loggerhead turtle was plate (see Figure 4). After the turtle recaptured in the East China Sea. returned to sea, we erased the By 1984, 13 loggerheads with our FIGURE 3. Nine sites within the 26 km footprints (tracks) so people wouldn’t tags were recaptured in this area realize the landing and presence of research area in the center of the (Figure 5). To date, we have tagged Miyazaki Prefecture. Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 28

FIGURE 5. Turtle recapture locations in the East China Sea (shaded area) between 1978 and 1984.

FIGURE 4. Handmade tag and tag location used in Miyazaki research in 1977.

1,460 loggerheads, and among these, suggest that turtle eggs promote harbor ships as large as 20,000 tons. 197 have been recaptured in the East longevity or are revitalizers (i.e., To protect the port from waves, China Sea. aphrodisiacs). Therefore, we analyzed a groin of one kilometer was also the nutrition content of turtle eggs constructed from the coast out into When our survey started in 1973, (Yamaguchi et al. 1984). Our study the sea. There is now a yacht harbor our activities focused mainly on revealed that turtle eggs are no with breakwaters and artiﬁcial beach. identifying nesting locations and on more nutritious than chicken eggs, Also, in 1982, construction began how to prevent egg collection. In and this information was provided to to expand the airport out into the 1976, there were 200 to 300 total the public through newspapers. As a sea. This combined construction landings per year. This increased in result, egg harvest was dramatically has caused dramatic changes in the the mid-1980’s, and by 1991, there reduced. Next, we proposed the local water and ocean current conditions were 1,274 landings. We thought government to authorize Miyazaki that have lead to erosion of beaches this increase was the result of our a national treasure, and advertised on both sides of the construction protection efforts, but the number our survey and protection efforts zone (Figure 7). started to decrease thereafter. In to the public to gain support. This 1997, there were only 400 landings reduced poaching activities even To control this erosion problem, with less that 300 turtles nesting (the more and egg harvest has not been a the local government constructed difference between the landing and problem since 1985. This protection detached breakwaters offshore nesting number indicates loggerheads has prevailed also in other areas of of Sumiyoshi Beach. However, returning to the sea without laying Miyazaki. this is also not good for sea turtle eggs). Since 2000, however, the nesting activities. Erosion has landing number has started to Erosion, however, continues to be seriously degraded the beach, and increase, and the count exceeded a serious problem at Miyazaki. The the excellent breeding habitat for 1,200 in 2004 (Figure 6). beaches of Miyazaki used to be loggerheads is now threatened 20 to 100 meters wide, with mild (Figure 8). It is even dangerous for NESTING BEACH IMPACTS slope, and bordered with natural people to walk along the beach. vegetation. It stretched 16 kilometers The Miyazaki Wildlife Research Group from the south to north, and was one Unfortunately, human-induced has worked to reduce the poaching of the main loggerhead rookeries in impacts are not the only threats. of nest and harvest of eggs to be Japan. In 1981, construction started In 2004, the beach suffered from sold at market. Some superstitions for a large port in Miyazaki City to three severe typhoons and many 29 The Current Status of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle Rookeries in Miyazaki, Japan

turtle eggs were lost. Currently, the Miyazaki Wildlife Research Group, along with the Sea Turtle Association of Japan are investigating options to protect sea turtles, such as transplanting eggs to safer beaches to protect them from erosion and typhoons, and making arrangements to use artiﬁcial beaches in hopes of imprinting hatchlings to new, hopefully more stable, nesting beaches.

REFERENCES Yamaguchi, K.,H. Takeshita, T. Deguchi, C. Haan, S. Haga, and FIGURE 6. Numbers of loggerhead landings (dashed line) and nests (solid line) in T. Ohashi (1984) Some Chemical Miyazaki Beach. The research area has not been changed since 1985. Compositions of Turtle Eggs (Carreta caretta). Bulletin of the Faculty of Agriculture, Univ., 31(2):155-159.

FIGURE 7. Beach erosion at Miyazaki Beach. The picture on the left was taken in 1973 and the picture on the right in 2003.

FIGURE 8. Breakwater and beach construction impeding nesting activities.

George Balazs NOAA Fisheries, Pelagic Research of Paciﬁc Islands Fisheries Paciﬁc Loggerhead Sea Turtles Science Center in Partnership with Japan and Taiwan

INTRODUCTION

The following is a joint presentation by Dr. Jeffrey Polovina and I covering important pelagic loggerhead sea turtle research that we have undertaken over the past five years in collaboration with our Asian colleagues, Dr. Naoki Kamezaki of the Sea Turtle Association of Japan and Dr. I-Jium Cheng of the National Taiwan Ocean University. I would like to emphasize the point of partnership that built the foundation for the research results to be presented by Dr. FIGURE 1. Miniature model of a pond net. In reality, each sand bag which anchors the Polovina. Without partnerships, little net weighs about two tons. can be accomplished with a species that spans such vast areas of the a pond net; it’s just a matter of North Pacific – nations and cultures. translation from Chinese into English that has resulted in some confusion. COASTAL POND NETS OF JAPAN A pond net is something like the “pound nets” used in Chesapeake In July 2004, I traveled to Muroto Bay, USA. But a pond net is set out Point, Japan in the company of Dr. over very deep water, and can be very Kamezaki to learn more about the large. The pond net fishery I visited FIGURE 2. Top view of miniature pond net. coastal pond net fishery in which at Muroto Point is a huge operation Dr. Kamezaki is “caught” in the entrance loggerheads are sometimes taken that sometimes entraps a turtle, to the net, in the deep end which is set in as bycatch. Pond nets are a non- but rarely entangles and drowns the about 90 meters of water. entangling type of fishery and are turtle. We have been fortunate in common along the coast of Japan. For our collaborations to have satellite years, I’ve been trying to understand tags put on these accidentally caught In a pond net (as depicted in Figure 2), what a pond net is and how it works turtles. I was impressed with the fish enter in the deep end and swim since this type of fishing gear (also immensity of the operation, the progressively towards the other end known as trap nets) is very common amount of net and the amount of of the net in a step-wise fashion that throughout coastal Asia. Dr. Cheng in gear and finances necessary for brings them up shallower and shallower. Taiwan calls them, in his publication, construction and maintenance. At the end there’s a guide where the fish “set nets”. To me, a set net is These nets are used primarily to collect themselves, but are incapable something that fish and turtles swim collect pelagic fish. This is a massive of swimming out. For perspective, into and become entangled. Nothing operation and very efficient fish each one of the sandbag anchors could be farther from the truth for catchers. shown in Figure 2 weighs two tons. Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 32

A B released unharmed. Pond nets are set out all the time, day and night. When the typhoons come, they simply take the ﬂoats off and sink the net, and then raise it again after the typhoon passes.

SATELLITE TELEMETRY RESEARCH – JAPAN

C D From these pond nets come many of our live loggerhead turtle subjects for satellite telemetry research. A turtle that is caught in a pond net is brought ashore, given a scrubbing, ﬁtted with satellite tag, and then released. It is important to note that turtle #22168 (Figure 4) has bounced in and out from coastal habitat, but spent the greatest portion of its time in pelagic habitat, as do many other FIGURE 3. The process of collecting ﬁsh out of a pond net (A to D). satellite-tracked turtles in our study.

The map of Figure 5 represents an interesting result of our collaboration, also with the Sea Turtle Association of Japan. I had the honor of visiting a loggerhead nesting beach at Fukiage Beach in Kagoshima, Japan. A satellite tag was put on a loggerhead turtle after she ﬁnished her nesting and swam into an offshore ocean area. In Hawaii we FIGURE 4. Movement of coastal pond net say, “where there’s one, there’s two by-catch male loggerhead turtle (#22168) or many more.” The turtle has told in 2002-2003, at liberty 386 days, us, I believe, that this is an offshore traveling a distance of 11,333 km. “hotspot” that is important for post- nesting turtles. Further investigation FIGURE 6. Movement of coastal pond net at this site is recommended. bycatch loggerhead #19599 in 2004, at liberty 225 days traveling 4,456 km. SATELLITE TELEMETRY RESEARCH – TAIWAN

Fish are captured by up to ten small To understand the migratory boats involving 30 to 35 men that movements of North Pacific collect the fish by progressively loggerheads, we work in bringing the trap section of the collaboration with Dr. Cheng on net closer together (Figure 3). The the Pacific coast of Taiwan. In our netting does not normally entangle project, all data are shared, and FIGURE 5. Post-nesting tracking of the fish or turtles, and fish are thus partnerships are acknowledged. As it loggerhead turtle (#4805) in 2004-2005, scooped out of the pond net (or trap). turns out, the Taiwanese have similar at liberty 219 days. Any non-target species can easily be pond nets, only smaller and closer 33 Pelagic Research of Pacific Loggerhead Sea Turtles in Partnership with Japan and Taiwan

FIGURE 7. George Balazs with juvenile loggerhead turtles.

FIGURE 9. Satellite tracks of seven juvenile loggerheads released at sea from the M/V Kitakami off Tokyo, Japan.

in the Kuroshio Extension Current. This presentation is followed by These turtles are raised up to one, Dr. Polovina who will describe two and three years of age and some of the oceanographic fitted with satellite transmitters research results associated with FIGURE 8. Juvenile loggerheads eager to to help our research team better the migratory and foraging be released. understand the pelagic habitats movements of these juvenile used by juvenile loggerheads (Figure loggerheads in pelagic habitats 7). A cargo company that sails from in the North Pacific. to shore compared to Muroto Point, Nagoya to Sendai to Hokkaido Japan. From these nets, loggerheads has been extremely cooperative are also captured for satellite in assisting this project. Two telemetry studies (Figure 6). Again, 300-meter vessels that carry 200 many of these turtles are showing us passengers and all sorts of cargo are an important pelagic habitat in the used to release turtles at sea. East China Sea. The release point is the Kuroshio SATELLITE TELEMETRY Current, and it can be a very RESEARCH – PELAGIC exciting event. Turtles are put in RELEASE baskets a few at a time and the baskets are lowered over the ship’s Another collaborative project that side (Figure 8). A meter above the has proven to be very valuable is in surface of the water, each basket Japan in association with the Port is flipped and into the ocean the of Nagoya Public Aquarium. In this turtles go. These juveniles swim project, captive-reared loggerhead towards the International Date turtles are released from a passenger Line and the vicinity north of the ship about 40 kilometers off Tokyo Hawaiian Islands (Figure 9).

35 Dr. Jeffrey Polovina* The Kuroshio Extension NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Current Bifurcation Region: Itaru Uchida A Pelagic Hotspot for Juvenile Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, Japan Loggerhead Sea Turtles George Balazs NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Evan Howell NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Denise Parker Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii Dr. Peter Dutton NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center

* Presenting Author. This complete paper is printed in: Deep Sea Research II 53 Schematic of the Kuroshio Extension Bifurcation Region (KECBR). (2006) 326-339. This presentation summarizes the North Pacific toward the dateline, Previous satellite telemetry work release of 43 juvenile loggerhead and travel seasonally north and south with loggerheads has focused on sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in the between 28º and 40º N latitude, describing juvenile loggerhead forage western North Pacific off of Japan and they forage almost exclusively in and migration habitat primarily to together with satellite-remotely the top 50 m (Polovina et al., 2004; the east of the international date line sensed oceanographic data identified Polovina et al., 2003). Their most in the central North Pacific. However, the Kuroshio Extension Current common prey are Janthina spp., the Kuroshio Extension Current (KEC) Bifurcation Region (KECBR) as a Carinara cithara, Vella vella, Lepas lies west of the date line and is the forage hotspot for these turtles. spp., Planes spp., and pyrosomas dominant physical and biological (Parker et al., 2005). habitat in the North Pacific, The loggerhead turtle is a threatened recognized for its high eddy kinetic and declining species in the North One feature in the central North energy and high phytoplankton and Pacific where its ecology and life Pacific that appears to represent an zooplankton productivity (Komatsu history are not well known. Juvenile important loggerhead forage and et al., 2002; Kimura et al., 2000; Qiu, loggerheads are known to use migration habitat is the Transition 2001). pelagic habitat, and some members Zone Chlorophyll Front (TZCF) of the population make trans-Pacific (Polovina et al., 2004). The TZCF is In this study, one group of turtles migrations from the Japanese nesting identified from satellite-remotely were composed of 37, 1-3-year-old beaches to coastal habitat off Baja, sensed surface chlorophyll data as a loggerheads reared at the Port of Mexico. In previous studies, satellite basin-wide surface chlorophyll front. Nagoya Public Aquarium and released telemetry of 26 loggerheads in the This front represents a boundary off the coast of Japan on three dates: central North Pacific has shown that between vertically stratified warm, April 2003, November 2003, and juvenile loggerheads caught and low-chlorophyll subtropical waters on April 2004. The second group was released from longline fishing gear the south and vertically mixed, cool composed of six juvenile loggerheads, appear to be long-term residents in high chlorophyll waters on the north caught and released between 2000 the oceanic North Pacific. They often (Polovina et al., 2004; Polovina et al., and 2003 from longline gear in the travel westward from the central 2001). central North Pacific. All 43 turtles Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 36

traveled west of the dateline into the eastern North Pacific. Furthermore, that we can drive with remotely KEC region. Satellite oceanographic juvenile loggerheads do not just sensed data to try to capture all of data was used, especially sea surface transit through pelagic habitat, but the dynamics across the North Pacific height (SSH) from altimetry, and spend years inhabiting the open to try to describe the whole juvenile surface chlorophyll from ocean color ocean and in particular the KEBR. loggerhead population movement. data to describe the mesoscale It may be that a significant number habitats the turtles used. of juvenile loggerheads use pelagic habitat and particularly the KEBR for REFERENCES Results indicated that in the KECBR, their entire juvenile phase and never juvenile loggerheads resided in travel to the coast of the eastern Komatsu, T, T.Sugimoto, K.Isida, Kuroshio Extension Current (KEC) North Pacific. On the other hand, P. Mishra, and T.Miura. 2002. meanders and the associated anti- transmitted turtles from Baja don’t Importance of the Shasky Rise cyclonic (warm core) and cyclonic show a lot of movement out of Baja. area in the Kuroshio Extension (cold core) eddies during the fall, That habitat appears to have very as an offshore nursery ground winter, and spring when the KEC water different dynamics. However, since for Japanese anchovy (Engraulis contained high surface chlorophyll. the juvenile phase in loggerheads japonicus) and sardine (Sardinops Turtles often remained at a specific lasts a decade or more, answering melanostictus). Fisheries feature for several months. However, this question is beyond the scope Oceanography 11(6): 354-360. in the summer when the KEC waters of present satellite telemetry Kimura, S., H. Nakata, and Y. Okazaki. became vertically stratified and techniques. 2000. Biological production surface chlorophyll levels were low, in meso-scale eddies caused the turtles moved north up to 600 It is well known that the KEBR is an by frontal disturbances of the km from the main axis of KEC to the important pelagic fishing ground for Kuroshio Extension. ICES Journal Transition Zone Chlorophyll Front fleets from many nations. However, of Marine Science 57:133-142. (TZCF). interactions between fishing gear Parker, D. M., W. J. Cooke, G. H. and loggerheads in the KEBR are Balazs. 2005. Diet of oceanic In some instances, the loggerheads not well documented. Given newly loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta swam against geostrophic currents, discovered importance of this region caretta) in the central North and seasonally all turtles moved north for loggerheads, the documenting of Pacific. Fishery Bulletin 103: and south across the strong zonal interactions between loggerheads 142-152. flow. Loggerhead turtles traveling and fishing gear in this area is an Polovina, J. J., G. H. Balazs, E. A westward in the KECBR had their important conservation priority. Howell, D. M. Parker, M. P. directed westward movement reduced Further, interannual and decadal Seki, and P. H. Dutton. 2004. 50% by the opposing current, while changes in productivity of the Forage and migration habitat those traveling eastward exhibited an dynamic KEBR are likely substantial of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) increase in directed zonal movement. and may be important to the and olive ridley (Lepidochelys It appears, therefore, that these population dynamics of this species. olivacea) sea turtles in the relatively weak-swimming juvenile central North Pacific Ocean. loggerheads are not passive drifters In summary, these results indicate Fisheries Oceanography 13(1): in a major ocean current, but are that oceanic regions, specifically 36-51. able to move east, west, north, and the KECBR, represent an important Polovina, J. J, E. A Howell, D. M. south through this very energetic and juvenile forage habitat for this Parker, and G. H. Balazs. 2003. complex habitat. threatened species. Interannual and Dive-depth distribution of decadal changes in productivity of loggerhead (Carretta carretta) It has long been assumed that juvenile the KECBR may have a big impact and olive ridley (Lepidochelys loggerheads use the North Pacific on growth and survival of juvenile olivacea) sea turtles in the oceanic regions largely as a pathway loggerheads and their population central North Pacific Ocean: to reach coastal nursery habitat off dynamics. Further, conservation Might deep longline sets catch Baja, Mexico. These research results efforts should focus on identifying fewer turtles? Fishery Bulletin showed that the KEBR is an important and reducing threats to the survival 101(1):189-193. habitat for juvenile loggerheads of loggerhead turtles in the KECBR. migrating both from Japan and from In the future, we have plans to oceanic habitat in the central and develop a spatial movement model 37 The Kuroshio Extension Current Bifurcation Region: A Pelagic Hotspot for Juvenile Loggerhead Sea Turtles

Polovina, J.J., E. Howell, D.R.Kobayashi, Dr. Nichols: I just have a quick north and south. They weren’t just and M.P.Seki. 2001. The Transition question for both of you, or anybody swept through this region. So even Zone chlorophyll front, a who has any ideas may answer. as a one-year-old, they are actively dynamic global feature defining Thinking back to the map, there are swimming, actively migrating, it migration and forage habitat for some areas we don’t know much seems. marine resources. Progress in about, the Kurishio extension, and Oceanography (49)1-4:469-483. then some other areas that we know Mr. Balazs: And it’s entirely possible Qiu, B. 2001. Kuroshio and Oyashio more about. Can you speculate as to – we bought this paradigm for years; Currents. In: Encyclopedia of disbursal of hatchlings? that hatchlings are just passive Ocean Science, Academic Press. drifters. But I would question that. pp. 1413-1425. Mr. Balazs: In the one case, one, two I would say that if the 25-centimeter and three years old, the smallest we ones can be moving around like could get the new tags on is about 28 that, on their own scale, that those centimeters, and that’s the ones we hatchlings or post hatchlings, six QUESTIONS showed. months old, or whatever, could be negotiating similar habitat. There Dr. Swimmer: I’m curious as to what Dr. Nichols: So I’m thinking, the time may be some threshold there or the target species is in the pound net between hatching and 28 centimeters gradation of it. The other thing that fisheries. is probably a couple of years. I wanted to point out, although we Something is happening in there. And didn’t present that data here, we Mr. Balazs: Many species. maybe Jeff could speculate on, where have put SDR satellite dive recorders are those animals being pushed to? on some of those animals that were Ms. Fahy: I think it’s pretty amazing captive-reared. And it’s astonishing to that we have so few tracks that go Dr. Polovina: Yes. I think, if they do see within the first day after release, from the Northern Pacific down to get out to the Kurishio extension, the dives down to 80, 90 meters, even Baja; yet we have a lot of information system would start to carry them out though they had never been in water on the size of those animals. Do you there even earlier. over 2 meters deep in their life. The have any idea, comparing the size of thesis that captive-reared animals are turtles taken in the longline fisheries Dr. Nichols: And, then, over the somehow messed up does not seem and those seen in Baja, when they course of two years, assuming a to bear any reality to the loggerhead would start to move down to Baja, and hatchling is completely subject to turtles from Japan. why perhaps we haven’t been able to the current, rather than these older track them? Where are they, and when turtles that are apparently able to do Dr. Limpus: I urge you to go back are they going down to Baja, or what their own thing, for the most part, and reread Ken Loman’s papers age? where would a hatchling end up after on the behavior of post hatchling two years of riding the current? loggerheads, or small loggerheads, Dr. Polovina: That’s a great question. in the experimental situation of We have looked at sizes, but maybe Dr. Polovina: Well, if it were just a being exposed to magnetic fields Hoyt or George wants to respond. passive particle, this is the perfect in the North Atlantic. He certainly region for it to end up. That is a demonstrated these animals are not Mr. Peckham: All the collections that region, where, for example, when just inert things out there; they are Jay made over the past ten years of there’s large populations of sardines actually directing their swimming turtles stranded and carcasses found or anchovies, the juveniles get in response to where they are in in dumps, and captured turtles, advected. The larvae of sardines and the jar. And, I guess, I’d respond the size of these almost completely anchovy are out in this region. This is to your initial question that, while overlap. The averages of the turtles a very -- really dynamic sort of habitat the current may take them in one caught in the North Pacific longline for a lot of organisms, albacore tuna, direction and there may be eddies fishery is around 61 or 62 centimeters. blue fin tuna. The amazing thing is that perhaps would tend to hold And off Baja, the average is about the that you get these small animals, the them in an area, Ken’s work would same, but actually getting higher, ones that George and his colleagues say to me, if they have a target that which is a point of concern. released were one-year-olds to three- is part of their inherited biology, they year-olds. So those seem to be able can direct their swimming to go in to move actively through this region, that direction. So go back and look Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 38

at Ken’s stuff, and see if it has some bearing here to what you are trying to resolve.

Mr. Balazs: I’ll just summarize so that nobody misunderstands. There’s no denying that Baja is important habitat for the North Pacific loggerhead. I think what we’re beginning to feel from this data, or see from this data, that there are other places that may even be more important, but there’s no denying that the loggerheads get all the way over to Baja. We all know that from the genetics, they proved that some years ago. It’s a question of where is the major nursery growing area for these animals. And it certainly looks like in this case they’re going back and forth out there in the middle of no man’s land, but an important fishery area to fisherman. So, again, elevating a conservation concern generated by a collaboration of partnerships around the Pacific. 39 Sea Turtle Bycatch Reduction: Dr. Yonat Swimmer and Dr. Amanda Southwood An Update on Sensory NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fishery Science Center Experiments and Field Trials

INTRODUCTION every single turtle that is encountered. Thus far (at the time of the workshop The following presentation is about March 2005), observers have the work the National Marine tagged eight within the last month Fisheries Service (NMFS) is doing encountered in the swordfish fishery in regards to loggerhead sea turtle and 13 from the California-based bycatch reduction in longline fishery. Most of the turtles have been fisheries. This is an update of the tagged by California-based observers sensory experiments using captive that were on boat fishing in the same animals and the field trials testing general area these past couple of mitigation methods in various years. A preliminary look at the data locations. This is all a collaborative indicates that the tags are lasting an FIGURE 1. Turtle outfitted with popup average of almost five months. These and very much an international group satellite archival tag. effort. It is my belief that this is the are animals that were deeply hooked surest way to arrive at practical whereby they had actually swallowed solutions that can be applied to the hooks. There were a few duds, fisheries worldwide. has the potential to provide highly meaning tags we never heard from valuable information such as turtles’ after their deployment. However, Our work focuses on three general geolocations, which will help identify based on the design of the tag, we areas: 1) track turtles using satellite potential migratory corridors, turtles’ believe these are not suggestive of telemetry after their release from dive depths, as well as the water mortality. fishing gear to better understand temperature occupied by the turtle. mortality due to longline fisheries Primarily the tag is designed to Of the 13 tags, there has been one interactions, 2) conduct and determine if the turtle does indeed observed mortality six months after coordinate sensory and mechanical die after being released from the gear. the initial interaction. There could experiments to reduce hooking Tags are deployed by fishery observers have been subsequent interactions or of turtles in longline gear, and in Hawaii as well as in the California- a number of other factors that could 3) conduct field trials to test based swordfish fishery. All are fishing have led to its mortality, or maybe possible mitigation measures in the cold waters of the North Pacific simply a natural mortality. However, in actual fisheries. Ocean. based on just a handful of tags, at this point, our data suggests that there is To date, tagging efforts have been high survivorship within the first six SATELLITE TELEMETRY hampered by a number of different months after their release from fishing RESEARCH legal reasons, but, in general, we have gear (Table 1). been up and running and trying to get We have selected to work with turtles tagged since 2002. The Hawaii In terms of turtles’ movements, all pop-up satellite archival tags to swordfish fishery was shut down for turtles headed due west post-release. determine survivorship after their a couple years which reduced tagging Our data show the same information release from fishing gear (Figure 1). opportunities. The swordfish fishery that Jeff has found; that, indeed, This is the best tag to use when is now open, with a requirement of they are staying within this nutrient specifically addressing post-release 100-percent observer coverage, and rich boundary layer, the same, very survivorship/mortality. It also therefore the opportunity exists to tag shallow, cold water. Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 40

Abilities and limits of detecting colors were another focus of our research. Based on the visual pigment of fish and green turtles, limits of vision can be estimated: turtles will see further that any of the fish into the red. However, red is not a good color in water since it gets absorbed quickly. Colors and light intensities vary drastically in different depth, whereby water acts as a color filter with red and yellow being filtered out first, modification that would allow fishers then green until only blue, violet and to catch fish and not turtles. some UV remain. Water also dims the light and, even in clear ocean water on A suite of laboratory studies were a sunny day, the light levels at 600m conducted primarily with captive are equivalent to starlight. In terms turtles in Galveston, Texas to of anatomical differences, the team test behavioral and physiological compared the eye design of fish and responses to various sensory stimuli, sea turtles to investigate their ability and similar studies were conducted to detect light. Compared to fish, with pelagic fish. The aim of these sea turtles have a small lens (=small FIGURE 2. Profile of color sensitivities of studies was to generate field-testable aperture) and relatively long focal pelagic fish and green turtle (source: ideas that we could then try in the length which means the eye is much Levonson and Eckert, 2006; Fritsches et open ocean. The ultimate goal of more insensitive to light than that of al., 2005). these first two steps would be to a tuna and other fish (ie. needs more provide information to fisheries light to operate properly). A way of managers so that after extensive quantifying their ability to detect light SENSORY RESEARCH testing, effective mitigation is to calculate their optical sensitivity. measures could be implemented into What was discovered was that fish are Visual Sensory the proper regulations. more sensitive to light than turtles Mechanisms while turtles are more sensitive than Our first experiments focused on humans (when considering their optics The other aspect that we’re working understanding the visual capabilities and eye design). on is to understand the sensory in sea turtles. Scott Eckert and Dave mechanisms that marine animals Levonson (2006) looked at color In general, fish and turtle species that use that attract them to fishing vision in green, loggerhead and occupy different parts of the water gear. A few years ago, my colleague leatherback turtles, while Karen column prove to be highly adapted to and mentor Rich Brill and I set Fritsches (2005) investigated color live in their own niches in the open about to identify research needs vision in pelagic fish. The graph in water. Not just having in the field of sensory biology that Figure 2 represents a theoretical different vertical partitioning, some would provide information on how profile on the color sensitivities of remaining shallow during the day, pelagic fish and sea turtles sense a number of species interacting such as turtles and some fish, and their environment. Specifically, we with fishing gear. While tuna and bigeye and swordfish are deeper at were interested to identifying cues swordfish have rather limited vision night. They also have clear anatomical that were responsible for attracting – only shades of blue/green, marlin differences. The sea turtle eye is not them to fishing gear - was it visual, and green turtles can see across the well adapted to life in dim light - it acoustic? The idea here is to visible spectrum, well into the red. has a very lengthy focal length and understand what attracts turtles, Given this greater color sensitivity in a very small lens, therefore it takes a and if there are differences to turtles, a visual repellent would have lot of light to get back into the back how fish and turtles are attracted to incorporate more than just color, of the eye. Bigeye, as an example, is to gear, then such information such as differences in the speed of a fish that is able to capture even the could be applied to designing a vision between fish and turtles. most remote light available. And it 41 Sea Turtle Bycatch Reduction: An Update on Sensory Experiments and Field Trials

needs that because it’s staying much Some really exciting work has been testable experiments in the lab. Some deeper. The team also looked at their done by Kristen Fritsches at the of these ideas have already been taken visual resolution in time - an indication University of Queensland and Ken into the field, and for the rest of the for example of how good they are to Lohmann at the University of North talk I’ll discuss work that we’ve done detect fast movements. There was Carolina where they are working to with our colleagues in Costa Rica and good correlation with diving depth and link turtles’ physiological capacities Brazil to test sensory techniques as temporal resolution, with deep divers with their behavioral responses. Dr. well as gear modifications, such as being slow and shallow divers being Fritsches has investigated the critical differences in hook type. Much of the fast. The turtle was relatively fast (i.e., flicker fusion frequency, which is groundwork for the gear modification has good ability for motion detection). the point at which you no longer studies was laid by John Watson and Resolution in time is dependent on see a flickering light, but it becomes others in the Pascagoula and Miami the brightness of light available in continuous (Fritsches et al., 2005). The Labs of the NMFS1. the animal’s habitat, so deep divers results suggest that the green turtle living in dim light need slow temporal and a few fish species they studied FISHERY EXPERIMENTS IN resolution (e.g., slow shutter speed) to had different critical flicker fusion COSTA RICA AND BRAZIL see anything at all. frequencies, suggesting that a blinking light could appear as such to a turtle, In Costa Rica (CR) and Brazil, we have Chemosensory Capabilities but not to a fish, which would see investigated rates of turtle capture a continuous light. The idea behind between blue dyed and untreated Another area of investigation is turtles’ some of the sensory work that’s bait, and in Costa Rica, we have chemosensory capabilities. The easiest currently been in development is the investigated the effects of a 10 degree mitigation method to try to regulate development of a flickering LED light offset circle hook, and in Brazil, we would be an olfactory deterrent. stick that would attract fish and not have investigated the relationship The idea here is that if there is some turtles. between J vs. Circle hooks with regard repellant, or innate repellant, that to turtle capture. would cause sea turtles to flee, this Dr. Lohmann has done behavioral could be incorporated into the bait. studies with captive juvenile Work for testing a turtle bycatch Amanda Southwood has taken the lead loggerheads monitoring their mitigation method in CR was in understanding behavioral responses orientation to activated and conducted in collaboration with to olfactory cues, especially as it unactivated light sticks. His work has PRETOMA and our fisheries agency. CR relates to the fishery issue. Do turtles shown that turtles are attracted to was an ideal location to conduct such smell an approaching tiger shark light sticks of any color once they have a study due to the unfortunate (for and do they have a flight response? become activated, it doesn’t matter turtles), but fortunate (for statistical Amanda and Ben Higgins set up a what color, they are all attractive to a purposes) fact that turtle Catch Per behavioral choice tank and confirmed turtle. But when you use an over-the- Unit Effort (CPUE) is eight, meaning that indeed turtles smell, but are still counter flashing blue LED, the turtles that eight turtles are generally caught working on an effective repellent to are not significantly oriented towards per 1,000 hooks set. Nearly all of these test in the field (Southwood et al., in it. The idea is to find out what is a turtles are olive ridleys (few greens) press). frequency profile that would attract and nearly all are released alive. fish and potentially not be of interest Lastly, our collaborators in Brazil have to turtles. Ken Loman’s work also The first experiments were conducted worked to set up floating pens to looked at the potential to use shaded with blue-dyed bait vs. untreated house turtles that have been brought light sticks. This is part of the idea that bait in the mahi mahi fishery during in after their capture from fishing turtles, while remaining very shallow, December 2003. In an effort to reduce gear. In addition to monitoring their are above the fishing gear. This the number of confounding variables, long-term health post-interaction, they suggests that shading the light sticks the test was conducted such that have also been able to test turtles’ could make then invisible and thus less two boats were fishing in the same feeding response to foods marinated attractive from above. general area at the same time. in various chemicals with the aim of Eleven sets were conducted for each identifying repellent compounds. What I’ve just discussed are examples boat, and the treatment days were of the type of research that’s currently randomly alternated. In an effort to ongoing on how we’re generating field make sure that baits on a set were not

1 Web site to access experimental results: http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/seaturtlecontractreports.jsp Proceedings of the Second Western Paciﬁc Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 42

contaminated by a treatment, the bait More recently, Brazil has experimented Levonson, D and S. Eckert. 2006. types were not mixed on a set. Rather, with comparing turtle and fish CPUE Spectral sensitivities of squid baits were either all dyed blue between their traditional 9/0 J hook vs. leatherback sea turtles. In: or untreated along an entire set. The a large 18/0 circle hook. 17 sets were Swimmer, Y. and R. Brill, eds. Sea hook used was the circle 13/0, which conducted off the southeast coast of Turtle and Pelagic Fish Sensory is the most commonly used hook in Brazil where incidental capture of both Biology: Developing Techniques this fishery. loggerhead and leatherback is known to Reduce Sea Turtle Bycatch to be high. Capture rate of turtles was in Longline Fisheries. NOAA A quick analysis of the data revealed no clearly higher on J vs. circle hooks, Technical Memorandum NMFS- effect of blue bait on turtle bycatch, however, due to the relatively small PIFSC-6. April 2006. 121 p. nor were there differences between sample size, it’s too early to conclude Nakano et al. (2004). Research on the two boats in the experiment. with more statistical scrutiny that the the Mitigation and Conservation Similar findings were found in the NED effect was due only to the hook type. of Sea Turtles by the Fisheries (Watson et al., 2002) and in a study in More research will be conducted to Research Agency. National Japan and reported by Nakano et al. explore the effectiveness of large circle Research Inst. Of Far Seas (2004). The results from this blue-dyed hooks on turtle capture rates in this Fisheries, Japan. Japan Fishery bait study has just been accepted for area in the near future. Research Agency . Shimizu, publication in Marine Ecology Progress Shizuoka, Japan. Presented at Series, so you can read more about the CONCLUSION the 2nd Western Pacific Sea details in our methodology and results Turtle Cooperative Research in the coming months. To date, the only sensory idea that and Management Workshop. we’ve taken out into the field is the 17-21 May 2004. Western Pacific A second experiment in this fishery blue bait. However, many new ideas Regional Fishery Management was completed last week [February are being generated in the lab. The lab Council, Honolulu, HI USA. 2005] where we evaluated the impact experiments are not only generating Southwood, A.L., Higgins, B., Brill, of a 10 deg offset on 14/0 circle applied technology to protect these R.W., Vogt, R., and J.Y. Swimmer. hooks with regard to turtle capture animals in the longline fishery, but In press. Aquatic chemoreception rates. Only 9 sets were conducted have supplied essential information in loggerhead sea turtles: before they had to come in due to an about how animal are functioning behavioral responses to food unusually large volume of fish caught. in their environment. What we’ve and a novel chemical. Chemical From what I’ve heard from the field, gleaned thus far has been critical in Senses. 20 turtles were caught, 9 on one hook improving our knowledge on the basic Watson, J. W, Daniel G. Foster, type, 11 on the other, suggesting no biology of a number of sea turtle and Sheryan Epperly, and Arvind apparent effect of this slight offset. pelagic fish species, as well as shedding Shah. 2002. Experiments in the Additionally, the lack of an offset did light on the development of critical Western Atlantic Northeast not negatively impact capture of conservation measures. Distant Waters to evaluate Sea mahi mahi. Turtle mitigation measures in Ideas that are closest to testing include the Pelagic Longline Fishery. COLLABORATIONS IN BRAZIL a blinking light stick, changes in float Unpublished report. NOAA color, as well as more basic gear Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Last winter, researchers with Projeto modifications of hook dimensions and Science Center. TAMAR worked closely with the shape. Lastly, I’d like to emphasize that federal fisheries agency to rig their the collaborative approach has been COMMENTS boat to enable longline fishing on very fruitful for us and we are likely to board their research vessel. Only 4 continue on this road. Dr. Limpus: For the last 20 years, sets of 300 hooks/set were made due we have been using flashing lights to unusually rough seas. During this REFERENCES to mark walking tracks of the public time, one leatherback was foul-hooked access to and from the nesting and later released. However, based Fritsches K. A., Richard W. Brill, and beach. These lights have had no on the previous work with blue-dyed Eric J. Warrant. 2005. Warm impact whatsoever on hatchling bait showing no effect on turtle Eyes Provide Superior Vision in disbursal from the beach or the capture rates, we do not believe it’s Swordfishes. Current Biology, arrival/departure of nesting turtles. worthwhile to pursue this experiment Vol. 15: 55–58. further. 43 Joanna Alfaro Shigueto Jeffrey Mangel* Pro Delphinus, Peru1 and Dr. Peter Dutton Loggerhead Turtle NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center Bycatch in Peru

* presenting author 1 www.prodelphinus.com

ABSTRACT case of longline fisheries in Peru, we work directly or indirectly in this recommend the implementation of activity. However, the informality of As sea turtle nesting beaches have mitigation measures (i.e. de-hookers, artisanal fisheries makes it difficult become increasingly protected, circle hooks) together with the to monitor catch per unit effort and one of the greatest conservation improved basic education in coastal bycatch rates. Here we summarize priorities is addressing bycatch in communities. the information for the first year of fisheries. Worldwide assessments of our observer program in Peruvian turtle bycatch in longlines have been INTRODUCTION longlines which was established to limited due to gaps of information assess sea turtle bycatch CPUE. on turtles catch per unit effort Increasing protection of sea turtles (CPUE) in some regions, including nesting beaches has improved sea METHODS the Southeast Pacific. Through a turtle conservation over the last shore-based observer program in decade. However, bycatch still remains For an accurate assessment of 2001-2003, we estimated 2,025 as a major threat to sea turtles. In bycatch, we placed onboard observers turtles captured at eight ports Peru, gillnets have been identified as from September 2003 to November sampled in Peru. However, due to the main threat for sea turtles. 2004 in the port of Ilo. Ilo is home the clandestine nature of the use to the largest year-round artisanal of captured turtles, an accurate During the late 90’s, gillnet bycatch of longline fleet. The fleet uses surface estimate of turtle CPUE was difficult turtles represented about 76.5% of the longlines. There are two seasons: the to achieve. Therefore, in 2003 we turtle capture, followed by artisanal mahi mahi and the shark season (see established an onboard observer longlines. The main species affected Table 1, Figure 1 and Figure 2). program based in Ilo, home to the by the longline fleet in southern Peru largest artisanal longline fleet in are the loggerhead turtle (Caretta RESULTS Peru, targeting mahi mahi and caretta), leatherbacks (Dermochelys sharks. During the first 10 months of coriacea), greens (Chelonia mydas During 14 months, 588 sets were the program, 10 greens, 1 hawksbill, agassizii), olive ridley (Lepidochelys observed during 60 trips. A total of 16 olive ridleys, 2 leatherbacks and olivacea) and hawksbill turtles 154 turtles were bycaught. Of all 108 loggerheads were recorded. Of (Eretmochelys imbricate). turtles caught, 72% of them were these, 72% were entangled in the line entangled and 23% were hooked. while 23% were hooked. Over the last few years, longline Species composition was as follow: fisheries have increase rapidly. It is 73.4% loggerheads, 18.2% greens, Fisheries are the second largest estimated that from 587 to 1,357 2.6% leatherbacks, and 3.8% olive economic sector of Peru. However, vessels are operating with longline ridley turtles. Of all leatherback endangered marine fauna are gear in Peru in winter and summer, turtles caught, 75% were entangled in being affected by fishing practices. respectively. With this increase in the line, while 68% of the loggerhead Sea turtles in Peru are legally fishing effort, turtle bycatch rate may turtles were entangled and 32% were protected, but due to poor socio- have changed. hooked. For trips observed 0.597 economic conditions in the country, turtles/1000 hooks were caught political instability and insufficient Fisheries as an industry is the second during the mahi mahi season while resources, enforcement of this largest economic activity in Peru. 0.356 turtles/1000 hooks were caught legislation is very limited. In the Approximately 110,000 persons during the shark season. Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 44

FIGURE 1. Fishing gear design to catch FIGURE 2. Fishing gear design to catch mahi mahi. sharks.

Three turtles were recaptured, Encouragement of ﬁshermen to two of them after 21 and 13 days participate in sea turtle conservation respectively. During the sampled would support efforts for long term period, no seabird bycatch was turtle conservation. Further studies registered. Only one small cetacean using telemetry are necessary to (Delphinus sp.) was hooked. As part estimate the post release mortality of a pilot shark project carried out rate. during some trips we also determine that approximately 82% of the sharks ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS captured were below the legal size minimums. We warmly thank the ﬁshermen for their generous collaboration CONCLUSIONS during the project. To the crew of ‘Milagritos’, ‘Jesusito’, ‘Lucio IV’, Sea turtle bycatch was higher during ‘Lucio V’, ‘Aletita II’, ‘Rebecca III’ and the mahi mahi season than the shark ‘Juan de Dios’. Observers conducted season. This seasonality may be an excellent work and provided a linked to changes in oceanographic great amount of support to improve conditions. Entanglement in the this study. line (rather than hooking) was the major cause of turtle capture. We Funding received for this project was recommend an assessment of the from the Southwest Fisheries Science use of mitigation measures to reduce Center NOAA, the National Fish and turtle bycatch such as the use of Wildlife Foundation, Duke University circle hooks and dehookers, especially through the Oak Foundation, Idea during the mahi mahi season. Wild and Fulbright Commission. 45 The Conservation Mosaic: Networks, Knowledge and Communication Dr. Wallace J. Nichols for Loggerhead Turtle Conservation at ProPeninsula and California 1 Academy of Sciences Baja California Foraging Grounds

INTRODUCTION et al. 1982), it is the cultural connection the Mexican Ministry of Fisheries and to the animals that may in fact lead the Ministry of Urban Development Five species of sea turtle are known to to their recovery. As in many fishing and Ecology (now SEMARNAP). The inhabit the coastal waters of Mexico. communities in the region, the legislation states that the Mexican The two most common species to multitude of uses of sea turtles by Federal Government strictly prohibits frequent the waters within and families living near Bahía Magdalena the pursuit, capture, and extraction adjacent to Bahía Magdalena are the (a large mangrove estuarine complex of any species of sea turtle on any eastern Pacific green, or black, turtle on the Pacific side of the Baja California beaches or in any federal waters. (Chelonia mydas) and the Pacific peninsula; Figure 1) have been an loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta). important part of coastal living. Green A major goal of community-based sea Other species include the olive ridley and loggerhead turtles are the species turtle conservation efforts is to (Lepidochelys olivacea), leatherback that were most commonly caught develop population and habitat (Dermochelys coriacea) and hawksbill by the fishers of Puerto San Carlos, protection practices that are also (Eretmochelys imbricata) turtles. Puerto Magdalena and Lopez Mateos, compatible with the socio-economics Sea turtles are an important part of the three largest communities on the and cultural ecology of local resource- the cultural history of northwestern shores of Bahía Magdalena. dependent communities (Bird and Mexico. While overuse was largely Nichols 2000; Tambiah 2000). responsible for their decline (Cliffton Turtle use originated as subsistence Community-based strategies are not harvest, but over time this use new to sea turtle conservation: such broadened into a directed fishery approaches take a variety of forms (Caldwell 1963). In addition to the including community monitoring of food, medicinal uses and products lighting practices on nesting beaches, provided to an individual fisher’s community-based stranding networks household, there were economic and beach patrols, self-enforcement by benefits associated with the sale fishing communities, formal sharing of turtle meat to the market. For of traditional knowledge (Nabhan many years, the taking of turtles was et al. 1999) and the systematic largely unregulated, and the turtles consideration of interviews with fishers seemed inexhaustibly abundant (Tambiah 1999). While such practices (Caldwell & Caldwell 1962) and are increasing, community-based as many as 375,000 turtles were efforts are still not widely accepted as harvested between 1966 and 1970. valid conservation tools (Frazier 1999; As populations began to decline, size Tambiah 2000). limits and closed seasons were enacted. However, by the mid-1970’s and early In general, however, many of the 1980’s, it became increasingly obvious “community-based conservation” that such large-scale harvest was not cases documented in the literature sustainable and that management have been those in which external schemes were ineffective (Cliffton researchers have initiated conservation FIGURE 1. Study site: Bahia Magdalena, et al. 1982). Broad legal protection projects and in the process have Baja California, Mexico. of sea turtles in Mexico came with integrated local community an Executive Order issued in 1990 by participation (Govan 1998; Hackel

1 With excerpts from the published papers: 1) Bird, K.E., Nichols, W.J. and C. R. Tambiah. 2003. The Value of Local Knowledge in Sea Turtle Conservation: A Case From Baja California, Mexico. Putting Fishers’ Knowledge to Work: Conference Proceedings, Page 178-183; and 2) Nichols, W.J., K.E. Bird, and S. Garcia. 2000. Community-based research and its application to sea turtle conservation in Bahia Magdalena, BCS, Mexico. Marine turtle newsletter 89:4-7. Proceedings of the Second Western Paciﬁc Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 46

1. The first step involves getting to know the community, while allowing them to know you as more than just an outside researcher: build trust through friendships and partnerships within the local community and show respect in interactions will all individuals. 2. After introductions to the FIGURE 2. The schematic of the community, learn about community Conservation Mosaic. Fisherman and son releasing an issues, cultural norms and beliefs. accidentally caught sea turtle, and Show consideration towards thereby participating in conservation while transferring knowledge to the the ways that fishers have negatively personal, local, and regional younger generation. impacted sea turtle populations politics, and work within the have been documented, what is existing socioeconomic framework. 1999; Tambiah 1995). Few of these often overlooked is how these same 3. While it is acceptable to share case studies have actually integrated individuals can contribute to their knowledge with local fishers, local science into the project. In many conservation. (particularly when it is specifically places around the world, external requested), do not do all the talking: researchers only have the time A major goal of community-based spend an equal amount of time asking and resources to make a snapshot efforts in sea turtle conservation is to questions and engaging in participant assessment. The typical approach of develop practices which will protect observation. Both “outsiders” and a research project is to “get in and sea turtle populations and habitats “insiders” have something to share get out” - gathering as much data as that are also compatible with the and learn from each other. possible as efficiently as possible. Once socioeconomic system and cultural 4. Integrate local knowledge and the data are collected researchers may ecology of local resource-dependent information with ‘outside’ never return. They may enter the host communities. Within a conservation science into an action plan, and community with complete autonomy, mosaic, the incorporation of both implemented the plan with the for instance, with their own boat, biological and social research support, knowledge and active equipment and food. Alternatively, methods and communication are participation of the local population. a special connection can be made critical. Analysis sea turtle recovery 5. Lastly, monitor progress and through a certain dependence on the efforts within Baja California, Mexico maintain flexibility, following host community - for food, equipment, indicates that community-based adaptive management strategies. labor and guidance - which fosters research can result in locals actively The three components of the trust and builds partnerships. participating in conservation and Conservation Mosaic, networks, providing the knowledge and knowledge and communication, THE CONSERVATION information necessary to create function together to achieve a set MOSAIC successful long-term conservation of conservation targets. These plans. Formation of partnerships targets may include specific policy While there have been great through local education, informal actions, behavioral changes, market advancements in our understanding conversations, and community shifts or implementation of specific of sea turtle biology and behavior, meetings are also a fundamental part management strategies. and the science of conservation is of sea turtle conservation. continually developing new tools, Building a conservation network “science” does not always translate The conservation mosaic approach involves linking together and into “conservation” on the ground. As seeks to utilize local knowledge involvement of stakeholders including researchers become increasingly aware and to foster partnerships, which fishers, managers, scientists, of the cultural motivations involved facilitate the exchange of information advocates, educators, funders, etc. in sea turtle exploitation, it becomes and active community participation The inclusion of so called “enemies,” critical to shift conservation efforts (Figure 2). The following stepwise such as poachers, developers and to actively include local communities, approach, outlining general research politicians, in the network can often particularly to the fishers often in considerations for the integration bring unexpected insights. The the position to make choices directly of local science into conservation goal of the network is to remind its impacting the fate of turtles. While initiatives, is suggested: members that they are not alone 47 The Conservation Mosaic: Networks, Knowledge and Communication for Loggerhead Turtle Conservation at Baja California Foraging Grounds and that they are part of something on monitoring sea turtles. This is an larger than themselves. Maintaining empowering as well as transformative the connectivity of the network experience for some and the can be done both formally and “ownership” and credibility of the data informally and through “one-on- serves sea turtle recovery efforts. one” exchanges, working or theme group gatherings or “all network” Communication of knowledge and meetings. The conservation network solutions through education, outreach is the backbone of the Conservation and advocacy programs relies on the Mosaic and, as such, its cultivation, strength of the network. Resonant growth and maintenance requires and relevant messages that portray substantial commitment. There are understandable and memorable many unexpected ways to grow the messages should be carefully chosen, conservation network by aligning using test or focus groups as needed with existing social and professional and professional social marketing Deployment of satellite telemetry on networks. Two examples from the Baja information when available. The loggerhead to gather valuable habitat California peninsula are the strong necessary steps to understanding use information for making effective, family networks where gatherings on the “big picture” should be provided. science-based management decisions. Sundays are typically places where Appropriate media should be new knowledge is shared, and the used. Both formal and informal public health network of health care communication should be considered. providers who have clinics or mobile One goal of sharing knowledge is to units in every coastal community provoke or inspire conversations well and who have demonstrated an after the communication “event” has interest in working together to share been completed. These conversations information on the ocean-human are what ultimately drive social health connection. Advances in change and adoption of more technology allow network members sustainable behaviors. to inexpensively remain in regular Sea turtle festival activities to raise contact through phone and internet. Sea turtle conservation is community awareness in Lopez Mateos. However, there is no substitute for multidimensional, as the causes of face-to-face meetings and the social declines are multifaceted. Therefore, bonding this allows. it is our responsibility to advocate Creative communication adaptive management techniques. strategies promote The second component of the An interdisciplinary approach allows education and Conservation Mosaic is the generation for the utilization of many “sciences” awareness, such of knowledge, understanding and and provides a more holistic view as this comic book. solutions. This ranges from the of how sea turtles fit into the grand traditional natural science and social picture. By avoiding a purely biological science studies to inclusion of local or and “turtle-centric” approach, and traditional knowledge. The goal is to instead investigating the overall turtle acquire as much of the information habitat, including the cultural and needed to reach the conservation socioeconomic communities of which goal as possible. Advances in turtles are a part, our understanding technology have expanded the reach is greatly enhanced. The inclusion of of science and have also allowed for local people in resource management widespread collaboration. Integration can provide many benefits. Stronger of many disciplines is now considered conservation alliances based on the standard for any conservation mutual sharing of knowledge, along project. Participatory research is with the combination of local science another ideal, where stakeholders and structured monitoring, may play a role in the generation of new produce the greatest conservation Jose Valdez Romero, respected community knowledge. For example, in Bahia benefits. member, fisher, and sea turtle advocate. Magdalena fishermen take the lead in Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 48

CONCLUSION Frazier, J.G. 1999. Community-based buzzwords to implementation. In: conservation. Pp.15-18 in K.L. H. Kalb and T. Wibbels (compilers). Because of the intimate relationship Eckert, K.A. Bjorndal, F.A. Abreu- Proceedings of the 19th Annual between the turtles and the Bahía Grobois and M. Donnelly (editors). Symposium on Sea Turtle Magdalena communities, using Research and management Conservation and Biology. NOAA community-based conservation techniques for the conservation Technical Memorandum NMFS- strategies and developing the of sea turtles. IUCN/SSC Marine SEFSC-443. knowledge and trust of the fishers Turtle Specialist Group Publication were crucial to research and No.4. QUESTIONS conservation efforts. Although it Govan, H. 1998. Community turtle has taken a great deal of time and conservation at Rio Oro on the Ms. Fahy: I have a quick question. patience to establish rapport within Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Marine You talk about social change within the community, resulting dialog Turtle Newsletter 80:10-11. the fishing community and among has allowed us access to a more Hackel, J.D. 1999. Community poachers. But for those poachers who accurate understanding of the issues conservation and the future of were making money off of turtles surrounding sea turtle recovery, as Africa’s wildlife. Conservation and now have switched to sea turtle well as provided us with a forum Biology. 13(4):726-734. conservation, how are they now for making recommendations. By Nabhan, G., H.Govan, S.A. Eckert, and replacing the money that they were combining the knowledge gained J.A. Seminoff. 1999. Sea turtle making from poaching and selling sea through scientific investigations with workshop for the indigenous Seri turtles to restaurants. the insights of the social sciences, we tribe. Marine Turtle Newsletter now stand a much better chance of 86:44. Dr. Nichols: That’s a good question. succeeding in recovery efforts. Bird, K.E. and W.J. Nichols. 2000. One can make a lot of money poaching Community-based research sea turtles, and there is no way to Over the past decade, local and its application to sea turtle make a one-to-one shift. Francisco involvement in turtle conservation conservation in Bahia Magdalena, Fisher who was the biggest sea turtle has been increasing. The novelty and BCS, Mexico. Proceedings of the poacher in Baja went to work in a fish strength of this approach have yielded 20th Annual Symposium on Sea packing plant right out of the jail, a conservation constituency among Turtle Biology and Conservation. cleaning lobster tails. So he found costeños (fishers) characterized by local March 2000. NOAA Technical employment, but nowhere near the pride, empowerment and stewardship. Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-477. money – impossible for him to make Preliminary results indicate decreased Tambiah, C. R. 1995. Integrated the money that he made transporting sea turtle bycatch and poaching, management of sea turtles sea turtles. It’s kind of like, if you stop increasing government support and among the indigenous people of dealing drugs and then try to find a main community-based enforcement, Guyana: Planning beyond recovery stream, legal job. It’s going to be really a growing conservation network, and towards sustainability. hard to match that. That’s part of the changes in local attitudes, an emerging Proceedings of the 12th Annual challenge, he gave up a lot, he gave up “sea ethic”, and more turtles. Workshop on Sea Turtle his whole lifestyle and new cars to do Conservation and Biology. NOAA it. And, admittedly, he says it’s very, REFERENCES Technical Memorandum NMFS- very difficult for him. But that’s the SEFSC-361. social reality of that kind of shift, from Tambiah, C. 1999. Interviews and making a lot of money doing something Caldwell, D.K. 1963. The sea turtle market surveys. Pp. 156-161 that is very illegal to just taking a job fishery of Baja California, Mexico. in K.L. Eckert, K.A. Bjorndal, working in a fishery or in a packing plant California Fish and Game 49:140- F.A. Abreu-Grobois and M. or restaurant. Baja California is very 151. Donnelly, (editors). Research fortunate, it’s one of the richer states Caldwell, D. K. & M. C. Caldwell. 1962. and Management Techniques for in Mexico and there are jobs available. The black “steer” of the Gulf of the Conservation of Sea Turtles. They are low paying, but there are jobs. California. Los Angeles County IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Ms. Fahy: So it’s just a change in his Museum Contributions to Science Group. Publication No.4. mindset. 61:1-31. Tambiah, C. R. 2000. “Community participation” in sea turtle Dr. Nichols: Yes. conservation: Moving beyond 49 An Integrated Approach to Reducing Mortality of North Hoyt Peckham and Pacific Loggerhead Turtles Dr. Wallace J. Nichols 1 ProPeninsula in Baja California SUR, Mexico

We are raising awareness of the PROJECT GOALS mortality problem among Mexican fishers and working with these fishers • facilitate agency enforcement to develop mortality reduction against poaching in BCS solutions. Loggerhead poaching along • monitor mortality of loggerhead the Baja California Sur (BCS), Mexico turtles along the Pacific coast of coast is another serious source of BCS, Mexico mortality. • convey mortality problem to local fishers and other stakeholders Our objective is to reduce loggerhead ProCAGUAMA 2005 team • investigate abundance, distribution, turtle mortality due to fisheries and foraging behavior of loggerhead bycatch and poaching in BCS, Mexico. turtles In April 2004 and May 2005, we • partner with fishers to mitigate convened three WPRFMC-funded turtle mortality through: 1) bycatch reduction workshops in alteration of fishing techniques, Puerto A. Lopez Mateos and Puerto 2) turtle rehabilitation/release, 3) Magdalena, BCS to identify feasible reduction of poaching/piracy bycatch reduction strategies with • create and deliver compelling local fishers. Based on input from outreach content (videos, info the twelve working groups of fishers, sheets, children’s books, comic BCS, Mexico state senator releases a managers, and researchers during the books, etc.) of the turtle bycatch loggerhead turtle, embracing turtle workshops, we identified the following problem to engage fishers and their ecotourism (effort supported through goals for reducing BCS loggerhead communities in developing solutions. ProPeninsula). mortality and began addressing • share results widely with agencies, them in summer 2004. In 2005, we organizations and individuals EXECUTIVE SUMMARY expanded our efforts to include a working to protect loggerhead systematic assessment of changes turtles around the North Pacific. There are currently no more than in attitude and behavior related to a few thousand loggerhead turtles poaching and bycatch of sea turtles nesting each year in Japan, the in the focal region. Issues related ACTIONS COMPLETED primary nesting site for this species to human health and ocean health in the North Pacific, representing a resonate the most among members rapid decline in recent decades. The of the communities in the region. COMMUNITY CONSERVATION small-scale fisheries of Baja California A significant outcome of the 2005 NETWORKS Sur (BCS), Mexico are a leading source season is the declaration of the Zona of loggerhead turtle mortality in Auto Protegida (ZAP), a no-fishing OVERVIEW the North Pacific. The future of the turtle reserve, supported by local To increase awareness of the sea imperiled North Pacific loggerhead communities and fishers to reduce turtle mortality problem in the Baja turtle population is thus partly in the gillnet-fishery bycatch mortality of California peninsula, our team has built hands of Mexican small-scale fishers. loggerhead sea turtles. a conservation constituency for sea

1 2005 Final report submitted to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC), January 20, 2006, Contract No. 05-WPC-018, NOAA award Nos.: NA03NMF4110017 and NA04NMF4410039. The project scope, goals and activities are similar from year one (2004) to year two (2005), however, due to the delay in publishing these proceedings, the year two final report is used in lieu of year one. Additionally, the results from the 2005 season are more comprehensive and contain an additional year’s data that provides a more solid foundation to interpret results and actions. Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 50

turtles of the Californias composed • Fisher Workshops: Bahia feeding grounds, is lacking. Such of fishers’ cooperatives, community Magdalena region, April-Sept 2005, information is critical to identifying groups, governmental agencies, and to discuss mitigation options with core foraging and developmental Mexican and US non-profits. We local cooperatives for regional grounds and reducing bycatch. In empower Mexican fishers to protect halibut and shark fisheries. 2005, we identified for the first time turtles through our constituency and • 3rd Annual Turtle Festival: Puerto juvenile foraging hotspots off the BCS the community-based conservation A. Lopez Mateos August 2005. This coast based on satellite telemetry. network Grupo Tortuguero. This annual event brings together the Moreover, in 2005, we concluded network provides the core for our people of the Bahia Magdalena that net modifications and other research and communications region to celebrate loggerhead proposed gillnet bycatch reduction programs. turtles as natural treasures special measures were ineffectual. However, to the BCS coast. Several thousand in the process of testing these REGIONAL MEETINGS people participated in the 2005 measures, we identified a discrete (supported by ProPeninsula, Festival. See Outreach section for zone of high loggerhead bycatch Packard Foundation, and WPRFMC) more details (which corresponds to telemetry hotspots). The following meetings were EMERGING CONSERVATION LEADERS supported during the 2004 field (supported by ProPeninsula) In order to directly quantify and season: Promising local individuals are being monitor turtle mortality, we • 6th Annual Grupo Tortuguero equipped with the information continued to conduct systematic Monitoring Meeting: Mulege, and resources to conduct local shoreline surveys at Playa San Lazaro, BCS, August 2004. Sea turtle outreach and research activities BCS. In addition to monitoring turtle monitoring projects from NW towards reducing sea turtle bycatch. strandings, we assess turtle bycatch Mexico meet annually to share Current partners are being further directly through 1) a voluntary data and describe regional trends. empowered with our latest media observer program for the halibut Stranding and tracking data from offerings and enrichment through fleet of Puerto A. Lopez Mateos and ProCAGUAMA were presented and regional meetings. Emerging leaders 2) opportunistic observations of other discussed. were empowered in the communities fishing fleets. • Fisher Workshops: Bahia of Puerto Magdalena, Ciudad Magdalena region, April-Sept 2004, Insurgentes, Santa Rosa, La Posa MORTALITY ASSESSMENT to discuss mitigation options with Grande, and Santo Domingo. (supported by NMFS-SWFSC, local cooperatives for regional PACKARD, and WPFRMC) halibut fishery. INTERNSHIPS • 2nd Annual Turtle Festival: Puerto (supported by NMFS-SWFSC Shoreline Surveys A. Lopez Mateos, August, 2004. and ProPeninsula) Systematic surveys have been This annual event brought together Eight university student interns conducted along the 45km Playa the people of the Bahia Magdalena (7 from across Mexico and 1 from San Lazaro since 2003. Surveys are region to celebrate loggerhead Argentina) and five high school conducted by ATV on a daily basis turtles as natural treasures special student interns (all from local fishing from May to September and twice to the BCS coast. Several thousand families – see attached list at end weekly from October through April. people participated in the 2004 of chapter) worked on internships Carcasses of three turtle species were Festival. through September 2005 in which they conducted research and The following meetings were delivered outreach programs. supported during the 2005 field season: • 7th Annual Grupo Tortuguero LOGGERHEAD TURTLE Monitoring Meeting: Members of RESEARCH 15 communities where sea turtle monitoring is conducted in NW Overview Mexico met to discuss trends and Basic information such as the diet, Turtle carcasses encountered share data, Puerto Lopez Mateos, FIGURE 1. foraging behavior, and movement during systematic shoreline surveys of BCS, August 2005. of loggerhead turtles on their BCS Playa San Lazaro 2003-2005. 51 An Integrated Approach to Reducing Mortality of North Pacific Loggerhead Turtles in Baja California SUR, Mexico

FIGURE 3. Size frequency of loggerhead FIGURE 2. Loggerhead turtle carcasses encountered during systematic shoreline surveys carcasses, Playa San Lazaro Jan-Aug 2004. of Playa San Lazaro 2003-2005. N=135, SD=10.34, range=49. encountered. From 2003 to 2005, The mean size of loggerhead carcasses FISHERIES OBSERVATIONS the numbers of olive ridley and black encountered from January to (supported by WPRFMC turtle carcasses encountered did not August 2004 was 68.84 cm CCL. Size and NMFS-SWFSC) change significantly (Figure 1). frequencies of loggerheads stranded at Playa San Lazaro from January through Bottom-set gillnet From 2003 to 2005, 982 loggerhead August 2004 are shown in Figure 3. We observed bottom set longline carcasses stranded along the and gillnet fishing operations. From 44.3km Playa San Lazaro. 56% The decline in strandings in 2004 June to August 2005, we made 73 fewer loggerhead carcasses were and the first half of 2005 could be day-long bottom set gillnet trips encountered in 2004 (220) than in due to several factors. Bycatch may with a total of 10 local fishing crews. 2003 (394) (Figure 1). Strandings have declined because: 1) there were Nets were checked every 24 hours, were low again in 2005 through July fewer turtles in the area due to a) the traditional local practice. Crews (Figure 2), when frequency increased population decline, or b) unfavorable fished nets in depths ranging from dramatically in August, resulting in oceanographic conditions, and 2) due 5 to 23m. Crews were compensated an overall increase in 2005 to 368 to changes in fishing methods to avoid MN$500 per day (USD $50), roughly carcasses (Figure 1). bycatch. However, since olive ridley 2/3 of daily gasoline expenditure. and black turtle carcasses numbers did In 73 gillnet trips, 11 loggerhead, Loggerhead strandings were not change between years, it appears 1 green, and 1 olive ridley turtles considerably less common in unlikely that oceanographic conditions were caught. Three of the eleven winter months in all years (Figure would have affected only loggerheads. loggerheads were caught and 2). Summer peaks in strandings It is unclear what proportion of the released alive, as were both the coincide with local fisheries. Social decline in bycatch that these different green and olive ridley turtles. All surveys indicated that the majority factors contributed. loggerheads were caught at an of loggerhead bycatch in the area average depth of 21 fathoms (range occurs in local gillnets and longlines. Based on Hart et al (in press) 20 to 23 fathoms). Green and olive The conspicuous increase in and Epperly et al (1996), the 982 ridley turtles were caught at 6 and loggerhead strandings in October and loggerhead carcasses which stranded 14 fathoms, respectively. Overall, November of 2004 coincided with at Playa San Lazaro from 2003-5 fishermen caught an average of intense nearshore shrimp fishing by probably represent less than 30% of 1.05 loggerheads per week per boat. 20-40m trawlers (Figure 2). This did total loggerhead mortality, and this When fishing in areas deeper than not occur in 2003 or 2005. Fisheries only of turtles killed nearby. Puerto 18 fathoms (17 of 73 trips observed), observations in 2005 recorded A. López Mateos is one gillnet fishing fishermen caught an average of 4.52 high levels of loggerhead bycatch community among many along loggerheads per week, 73% of which in bottom-set longline and gillnet the BCS coast. Total loggerhead were caught dead. fisheries. mortality for the region is likely to be considerably higher. Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 52

Bottom-set Longline Puerto Lopez Mateos gillnet fleet as Observations of this experimental, In September 2005, we made 7 follows: we multiplied the average bottom-set longline fishery would day-long bottom-set longline trips number of turtles caught per boat explain the dramatic increase in with a total of 4 crews to quantify per week (4.52) by the minimum strandings at Playa San Lazaro in the turtle interaction rates of this number of boats fishing (40) by August and September 2005 (Figure 2). fishery operating out of Santa Rosa. the reported proportion of time Longlines targeted shark species and fishermen fish waters deeper than SEA TURTLE ECOLOGY were anchored in 60 to 90m depths 18 fathoms (0.25) by the minimum (supported by Packard Foundation, and checked each day. Fishermen number of weeks fished per year (10) NMFS-SWFSC, and TOPP) used freshly caught mackerel for bait and discounted by the proportion on “Japanese J-hooks” with inflected of turtles released alive (27%). Satellite telemetry shanks. Fishermen were asked about Based on this simple calculation, We instrumented 14 loggerhead the duration, weekly effort, and we extrapolated a minimum annual turtles with CCL of 66.0 cm in summer history of using bottom-set longlines. bycatch mortality rate of 330 2005 satellite location transmitters. loggerhead turtles for the Puerto Eight of these were also equipped with In 7 daylong longline trips from 7 to A. López Mateos gillnet fleet from Microwave Telemetry pop-up satellite 26 September, 2005, 1 olive ridley fisheries observations. dive recorders (Table 1). 71% or 22 of and 26 loggerhead turtles were the 29 juvenile loggerheads we have caught on a total of 1,200 hooks set, Based on longline fisheries tagged since 1998 did not leave the resulting in a bycatch rate of 19.3 observations at Santa Rosa, we Bahia de Ulloa (an 80km radius area) loggerheads per 1,000 hooks, or 3.85 combined the average bycatch rate in the total time tagged, strongly turtles per trip. 22 of the 27 turtles with the number of pangas and implying that the area represents a were caught dead and two more died length of season to extrapolate a juvenile loggerhead foraging hotspot in the boats, resulting in a bycatch minimum annual bycatch mortality (Figure 4). mortality rate of 89%. With the estimate for the Santa Rosa longline exception of the olive ridley, which fleet as follows: we multiplied the Gut contents was released in apparently good average number of turtles killed A total of 17 fresh stomachs were condition, turtles caught alive were per boat per trip (3.43) by the collected from the carcasses moribund. No black turtle and only minimum number of boats fishing encountered at Playa San Lazaro one olive ridley turtle were caught, (5) by the minimum number of in 2005. Contents were weighed despite high numbers of olive ridleys days fished per month (27). We and keyed to the finest taxonomic observed during fishing observations. therefore extrapolated a minimum level possible. Eight of the thirteen Mean CCL of loggerhead turtles annual bycatch mortality rate of 463 stomachs contained only fish. Pelagic caught was 79.3cm (range 65.8 to loggerhead turtles per month for red crabs (Pleuroncodes planipes) 88.0, SD 5.89), and the olive ridley the Santa Rosa bottom-set longline were encountered in only 4 of the measured 71cm CCL. Fishermen fleet from fisheries observations. 17 stomachs. Three stomachs were reported that they had begun fishing bottom-set longlines in August 2005 to explore profitability. They reportedly fished 5 or 6 boats for 6 days a week from early August through the end of September with plans to continue into the fall, depending on shark catch.

Estimating annual, local bycatch of loggerhead turtles Based on gillnet ﬁsheries observations, we combined the average bycatch rate with the number of pangas and length of season to extrapolate a minimum annual bycatch estimate for the 53 An Integrated Approach to Reducing Mortality of North Paciﬁc Loggerhead Turtles in Baja California SUR, Mexico

In 2004, the project investigated during the first season, effort was bycatch reduction options, such as made to compare bycatch rates decreased soak times, pulling nets between sets inside and outside the at dawn, reduced net height and 60m isobath using observer data. identification of loggerhead hotspots. Further, fishers reported higher Following experimental results, loggerhead capture rates at a rock our fisher partners demonstrated reef at approximately 24 fathoms. that decreased soak times would Results from 2004 were inconclusive. not be a viable solution from However, upon refinement of fishery their perspective, so this idea was experimental methods in 2005 in dismissed. Additionally, dive data from conjunction with satellite telemetry, loggerhead turtles has indicated that results showed (based on gillnet they feed intensively in the hours just observations) that fishermen catch after dawn. Fishers experimented loggerheads in depths greater than with holding their nets out of the 18 fathoms. Of their own accord, FIGURE 4. Normalized kernel density map water for two hours after dawn in fishermen are proposing to limit of 9 Argos tracked juvenile loggerhead 2004, but this idea was also dismissed bottom fishing outside 18 fathoms turtles off Baja California Sur between as a viable option until better dive in front of Puerto Adolfo Mateos. 2002-2004 showing localized high use data is available. See Zona Auto Protegida below for areas, or hotspots. White dashed line more information. approximates offshore range of local In 2005, upon refinement of fishery small-scale fishermen (30 Nm). experimental methods based Analysis conducted in collaboration on results of the 2004 season STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION with Andreas Walli. (see Maldonado report in these proceedings), the project further Overview investigated bycatch reduction empty. Fish species appear to be It is difficult for many of Baja options, such reduced net height and discarded bycatch because of their California’s halibut and shark fishers to identification of loggerhead hotspots. low economic value, including sea understand that loggerhead turtles are robin (Prionotus albirostris), lizardfish endangered because they can catch Reduced net height (Synodus sp.), and pacific sand perch up to seventy turtles in a single day. In Halibut nets are usually 4-6m in (Diplectrum sp.). partnership with the community-based height. But because target halibut Grupo Tortuguero, we are addressing are forage primarily on the benthos, Past diet sea turtle mortality by empowering turtle bycatch in nets of 1-3m height Liver, skin, and bone samples were fishers and other stakeholders were compared against bycatch collected from carcasses and archived through public outreach, educational in unmodified nets. In 2004, four for future isotope analysis. Blood enrichment, technical workshops, and boats were contracted to each fish and skin samples were collected media campaigns using the insights a minimum of 15 days with both from live-captured turtles for the from social marketing theory and modified and normal nets. In 2005, same purpose. Samples await CITES our own experience. We develop and ten boats were contracted to each permits to be brought to the US. deliver locally relevant and resonant fish a minimum of 15 days with both video productions, PowerPoint modified and normal nets for a total of SOLUTIONS TESTING presentations, information sheets, 276 sets. We conclude that modifying (supported by WPRFMC and BOI) children’s books, and comic books. gillnets in this fashion does not reduce In partnership with Puerto A. Lopez Our local conservation partners in sea turtle bycatch, and thus will Mateos halibut fishing cooperatives, turn use this content to share marine focus on encouraging fishermen to bycatch reduction solutions were conservation lessons in their own avoid loggerhead hotspots (see Zona empirically tested. Teams of words for their own communities. As a Auto-Protegida below). fishermen were paid to modify gear result, citizens throughout the region to test for solutions. See Maldonado are combating sea turtle poaching Loggerhead hotspots report of these proceedings for and are working to reduce sea turtle In 2004, fishers reported that detailed presentation of research mortality in their fisheries (for more loggerheads are more likely to be results. detail please see Maldonado report caught outside 60m depth. Thus in these proceedings). Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 54

EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH LOCAL MUSIC (supported by ProPeninsula (supported by ProPeninsula) and WPRFMC) Outreach Coordinator Johath Our outreach programs are focused Laudino Santillan is empowering at Puerto A. Lopez Mateos and Santo local musicians to create, perform, Domingo, home to the fishing fleets and record songs about loggerhead that are catching the most turtles. turtles. To date three groups have Educational presentations were been recorded. All will be showcased offered in every classroom in these at the 2006 Festival. towns, reaching each of the students Turtle outreach at Puerto Magdalena in the area when schools reopened in ALTERNATIVE INCOME SOURCES school. late August of both 2004 and 2005. (supported by ProPeninsula and WPRFMC) PRIDE CAMPAIGN We are partnering with Puerto (supported by ProPeninsula, A. Lopez Mateos whale watch WPRFMC, and RARE ) cooperatives, the BCS Tourism board, Drawing on the example of various and ecotour operators to explore whale festivals in the area, this the feasibility of turtle ecotour festival engages, informs, and programs. The promotion and empowers the people of the Bahia development of turtle ecotourism Magdalena region by celebrating the in these communities could provide unusual abundance of loggerhead alternative income to halibut turtles in local waters. The Festival gillnetters. is the cornerstone of our pride campaign, and other activities GREEN MARKET OPPORTUNITIES Johath Laudino planning with Festival including local music competitions, (supported by ProPeninsula Committee members. beach cleanups, and art contests and WPFMC) are being organized by outreach We are investigating the feasibility of coordinator Johath Laudino-Santillan green market certification for halibut. to build local people’s pride in their Ideally, a system for certifying turtle- natural resources. A peer-nominated, safe halibut could be established ten-woman committee organized to leverage market support for both the 2004 and 2005 Festivals. responsible fishing practices. Recent advances, such as the certification COMIC BOOKS of spiny lobster fisheries along Baja (supported by ProPeninsula, California’s Pacific coast by the WPRFMC and Defenders of Wildlife) Marine Stewardship Council, may Engaging narrative and fetching provide a relevant roadmap. imagery has enabled us to convey concepts and information that SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSESSMENT many fishermen need in order to (supported by ProPeninsula understand the bycatch issue and and WPRFMC) Comic book created and appreciate their role in the future of The ultimate measure for the success distributed in 2005. the Pacific loggerhead. We produced of our initiatives will be decreased our latest comic, La Caguamita loggerhead mortality; however, Japonesa, in partnership with Juan interpreting trends in mortality can Carlos Cantu from Defenders of be problematic. For instance, fewer Wildlife. Over 1,000 copies have been dead turtles in local halibut nets distributed in Pacific BCS fishing could be due to either: 1) cleaner communities to date. fishing practices, or 2) lower overall turtle abundance. 55 An Integrated Approach to Reducing Mortality of North Pacific Loggerhead Turtles in Baja California SUR, Mexico

It is therefore important for us questionnaire to determine the areas was actually performed by to assess the effectiveness of our extent to which the factors identified the Mexican government. In short, outreach, network-building, and in the first phase of this study are local people were not involved in a research initiatives for two reasons. generally and significantly associated decision that they perceived to be a First, we need to monitor fisher with sea turtle mortality and direct threat to their livelihoods and attitudes and practices to know what exploitation in the larger population lifeworlds. As a result of the social and we are accomplishing. Second, we of fishers and others in the major political outcry, the decision to declare need to better understand fisher communities in the Bahia Magdalena these coastal island regions protected attitudes and practices in order to region. Data from the 2004 study areas was rescinded for Baja California improve and refine our initiatives. For were used to refine and implement Sur. Nonetheless, feelings of distrust these reasons, we are partnering with our strategic, culturally appropriate and resentment toward the Mexican experts in the field of community- communication and education government and environmental based social marketing to help us campaigns to reduce sea turtle conservationists lingered in local assess the effects and refine the bycatch and exploitation during the communities in summer 2005. methods of our initiatives. upcoming season. However, by winter 2006 conservation Community-based social marketing In 2005, assessments of the various attitude had rebounded, as (CBSM) is based on social psychology sea turtle conservation issues demonstrated by local fishers’ behavior modification theory, and were accomplished by means of a embrace of the Zona Auto-Protegida. CBSM advocates a four-step process survey questionnaire, which was Clearly, it is essential to involve that first seeks to identify the key administered during July and August local people in decisions that impact factors that determine a particular of 2005 in the communities of their lives. Moreover, environmental behavior in a particular population. Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos (n=100), conservation initiatives must address Once a thorough understanding of a Puerto Bahia Magdalena (n=26), and not only ecological factors, but rather behavior has been accomplished, an Santo Domingo (n=25). To provide social and economic concerns of local appropriate social marketing program perspective on survey data from peoples as well. may be designed, a pilot program may 2005, similar survey data from 2004 be tested (and revised if necessary), are compared to 2005 data. While SUMMARY OF SOCIAL and a program promoting a particular the community of Puerto San Carlos SCIENCE RESEARCH RESULTS2 behavior may be implemented and was surveyed in 2004, data were not evaluated (McKenzie-Mohr, 2000). collected in this locale in 2005. An • Both prevalence and frequency of atmosphere of social and political sea turtle consumption appear to Accordingly, a mixed methods design animosity towards environmental have decreased at least slightly study was undertaken in July and conservation and conservationists from 2004 to 2005. Moreover, August 2004 to qualitatively and existed in San Carlos during the approximately three-fourths of quantitatively assess key factors summer of 2005, which precluded the respondents indicate that sea turtle associated with sea turtle mortality, possibility collecting unbiased data consumption has declined over the exploitation and conservation in and ensuring the safety of surveyors. past five years. the Bahia Magdalena region. The • Trash continues to be viewed as initial, qualitative phase of this study The atmosphere of animosity in the most serious environmental used both personal observation San Carlos was a direct result of the problem in the Bahia Magdalena of and informal interviews with a Mexican government’s decision to region. While most people representative sample of fishers and declare the Bahia Magdalena region (42%) report that environmental residents to identify key themes (as well as all coastal island regions conditions have not changed associated with sea turtle mortality, in Baja California and Baja California over the past five years, more exploitation and conservation in the Sur) a protected area. Unfortunately, respondents report deteriorating region. in Baja California Sur, no assessment (34%) rather than improving (21%) of the ecological, social, political, or environmental conditions. The second, quantitative phase of economic impacts of declaring these • This year, incidental bycatch is the study in 2004 used a survey coastal island regions protected

2 The complete social science project reports for 2004 and 2005, Local Perceptions and Environmental Conservation: A Study of Human Consumption, Exploitation, and Conservation of Endangered Sea Turtles in the Baja California Region of Mexico, are available upon request from the WPRFMC. Proceedings of the Second Western Paciﬁc Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 56

viewed as the greatest threat to believe that sea turtle is a healthy spring 2006, we will offer a turtle sea turtles (34% of respondents), food, the vast majority (81%) guide training program and followed by human consumption would stop eating sea turtle if they establish offshore tourism safety (30% of respondents) and illegal learned it was in fact an unhealthy guidelines. The promotion and capture (13% of respondents). food. development of turtle ecotourism in However, most respondents (43%) these communities would provide report that threats to sea turtles ACTIONS IN PROGRESS/ alternative income to local small- are generally less than they were PROPOSED FOR 2006 scale fishermen. five years ago. • Most respondents (36%) LOGGERHEAD TURTLE indicated that Grupo Tortugero COMMUNITY CONSERVATION NETWORKS RESEARCH and ProCaguama have made the greatest progress toward sea turtle conservation over the past five LOCAL LOGGERHEAD RESERVE MONITORING years. In ranking the efficacy of (supported by ProPeninsula TURTLE MORTALITY sea turtle conservation efforts on and WPRFMC) a scale of 1 (worst) to 10 (best), In response to local fishers’ calls • Through 2006, index beach surveys respondents on average awarded for a local no-fishing loggerhead will be continued to resolve a grade of 9.6 to Grupo Tortugero/ reserve (based on our turtle foraging patterns in bycatch location and ProCaguama. and bycatch hotspots, see section: frequency. • “Potential human health risks Loggerhead Turtle Research), we • Ongoing surveys of fishers to associated with the consumption are partnering with fishermen’s determine bycatch and hunting- of sea turtle meat and eggs: a co-operatives and local government related mortality. global perspective” has been to officially designate the reserve. • Fisheries observations will be made submitted for publication to In winter and spring 2006, pending from Puerto López Mateos and EcoHealth and will serve as a support, we plan to involve state from 6 other fishing communities scientific basis for the Las Tortugas and federal officials from agencies which potentially overlap the Marinas y Tu Salud public health/ including PROFEPA, PESCA, SAGARPA, loggerhead high use area. sea turtle conservation campaign. and CONANP in order to authorize • A Las Tortugas Marinas y Tu Salud local fishermen to officially designate SEA TURTLE ECOLOGY media campaign will be developed and protect the loggerhead reserve. in collaboration with and financed • Deploy satellite transmitters in by Greenpeace. COMMUNITY ENFORCEMENT collaboration with NOAA Fisheries. • Production of a comic (in PROGRAMS (supported by WPRFMC) • Deploy TDRs to determine dive collaboration with Defenders of We are facilitating the establishment behavior of loggerheads to use Wildlife and Greenpeace) that of PROFEPA community enforcement reduce turtle bycatch. creatively illustrates human-sea programs in the community of Puerto • Combine hydrographic surveys turtle health themes is in the final A. Lopez Mateos. Community-based with real-time turtle tracking to stages of development. enforcement programs are designed elucidate the degree to which red • A collaboration between the to supplement the limited number of crab distribution influences turtle Secretaría de Salud (Secretary and resources for PROFEPA agents. distribution and abundance. of Health) of Baja California Sur • Definitively determine proximate and Proyecto Salud Humana- TURTLE ECOTOURISM loggerhead diet off BCS through Ecosistema is in its formative (supported by ProPeninsula analysis of fresh stomachs stage. and WPRFMC) (collected on beach surveys and • A campaign informing the We are partnering with Puerto from nets). public of the potential health A. Lopez Mateos whale watch • Collect samples to assess historical risks associated with human cooperatives, BCS Tourism board, loggerhead diet through stable consumption of sea turtle would municipal, county and state isotope analysis. be an effective means to mitigate politicians, and ecotour operators • Publish results of hotspots analysis consumption of these endangered to plan and license turtle ecotour of loggerhead high use areas. species. While most people (62%) programs. Pending funding, in 57 An Integrated Approach to Reducing Mortality of North Pacific Loggerhead Turtles in Baja California SUR, Mexico

STRATEGIC REFERENCES WOMEN’S (FESTIVAL) COMMITTEE COMMUNICATION Marina Verduzco Peralta Epperly, S.P., Braun, J., Chester, A.J., Ramona Collins Álvarez Juana Duarte Ramírez All previous strategies, including: Cross, F.A., Merriner, J.V., Tester, Norma Ramírez García Pride Campaign; Comic Books; Local P.A., Churchill, J.H. 1996. Beach Ana Bertha Cinco Álvarez Music and Media Campaign, will strandings as an indicator of Judith Romero Lucero continue in 2006. at-sea mortality of sea turtles. Bulletin of Marine Science 59: Lourdes de la Rosa Sandoval Aurora de la Rosa Lucero ZONA AUTO-PROTEGIDA 289-297 In fall 2005, fishermen proposed Hart, K.M., Mooreside, P., Crowder, FISHER PARTNERS the establishment of a Zona Auto- L. 2006. Interpreting the spatio- Jose Collins Parra Protegida, or Fishermen’s Turtle temporal patterns of sea turtle Carlos Sigalas Reserve based on data generated by strandings: Going with the flow. Tony Sigalas this project with WPRFMC support Biological Conservation 129: Alfredo de la Toba since 2004. Because loggerhead 283-290 Arturo Contreras Camacho strandings occur only outside 18 MacKenzie-Mohr, J. and W. Smith. Arturo de la Toba Domínguez fathoms depth (see Maldonado 1999. Fostering Sustainable Cesareo Castro González report in these proceedings), Behavior: An Introduction Carlos Sigala Villavicencio corresponding to loggerhead foraging to Community-Based Social Giovanni Collins González hotspots (Figure 4), and because Marketing. New Society Refugio Villa Aguilar fish landings were up to 90% lower Publishers, B.C. Canada and Alfonso Loera de la Toba outside the 18 fathom isobath, Academy for Educational Maricela de la Toba Miranda fishermen have proposed to limit Development, Washington D.C. Antonio Sigala Villavicencio fishing of bottom set longlines and 160 pages. Leonardo de la Toba González gillnets outside 18 fathoms. In this Arturo de la Toba González way the Zona Auto-Protegida will TEAM proCAGUAMA 2005 Jose Maria de la Toba González dramatically reduce loggerhead bycatch and protect them for local PROJECT LEADERS LOCAL STUDENT ACTION GROUP ecotour operations. Stephen Delgado (assessment/social Octavio Asale Verdugo Domínguez marketing) Vanessa Sánchez Murillo In 2006, we will launch a concerted Johath Laudino Santillán (outreach) Jesus Manuel Espinosa Miranda campaign to build consensus David Maldonado Diaz (bycatch Perla Marina Ahumada Verduzco among local fishermen and across reduction) Dulce Maria Bañales Aguilar neighboring communities for support Victor de la Toba (shoreline surveys) Oyuki Yoshimara Silva Osuna for the Zona Auto Protegida. We will Wallace J. Nichols (oversight) Felizardo Jesus Felix Verdugo also seek funding to build capacity S. Hoyt Peckham (oversight/turtle Griselda Guadalupe Aragón Zamora among whale watch guides/gillnet ecology) Manuel Antonio Murillo fishermen to run turtle ecotours. Frania Alejandra Ventura Vazquez Finally, we will partner with legal UNIVERSITY STUDENT INTERNS Citlali Guadalupe Meza Domínguez consultants to establish federal Bertha Montaño Medrano (UABCS) protection and support of the Zona Ruth Ochoa Diaz (CICIMAR) Auto-Protegida. David Soriano (IPN) David Ramirez (IPN) Edgar Caballero (UABCS) Alejandro Gaos (PRETOMA) Natalia Rossi (U Buenos Aires) Rodrigo Donadi (WWF-DC) Egle Florés (U Nacional – Puebla) Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 58 59 Reducing the Bycatch of Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) in Baja California David Maldonado, Hoyt Peckham, and SUR: Experimental Modification of Dr. Wallace J. Nichols 1 ProPeninsula Gillnets for Fishing Halibut

SUMMARY (2004) mydas was taken in a conventional, non-experimental, section. During July-August 2004, a study was undertaken to both characterize SUMMARY (2005) the halibut gillnet fishery operating out of the west coast of Magdalena During July-August 2005, testing Island, Baja California SUR, as well of modifications of halibut gillnets as implement experimental sets started in 2004 by ProCaguama to investigate possible mitigation were continued, this time reducing or gear modification measures the length of the suspenders to for the fishery. 117 gillnet sets 1m and keeping the net depth for halibut were carried out on to 10 meshes. This experiment with experimental gillnets of was performed in two phases, approximately 240 meters in length. setting the nets at three different Each experimental gillnet had deep levels in the second phase four sections, two conventional exclusively. Statistical similarity in sections (CS), of 60m each with a the performance of testing segments conventional depth of 2 fathoms (TS) and conventional segments (CS) (20 meshes deep) and length of the was observed. In 276 settings (129 suspenders of 1.8m and, alternated, corresponding to phase one and 146 two test sections (TS) with a depth to phase two), 16 sea turtles were reduced to 1 fathom (10 meshes captured (3 corresponding to phase deep) and length of the suspenders one and 13 to phase two); 4 green shortened to 1m. The overall effect turtles (Chelonia mydas), one olive of the type of net (i.e., CS vs. TS) on ridley (Lepidochelis olivacea) and fish catch and the bycatch of sea 9 Loggerheads (Caretta caretta). turtles was evaluated. A total of A strong correlation between depth 2,180 fish of 27 different species was of net setting and turtle bycatch recorded. The dominant species were was observed. Possible causes of this guitarfish (712 fish) and halibut (479 correlation are discussed. In 2005, Fishermen displaying experimental fish), which as a group represented activities focused on fishermen’s gillnets. 75% of the total value of the catch. involvement were intensified that Comparing the catch in weight of the helped identify regulation and CS (2,686 Kg.) to that of the TS (1,252 eco-tourism as two strategies that Kg.) showed a statistically significant can help to reduce turtle mortality difference F=23.0069 p <.05. The at the area. Also, use of bottom set possible causes of these differences longliners was identified as another are discussed. In 117 gillnet sets, important source of turtle mortality only one green sea turtle Chelonia at the area.

1 Due to the delay in producing these workshop proceedings, the papers and results from both the 2004 and 2005 season are melded together into one final report. As a result, the evolution of the project is obvious as well as how the project has been refined over time to quantify results. This study is a sub-contract of contracts: 04-WPC-013 and 05-WPC-018, NOAA award #: NA03NMF4110017 and NA04NMF4410039. Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 60

RESUMEN (2005) on several actions for the protection PROJECT GOALS of loggerheads that included: more Durante los meses de Julio y Agosto effective law enforcement (with • To evaluate the fishery and del 2005 se dio continuidad a la the facilitation and aid of Mexican investigate fishery alternatives on evaluación de modificaciones de authorities); environmental education; their effect on the quantity and redes para lenguado iniciada durante sensitizing of the local communities composition of catch and bycatch la temporada anterior del proyecto to decrease the consumption of turtle of sea turtles. (ver informe técnico 2004), esta vez meat; research on the ecology of the • In 2004: To evaluate the effect of reduciendo el largo de los tirantes species, and monitoring of sea turtle reducing net depth and suspenders a 1 m y manteniendo la caída de populations and mortality assessment length (lines used to form a bag la red a 10 mallas. El experimento via stranding surveys along the 45 km in the net by drawing the leadline se dividió en dos fases, haciendo of beaches of Magdalena Island, Baja and floatline closer together) of the tendidos a tres diferentes niveles California SUR. Also undertaken was halibut gillnets on the quantity, de profundidad durante la segunda a project to characterize the halibut composition and economic value of fase. A diferencia de la temporada gillnet fishery operating out of the the catch and on the bycatch of sea anterior, el rendimiento en la captura west coast of Magdalena Island, as turtle. de peces de los segmentos de well as implement experimental sets • In 2005: Based on the results of the prueba (TS) no mostró desventaja to investigate possible mitigation or 2004 experimental modifications, en comparación con los segmentos gear modification measures for the fishermen were reconsulted via convencionales (CS). En 276 lances fishery. workshops and their suggestions (129 de la primera fase más 146 de were used to refine the alternatives la segunda) se capturaron un total Considering the results of the 2004 tested in 2004 and investigate the de 16 tortugas (3 en la primera season, the 2005 season maintained experimental placement of nets to fase y 13 en la segunda), cuatro the depth reduction of the gillnets quantify if net depth has an effect prietas (Chelonia mydas), una golfita as an alternative in order to achieve on the composition of catch and (Lepidochelis olivacea) y 9 amarillas the planned objective of reducing bycatch of sea turtles. (Caretta caretta), encontrándose the bycatch of sea turtles. However, una estrecha relación entre la to improve the evaluation of this METHODOLOGY profundidad de los tendidos y el experiment, the assembling of the experimental gillnets was número de tortugas capturadas. Se Fishermen Enrollment. In order standardized, so the effect of the discuten los resultados. Por otro lado, to facilitate the participation of length of the suspenders and the se intensificaron las actividades para the fishermen in the experimental depth of the gillnet could be evaluated fortalecer el involucramiento de los design, in the data collection and in in terms of the performance of the pescadores llegándose a identificar la increasing their involvement relating fishing equipment. Also, records autorregulación y el ecoturismo como to actions of conservation, meetings during the entire fishing season were dos alternativas con potencial para were organized at Puerto Magdalena carried out in order to consider all the reducir la mortalidad de tortugas and Puerto Adolfo López Mateos. The seasonal variations in the composition en el área a través de talleres de problems of loggerhead turtle were of the catch. trabajo con su participación. También discussed, the results obtained in the se identificó, a través de visitas a workshops sessions were reviewed diferentes campos pesqueros de la PROJECT OBJECTIVES and the dynamics of the project were región, el uso de simbras de fondo explained. Informative brochures were como otra causa importante de la • To reduce loggerhead mortality via distributed in both communities with mortalidad de tortugas marinas. bycatch in halibut gillnets, while the same information, and individual maintaining the performance of informal interviews were carried out. INTRODUCTION fishing equipment for halibut and Fishermen willing to participate, other species of high commercial whether by directly modifying their Bycatch in gillnets used for capture value. fishing equipment or by contributing of marine resources such as halibut is • To actively involve the small scale complementary information to the currently one of the most important fishermen of Puerto Magdalena project, were engaged. causes of death of loggerhead and Puerto López Mateos in turtles in Baja California. The conservation, fishery experiments, ProCAGUAMA 2004 season focused and sea turtle protection activities. 61 Reducing the Bycatch of Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) in Baja California SUR: Experimental Modification of Gillnets for Fishing Halibut

In 2004, four fishing teams, utilizing suspenders of 1.8 m, while the TS had DATA COLLECTION two gillnets each, were contracted suspenders shortened to 1 meter; (2004 AND 2005): to fish with modified nets. As a both the CS and the TS had a net complementary action of local depth of 2 fathoms approximately The collection consisted of the involvement, a local fisherman was (20 meshes deep). following: hired to monitor the net tests, along • Date with research interns who were also Number of fishing teams (2004). Four • Starting Time and End time of each responsible for the project. boats participated, each boat with anchoring two experimental gillnets. • Team number. In 2005, fishermen were provided • Recorder. updated information regarding Areas for anchoring experimental • Starting and ending GPS results from the gillnet modification gillnets (2004). The areas for the Coordinates of each anchoring. experiments in 2004, stranding anchoring of the experimental • Depth. surveys, and data collection gillnets were not assigned, but rather • Type of sea floor. methodology. Fishermen were thus left to the to the decision of the • Surface water temperature. engaged in discussion regarding fishermen, whose selection of the • Catch per species in number of fish planning activities for the coming area was based on their personal and total weight for the CS and TS 2005 season. In order to involve a knowledge of the availability of fish of the experimental gillnets. greater number of fishermen in the just as it occurs in non -experimental • Comments. project, it was decided to work with conditions two different groups of five teams. In the case of sea turtle bycatch: Again, fishers were granted interns Number of sets and areas for • Species to participate in data collection, anchoring experimental gillnets • Status (alive or dead). thus giving more confidence to the (2005). The 2005 experimental • Length and width of carapace. experimental results. gillnet test was performed in two • Capturing section (conventional or phases. In each one of these phases test). The assembling of experimental 5 teams participated with two gillnets (2004). Design of gillnets and 15 days of work (150 sets Equipment used. For the registration experimental nets was arrived at total by phase). In the first phase of geographic location, Garmin GPS’s through extensive discussion with of the experiment, the areas for model Geko were used. Depth and the four fishing teams involved. the anchoring of the experimental temperature were measured with Each gillnet was divided into four gillnets were, in the same way than portable depth sounders. sections, two conventional sections 2004 season, not assigned, but (CS) and two test sections (TS), of rather left to the decision of the Analysis of catch (2004). In order to approximately 60 meters in length fishermen, whose selection of the compare the relative importance and each. The CS had a net depth of area was based on their personal value of each species in the catch and 2 fathoms approximately with knowledge of the availability of fish to evaluate the effect on the income suspenders of 1.8 m, while the TS had just as it occurs in non-experimental of the fisherman with modifications a net depth reduced to 1 fathom and conditions. In the second phase, and made to the gillnets, an Index of suspenders reduced to 1 meter. because during the performance of Bio-economic Importance (Díaz and the first phase of the experiment, Ramírez 2004, in preparation) was The assembling of experimental data collection was concentrated in calculated for each species in the gillnets (2005). Design of shallow waters, the methodology following way: experimental gillnets was arrived at was modified by asking the fishermen through extensive discussion with the to separate the total 15 days of the IIBEj = (% Ci +%Vi)*%Fi fishing teams involved this year and test in 5 days periods and to set the those fishermen who participated gillnets in three different levels of Where, IIBEi: index of Bio-economic in the 2004 experimental phase. depth: shallow waters (depth less importance of the species i; % Ci: This year, each gillnet was divided than 10 fathoms); middle depth percentage in weight of the species into four sections, of approximately waters (depths between 10 and 16 i in the total catch (weight of fish 100 meters in length each, two fathoms); and deep waters (beyond cleaned); % V: percentage in price conventional sections (CS) and 17 fathoms). of the species i in the total value of two test sections (TS). the CS had the catch; % Fi percentage of the Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 62

number of sets in which the species i remain anchored in the same place The Halibut Fishery of Puerto appears in the total number of sets for several days until the fisherman A. López Mateos. Currently, in registered. considers that there is a decrease in Puerto Adolfo López Mateos, 50 catch in that area and consequently to 60 boats are dedicated to this The volume of catch in weight of will move to another place looking activity, concentrating the area of gutted fish was calculated using an for a greater catch. fishing in two areas: the first found index of conversion calculated for between 6 and 12 fathoms deep, each species from actual weights It is important to consider that and the second one, approximately of the whole and gutted fish of a several years ago, the halibut 23 fathoms deep. These areas are sample. The index used for each fishery was performed with line and not exploited equally. While the species is presented in Appendix 2 fishhook. Currently, there are few shallower area results in a less (at end of this report). cases of fishermen who still practice expense of fuel, the deeper area is this fishing method, however, it utilized when there is poor fishing The Index of Bio-economic requires considerably greater skill in the nearby areas. Although Importance was used to establish a and effort to obtain the same the target species is halibut, hierarchical order of the resources amount of catch. Because the price other species with commercial and its relative importance to the of the fish does not depend on the value exist such as guitarfish and value of the catch that is obtained fishing equipment used, the present triggerfish, which represent a very with the experimental gillnet. tendency is to abandon the use of high percentage of the fishermen’s fishhook and use of gillnets. Fishing incomes in some cases. According RESULTS for halibut is an activity, of medium to the fishermen, the proportional economic importance in the area, volume between the target species Fishery Characterization given the existence of better paying (halibut) and the secondary species marine activities such as lobster or varies in the course of the season, shrimp fishing and whale watching registering a peak in halibut catch The Halibut Fishery operating during May and June (spawning in Magdalena Bay. An artisanal tours during the gray whale season. The halibut fishing season falls season) and a greater proportional fishery for halibut (see Appendix volume in secondary species catch 2 for the scientific names of all between whale watching season, and the shrimp and lobster fishing at the end of the halibut fishing species mentioned in this report) in season. Magdalena Bay has been conducted season (Table 1). The largest number for several decades from small boats of fishermen fishing halibut live near the coast. The equipment that in the two communities of Puerto FISHERY EXPERIMENTAL is used consists of boats of 21-25 Magdalena (24° 37’ N and 112° 08W) GILLNETS feet long using outboard motor of and Puerto Adolfo López Mateos 55-85 hp. These boats are commonly (25° 12’ N and 112° 07’ W). Number of sets (2004). Each operated by two fishermen. The boat performed 15 fishing trips in fishing gear utilized are gillnets The Halibut Fishery of Puerto consecutive days, resulting in a that are usually 60 m (130 fathoms Magdalena. Approximately 10 boats total of 117 sets with experimental long) and 2-3 fathoms in depth are dedicated to fishing halibut gillnets between July 29 to August with a stretched mesh size of 8 in Puerto Magdalena. Given their 13, 2004. During three of the fishing inches. In some cases, another kind location, the gillnets set outside of trips, it was not possible to record of gillnet that is deeper (up to 5 the Bay represents a greater expense data from one of the experimental fathoms) and has a larger mesh size of fuel and physical effort, so they gillnets due to damage that required is used for snapper. According to concentrate their activity inside major repair. some fishermen of the community Magdalena Bay and less frequently of Puerto Magdalena, this deeper on the Pacific side, where they only Number of sets (2005). For the gillnet catches a higher number of fish when the product is scarce phase one of the experiment, a sea turtles. The gillnets are anchored inside the Bay. The place where the total of 129 sets were performed in sandy or rocky sea floors, and gillnet is placed also determines how between June 18 to July 12, 2005. checked each morning to collect the frequently it is checked. If it is placed In the phase two of the experiment, catch. The gillnets are set in depths inside the Bay it is checked twice a a total of 147 sets were performed between one to thirty fathoms and day; but if is placed outside the Bay, between July 12 to July 31, 2005. it will be checked only once a day. 63 Reducing the Bycatch of Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) in Baja California SUR: Experimental Modification of Gillnets for Fishing Halibut

Area and depths of sampling (2004). The map shows the points where the experimental sets were performed. Due to the availability of product during to season in nearby areas, the total of the sets were performed in shallow waters with depths between 4.5 and 19 fathoms. Average value of depth = 11.09 fathoms. SD = 3.13. The type of sea ﬂoor, where the experimental gillnets were set varied between sandy, hard bottom and rocky.

Area and depth of sampling (2005). In phase one, the total of the sets were performed in waters with depths between 1.22 and 12.67 fathoms. (Average=7.48 n=129). These sets were performed in areas where the ﬁshermen considered to have a greater availability of product. The type of sea ﬂoor where the experimental gillnets were set varied between sandy (26 sets registered), hard bottom (18 sets registered) and rocky (43 sets registered). In the second phase of the experiment, 45 sets were performed in shallow waters, in depths between 3 and 9 fathoms; 66 sets performed in depths between 10 and 17 fathoms and 33 sets in depth between 17 and 23 fathoms.

Catch per type of resource (2004). A total of 2,180 fish and 3,938 kg in weight (whole fish) belonging to 27 species (in some cases, different groups of species) were registered when CS and TS catch were considered together. Table 2 shows the number of fish and weight by species, as well as the relative price of the product in pesos and the IIBE (see the annex for reference of each species). The dominant species in biomass (weight of gutted fish) were the guitar fish (34.11% of total catch) and the halibut (29.6% including 1st and 2nd size). These two species represent more than the 75% of the total value of catch, while 90% of Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 64

FIGURE 1. Halibut catch at the area of López Mateos during 2003-2004 ﬁshing seasons. the total value of the catch can be reached if including the value of the spotted sandbass, the trigger ﬁsh, the mojarra, the hammerhead, and the eagle ray.

Catch per type of section (2004). Comparing the catch in weight in the CS’s (2,686 Kg.) and the TS’s (1,252 Kg.), a statistically signiﬁcant difference was observed F=23.0069 p <.05. In this way, the catch obtained with the CS’s contributed 68% (20,507 pesos) of the total value whereas the TS’s contributed 32% (9,475 pesos) of the total value. Tables 3 and 4 show the catch by type of section, as well as the values of IIBE calculated in base to the catch of the type of section. In Table 7, bycatch of sea turtles, particularly of loggerhead, by type of net (CS or TS) Figure 1 is halibut catch reported by and depth of setting are compared (both phases included). government ofﬁce in Lopez Mateos, SAGARPA-CONAPESCA.

Bycatch of sea turtles (2004). Only Catch per type of section (2005). three sea turtles were captured. one record of bycatch of sea turtle Table 5 shows catch in number of There were three specimens of green was registered in experimental fish (items), and kilograms for phase turtle (Chelonia mydas). During the gillnets. It was a specimen of green one and two. It also shows the second phase of the experiment, turtle (Chelonia mydas) with a catch for halibut as the species more 13 sea turtles were captured. There carapace 51 cm in length by 42 cm representative of the actual value of were one specimen of green turtle wide captured in August 12 (25º the catch. Catch rates were identified (Chelonia mydas), one specimen of 12.237’N 112º 10.538’W). This in terms of water depth, such as Olive’s Ridley, (Lepdochelis olivacea) turtle was enmeshed in a CS of the shallow water (SW), medium depth and 11 specimens of loggerheads experimental gillnet which was set in water (MW), and deep water (DW). (Caretta caretta). a rocky sea floor. The turtle was alive at the time the gillnet was checked Bycatch of sea turtles (2005). In In Table 7, bycatch of sea turtles, thus it was returned to the sea in 276 settings (129 corresponding to particularly of loggerhead, by type good condition for surviving. phase one and 146 to phase two), 16 of net (CS or TS) and depth of setting sea turtles were captured (Table 6). are compared (both phases included). During the first experimental phase, 65 Reducing the Bycatch of Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) in Baja California SUR: Experimental Modification of Gillnets for Fishing Halibut

Fishermen who attended the workshop in 2004 from Magdalena Island.

Fishermen who attended the workshop in 2004 from Lopez Workshop attendance by ﬁshermen in 2005 (top & bottom). Mateos.

DISCUSSION fishermen of the area already have a participation of these people through very clear idea of the requirements public acknowledgements for those Involvement of fishermen in of this kind of activity, because they who collaborated (see Appendix 1 at the process of protection and have acquired skills, as managers and the end of this chapter). conservation of sea turtles. guides, for whale watching activities Enrollment and involvement of in winter time. Importance of the fishing activity at fishermen in the experimental the area. Small scale fishing of this component of the project is taken This kind of organization is expected kind is not a highly lucrative activity to be a sign of increased awareness to help reduce the impact on the for the local communities, compared for the protection of sea turtles. sea turtle populations. Related to to other activities such as whale This process will be facilitated in aspects such as zoning focused to watching or shrimp or lobster fishing. the future by the multiplicative promote a more efficient, rational, But during those months of the year effect of all those who supported and responsible use of the local when there is not availability of these the project. Particularly noteworthy natural resources, are also reducing resources (April-August), its relative is the increase of fishers attending the pressure on all other prohibited importance is higher because there workshops from 2004 to 2005. resources. In relation to this last are few alternatives for work (Table 1). Throughout the project, fishermen point, it was agreed that fishermen However, developing alternatives of have become increasingly more would formulate a proposal, with sustainable use of natural resources organized and supportive of each the help of Procaguama, to be in those months are possible, such other to avoid illegal activities presented in the second weekend as turtle tours, sport fishing or bird commonly linked to a greater of January 2006 to be analyzed and, watching. We recommend such impact on fish resources and fishing if possible, applied in the summer promotion in order of reduce the economy. Interest in alternatives, 2007 in an experimental way. The impact of fishing on sea turtles. such as the promotion of eco-tourism goal of this experimental eco-tourism (to include turtle and bird watching, program would be to get the Performance of the experimental camping on the dunes, visits to the fishermen interested in the process gillnets (2004). It was hypothesized estuaries, etc.) or sport fishing, was as a potential economic alternative that reducing the gillnet depth, by shown as complementary activities for them. It is important to note the using shorter suspenders and by to the commercial fishing. The positive effect of motivating the cutting the net might be a viable Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 66

were made of a mesh of 8”, while (see Peckham report Figure 2, these the test sections (TS) used a mesh proceedings) and volumes of halibut of 7.5”. This inconsistency was due catch according to information to the unavailability in the market of provided by SAGARPA-CONAPESCA the larger size mesh. This difference, office in the area of López Mateos according to the perception of the during 2003 and 2004 (Figure 1), a fishermen, could cause a poorer coincidence can be seen in the annual efficiency of the TS to catch fish of halibut fishing season and the number greater size. This was supported in the of beached turtles. This information is case of the halibut, the CS presented a also supported by the data provided greater proportion of first class halibut by the fishermen during the months (more than 2 kg), whereas the TS when this activity is carried out. took a greater proportion of halibut of However, only one sea turtle was second class of smaller size (less than caught during the experimental gillnet 2 kg). Also, according to the opinion study. This could be the result of of the fishermen, the decrease in the several factors: 1) a difference in time net depth of the TS caused a reduction between the halibut fishing season of the size of the bag that is formed in and the time of high concentration Catch from the experimental gillnets. the bottom of the gillnet once this is of sea turtles at the area due to set. This bag helps to enmesh fish that unidentified environmental factors; or alternative that would result in touch the gillnet due to the movement 2) performance of the fishing activities an fishing equipment to be more of the prey trying to get free. From in different areas from those of high selective for abundant species of these comments, the suggestion came concentration of the sea turtles. It is high commercial value. As expected, to assemble the gillnets with bales important to emphasize that during the modified gear performed better of deeper netting (8 feet) in order to the experiment, the fishermen fished for those species of fish living near keep an adequate proportion among exclusively in shallow waters near to the seafloor (halibut, guitarfish), the length of the suspenders and the the coast where there seems to be a that, in turn, have a relatively high depth of the mesh. lesser concentration of sea turtles. commercial value and, consequently, represent the major value of the catch Regarding the timing of the Unfortunately, because of the low (see Tables 2, 3 and 4). It is important experiment, the fishing season for catch rate of sea turtles in the to keep a good catch performance halibut in 2004 started in early experimental component of the study, for any modified equipment for these May with a peak of captures at results are inconclusive for making species (number and size of fish the end of the same month. If the any solid recommendations about taken), to ensure there is minimum catch of the target species (e.g., reduced net height or depth. However, or no decrease of the fishermen’s halibut) decreases, the fishery of considering that reducing the depth of income. In addition, using a shortened secondary species, such as guitarfish gillnets may reduce the bycatch of sea gillnet would result in a lower price of or triggerfish, continues. This can turtles, this option continues to be a the fishing equipment. cause the results of evaluating the viable alternative to test in the future. effect in the income of the fishermen Besides the net depth and the to be imprecise because they are Performance of the experimental suspenders length, other factors not representative of the whole gillnets in 2005. In 2005, about exist that can affect the performance fishing season. For this reason, it is 10 percent of the fishing fleet of the gillnets which were not recommended to record the entire participated in the project possible to evaluate. Some of them fishing season to ensure that changes (approximately 50 boats). In contrast were related with the way the in the availability of some species to the 2004 season, the 2005 recorded experimental gillnets were assembled with a high price (halibut) or big catch data during the entire fishing and others with the timing of the data volumes (triggerfish, guitarfish) can season to assist in quantifying collection. be evaluated. variations caused by the availability of species of high commercial value. In relation to the assembling Bycatch of sea turtles in the Also, the experimental gillnets were the experimental gillnets, the experimental gillnets (2004). Based standardized in relation to length conventional sections (CS) of nets on the stranding rates of sea turtles and mesh size. This made it possible 67 Reducing the Bycatch of Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) in Baja California SUR: Experimental Modification of Gillnets for Fishing Halibut to obtain more precise results. In that the depth and capture rates the fishery verifies the importance 2005, no additional experimental be discussed at coming workshops. of using caution when authorizing variables were added, however, and Avoiding fishing in depths shallower the use of new fishing gear (such as refinement to the gear was made to than 12 fathoms may be an effective bottom-set longlines). provide greater understanding of the measure to reduce sea turtle bycatch performance measures of reducing and mortality. RECOMMENDATIONS gillnet depth (by using shorter suspenders, thus fishing deeper), and Importance of other fishing activities In order to give continuity to the the placement of nets to quantify the in the area in relation to sea turtle ProCaguama project, we make the effects of fishing deep versus shallow. mortality (2005). The number of following recommendations for the sea turtle strandings recorded 2006 season: In the first phase, the experimental by the monitoring of San Lázaro • Promote responsible fishing, by gillnet performance showed an beach in 2005 (see Peckham report, informing local fishermen of López important difference between the CS Figure 2, these proceedings) is not Mateos, communities and fish and the TS in that the TS were more totally explainable by the estimated camps of the area of the findings efficient in catching fish (896 utilizing mortality caused by the halibut of the experiments carried out CS vs. 1,309 in TS) and in total catch gillnet fishing activity. In 2005, the to date, and the agreements weight (2,397.5 kg in CS vs. 3,330.2 kg use of gillnets for halibut in López made in the workshops by the in TS). In the second phase, shallow Mateos and other fishing camps and fishermen participants in the water settings contributed to the communities like Santo Domingo and project. Specifically, highlight the 34.5% of the total catch in the second Cabo San Lázaro ended in mid-July. importance of respecting areas of phase of the experiment; middle Therefore, the lack of gillnet fishery high concentration of sea turtles water settings contributed with 52% activity does not correspond to the (i.e., in depths beyond than 12 of the catch; and the deep water number of beached turtles in August fathoms). settings contributed with 13.4% that reached a historical maximum of • Promote the formulation of a when number of fish considered. This 167 dead turtles. plan for the organization focused supports the fact that the availability on small scale fisheries with the of fish is higher in depths lower than During this same period, however, involvement of local fishermen of 16 fathoms. Also, there was higher a bottom-set longline fishery was the area, in order to promote and contribution of the TS to the catch in detected by some fishermen. This reinforce, in the long term, the any of the depths the experimental activity originated from the Santa responsible use of the resources, gillnets. Thus shortening of the Rosa fishing camp. Personnel of self regulation and collaboration suspenders in the experimental nets ProCaguama visited the camp and of the community with the local helped to get higher catch rates of fisherman agreed to allow personnel and federal authorities in the fish. to accompany them on some sets. administration and protection of From September 7 – 22, 2005, 12 the marine resources. Bycatch of sea turtles in the longline sets were observed, and • Help and support the fishermen experimental gillnets (2005). In both 25 loggerheads were captured, of López Mateos in formulating the first and the second phases of 15 of them dead. The fishery was and developing an eco-tourism the experiment, the proportion of characterized by 6 fishing teams program which bring about an sea turtles caught in the TS vs the CS fishing with bottom-set longlines economic alternative for them, and does not support that the shortening targeting sharks (two longlines contribute to reduce the pressure of the suspenders could help to per boat, deploying between 90- on marine resources of the area reduce the bycatch of sea turtles or 100 hooks each). Personnel were and, in particular, on the sea turtle that it helps to reduce the number informed that this fishery had just populations. of sea turtles dead in the gillnets recently begun last year (which may • Continue investigations of new (Table 7). In the second phase of the explain the increased stranding alternatives to high impact experiment, there was remarkably rates seen in October and November fishing gear, such as bottom-set strong correlation between depth of 2004). It was fortunate that dialogue longlines, and provide fishermen net setting and turtle bycatch (Table has been initiated and the project with relevant information to make 6), and the frequency of dead turtles is now working with the fishermen informed choices about gear and caught in deep water. Taken this into to identify alternatives to this high the preference for low versus high consideration, it is very important impact gear. This interaction with impact techniques. Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 68

APPENDIX 1. RESEARCH INTERNS (2004) Javier Romero (Memín) Participating Fishermen Bertha Montaño Medrano Marcelo Romero and ProCaguama team Ruth Ochoa Diaz Carlos Sigala Vladimir de la Toba Antonio Sigala including Research Interns. Xochil Cortes Rodriguez Bernabé de la Toba Romero (Boli) Espriridión de la Toba Romero (Chacuiri) PARTICIPATING FISHERMEN (2004) PARTICIPATING FISHERMEN (2005) José Domínguez Jose Collins Parra Néstor Iván Camacho (Cochita) Oscar Domínguez Carlos Sigalas Juan Carlos Contreras (Monochuki) Tony Sigalas Modesto Contreras RESEARCH INTERNS & Alfredo de la Toba Eliseo de la Toba Lucero (Prieto) VOLUNTEERS(2005) Arturo Contreras Camacho Ulises de la Toba Romero Edgar Caballero. Arturo de la Toba Domínguez Darío de la Toba Miranda Cesareo Castro. Cesareo Castro González (observador) Alejandro Rodríguez Rodrigo Donadi. Carlos Sigala Villavicencio Adrián Geraldo Murillo Eglé Flores. Giovanni Collins González Juan de la Rosa Sandoval Alexander Gaos. Refugio Villa Aguilar José Pantaleón de la Rosa Sandoval Bertha Montaño. Alfonso Loera de la Toba (Panta) Ruth Ochoa. Antonio Sigala Villavicencio Genaro de la Rosa Sandoval David Ramírez. Leonardo de la Toba González Edgar Burgoin Sánchez (Güero) Rodrigo Rangel. Arturo de la Toba González Miguel Rodríguez Cinco Natalia Rossi. Jose Maria de la Toba González Everardo Álvarez López David Soriano. 69 Kojiro Mizuno Environmental Education Sea Turtle Association of Japan on Paciﬁc Loggerhead Turtles Johath Laudino-Santillán Grupo Tortuguero for School Children in Mexico Hoyt Peckham ProCaguama and Japan

The loggerhead sea turtle is the The project works with coastal Pacific “ambassador” connecting communities in Japan that have communities and cultures across the nesting loggerhead sea turtles. In north Pacific. A unique exchange Baja, the rich coastal waters harbor program has been implemented important developmental and through ProCaguama that has foraging habitats for turtles. Thus, proven effective for broadening by connecting the children and perspectives and increasing capacity students of Japan with Baja, tangible for conservation among communities knowledge is acquired about the in Baja and Japan. life cycle, migratory capabilities and survival challenges for turtles. By The unique characteristic that defines empowering children on both sides of this exchange program is due to one the Pacific to become involved in sea individual, Kojiro Mizuno, who speaks turtle conservation, greater capacity fluent Japanese and Spanish. A native within communities is fostered to of Japan, Mizuno’s father worked support sustainable use practices to as an entomologist in Peru where reduce local harvest pressure. Mizuno learned Spanish. The program has thus been able to capitalize on In the future, the project will expand his talents to transcend the language to bring respected, yet skeptical barrier to connect school children fishers from core communities in from both sides of the Pacific for one Baja to Japan to witness “Mexican” common cause: the conservation of turtles nesting in Japan. It is hoped loggerheads. that this trans-Pacific experience will broaden perspectives and make Working together with Johath a big difference in engaging these Laudino, Grupo Tortuguero education fishermen, their kids, their families, coordinator, Mizuno is able to bring in developing solutions for both stories from school children in bycatch and poaching solutions. Japan to children in Baja, and vice versa. The most universal language, however, is art. And through the Mr. Peckham: One comment arts, children are able to share their about Mizuno. He’s a big man in experiences, thoughts and stories Mexico. He’s large. But the effect about sea turtles. of Mizuno walking into one of these small villages, with his size and the fact that he speaks Spanish, is extraordinary. We are very lucky to have him to bring this message from Japan to these small Mexican communities, and vice versa. Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 70 71 Health Issues of Sea Turtles: A Conservation Medicine Dr. Alonso Aguirre D.V.M. Wildlife Trust Approach

INTRODUCTION TO landscapes, where habitat connections between species and the CONSERVATION MEDICINE destruction and degradation and environment (i.e., ecosystem health). episodes of emerging human and Human health intervention has been In recent years, the term wildlife diseases are increasing. focused on the downstream effects of Conservation Medicine has been In this context, ecological health environmental impacts (e.g., health used in several contexts within is at the nexus of the fields of consequences of landscape changes different scientific communities, human health, animal health and or pollution emissions) rather than national/international organizations ecosystem health. Conservation encompassing a preventive approach and research groups. The book Medicine embraces participation in looking at upstream events, for Conservation Medicine: Ecological by scientists and practitioners in example, prevention of massive Health in Practice (Aguirre et al. 2002) the fields of ecology; organismal, ecological degradation or pollution was published in an attempt to define cellular, molecular, and conservation prevention (Aguirre et al. 2002; Tabor a new discipline that links human and biology; toxicology; epidemiology; et al. 2001). animal health with ecosystem health veterinary and human medicine; and global environmental change. and public health. In addition, There are no simple solutions to This novel approach in the protection perspectives from the social and address global environmental of biological diversity challenged political sciences are fundamental problems. A multi-pronged strategy scientists and practitioners in the in understanding the underlying is required. By bringing disciplines health, natural and social sciences to causes of human-induced changes together, Conservation Medicine can think about new, collaborative ways in climate, habitat, and the use of contribute to solving environmental to address ecological health concerns terrestrial and marine ecosystems. problems by improving problem in this deteriorating world. Although Conservation Medicine is definition requiring new tools a scientific discipline, it may provide for assessing and monitoring Conservation Medicine is a the basis for political positions on the ecological health concerns. transdisciplinary scientific field conservation and management of Perhaps, incorporating aspects of devoted to understanding the species and ecosystems. The hope is environmental indicator studies interactions among: (1) human- that once armed with the appropriate with specific biomedical diagnostic induced and natural changes in knowledge, public policymakers and tools can develop integrated climate and habitat structure; scientists will proactively devise and ecological health assessment. (2) emergence of pathogens, implement epidemiological strategies Tools include the development parasites, and pollutants; to better ensure ecological health. of non-invasive physiological and (3) biodiversity and health within behavioral monitoring techniques; animal communities; and (4) health In comparison to human and the adaptation of modern molecular of humans. Conservation medicine veterinary medicine, Conservation biological and biomedical techniques; has both scientific and applied Medicine addresses the examination the design of population level disease elements, and many endeavors of ecological health concerns beyond monitoring strategies; the creation of in this field combine aspects of the species-specific approach. ecosystem-based health and sentinel both. Simply stated, Conservation Clearly, in some respects, human species surveillance approaches; and Medicine is the science and practice health holds a greater priority the adaptation of health monitoring of ecological health and is especially than the health of other species. systems for appropriate developing relevant in today’s human-modified To date, human medicine has been country situations. Beyond limited in looking at the health monitoring and assessment is action. Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 72

Improving medical and ecological change. These include incidental regions of the world. Also, it has education and the need for public mortality by fisheries bycatch, been confirmed histopathologically policy development in promoting net entanglements, boat strikes, in other species including loggerhead ecological health are fundamental overharvesting and nesting sites (Herbst 1994), olive ridley (Aguirre et goals of Conservation Medicine development (Lutz and Musick 1997). al. 1999), Kemps ridley (Harshbarger (Aguirre et al. 2002). 1991), leatherback (Huerta et al. The need for an up-to-date guide to 2000), and more recently in captive- CONSERVATION MEDICINE the anatomy of sea turtles became raised hawksbill turtles (D’Amato and AND SEA TURTLES clear toward the end of the 1900s Moraes-Neto 2000). Flatback turtles (Rainey 1981). Increasing numbers of in Australia were also reported with There are seven species of hard- individuals developed the interest, tumors by gross examination (Limpus shelled sea turtles belonging to talents, and techniques to study and Miller 1994). the family Cheloniidae recognized the biology of sea turtles, contend worldwide including green turtle with their illnesses and injuries, The potential interactions and (Chelonia mydas), black turtle and address the nature of sea turtle epidemiological links regarding (C. aggassizii), loggerhead turtle mortalities. A manual has been the causal hypotheses of FP have (Caretta caretta), olive ridley turtle recently published in response to been the subject of discussion. PCR (Lepidochelys olivacea), Kemp’s these needs providing a fundamental techniques applied on a large number ridley turtle (L. kempii), hawksbill background, reference photos of of freshly isolated tumor samples turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) normal anatomy, and diagrams failed to detect papillomavirus. The and the flatback turtle (Natator to guide novice or professional molecular identification of one or depressus). The only member of biologists, stranding personnel, and more herpesviruses (Aguirre and the Dermochelyidae family is the veterinarians. Species identification, Spraker 1996; Herbst et al. 1995, leatherback turtle (Dermochelys standard dissection techniques, 1999; Lackovich et al. 1999; Lu et coriacea). All species have a biphasic standard measurements, and basic al. 2000b; Quackenbush et al. 1998, life cycle nesting and hatching on anatomy are covered (Wyneken 2001). 2000), a papilloma-like virus (Lu et the beach and then departing to the Also, field necropsy techniques have al. 2000a), and a retrovirus (Casey ocean where they spend most of been described (Wolke and George et al. 1996) in tumors from different their lives. 1981; Work 2000). species collected around the world has complicated the scenario to determine Several immature and nesting The diagnostic techniques employed the primary etiology of tumor migratory routes have been in sea turtles are similar to other formation. Other co-factors may play described with the use of flipper species, including blood collection a role including immunosuppression, tags and more recently with GPS from the external jugular vein (dorsal genetic susceptibility, biotoxins, and satellite tags. The feeding habits venous sinus), swabs taken from chemical carcinogens, environmental depend on the species. For example, oropharynx and cloaca, skin and pollutants, ultraviolet light, spirorchid loggerheads, ridleys and flatbacks tumor biopsies using a human biopsy trematodes and other potential feed on crustaceans and mollusks; system Dermapunch®, and the use of pathogens (Aguirre 1991; Aguirre and hawksbills feed on sponges; x-ray machine, ultrasound machine, Lutz 2004; Aguirre et al. 1998, 2002; leatherbacks and olive ridleys feed endoscopes and gas anesthesia Dailey and Morrris 1995; Landsberg et on gelatinous zooplankton and (Campbell 1996). al. 1999). green turtles and black turtles feed on algae and seagrasses. All Marine turtle fibropapillomatosis (FP) These debilitating and disfiguring species are considered endangered is one of the most important diseases tumors can measure from 1 mm up or threatened of extinction and are among the health problems affecting to 40 cm in diameter and have been listed in the IUCN Red Data List of free-ranging sea turtles (George 1997). reported in practically all keratinized Endangered Species (IUCN 2003). Although reported since the late tissues including skin, plastron and Natural mortality factors have been 1930’s in Florida (Smith and Coates carapace. Tumors are more prominent described for sea turtles including 1938) and since 1958 in the Hawaiian on the axillae, inguinal region, neck, shark, raccoon, vulture, and crab Islands (Balazs and Pooley 1991), the cloaca, tail, between scales and predation. However, the factors disease has recently reached epizootic scutes, eyes and conjunctiva. Ocular leading to species decline are in most proportions. It has primarily affected fibropapillomas have been described cases induced by anthropogenic green turtles in many pantropical in detail as locally invasive associated 73 Health Issues of Sea Turtles: A Conservation Medicine Approach

with severe blindness, secondary Other common health problems in which one laboratory can do panophthalmitis, destruction of the reported in sea turtles in the comparative assessment of disease globe, and systemic debilitation Hawaiian Islands include traumatic between populations and species, (Brooks et al. 1994). Tumors have injuries, entanglement in fish lines or is sorely lacking. Yet, diagnostic been reported in most internal nets, gastrointestinal obstructions, laboratory testing plays an important organs. Visceral fibromas are known buoyancy problems, emaciation, role in monitoring health and to cause cardiac and respiratory intoxication with petroleum diseases such as FP. The results of disease, hydronephrosis, and problems and hypothermia or diagnostic testing are most useful gastrointestinal obstruction (Herbst cold-stunning events. A loggerhead when used to complement thorough 1994). Also, leiomyomas, fibromas lethargic syndrome in Florida has field-based ecological research. and low-grade fibrosarcomas have also reported recently linked to These will represent the next steps been described (Aguirre et al. 2000). harmful algal blooms (brevetoxin) to address ecosystem health in the and spirorchid trematodes. Over 154 marine environment. The histopathology of external species of spirorchid trematodes fibropapillomas has been previously have been described in sea turtles ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND described for green turtles in Florida worldwide. Three species have been THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT (Jacobson et al. 1989) and the reported in Hawaii closely linked to Hawaiian Islands (Aguirre et al. 1994). fibropapillomatosis (Aguirre et al. Methods to assess marine ecosystem The usual outcome of most affected 1998; Graczyk et al. 1995). health are grossly lacking and a turtles in Hawaii is debilitation over a system to monitor and gauge marine protracted period, followed by death. Several disease reports of sea turtles health threats linked to conservation The disease is known to interfere are scattered in the literature and management policies is needed. with the hydrodynamic and buoyancy including Mycobacterium infection Emerging infectious diseases, mass features of turtles affecting their in Hawaiian green turtles, “grey mortality events, harmful algal ability to swim. If the tumors are patch” disease in captive green blooms, and anomalous changes in located around the eyes and mouth, turtle hatchlings linked to a selected marine species abundance turtles present reduced vision or herpesvirus, Vibrio damsela infection and composition — occurrences complete blindness, disorientation, on a stranded leatherback turtle, which can be defined as major and physical obstruction of basic integumental ulcerative disease marine ecological disturbances functions such as feeding and in a loggerhead in the Bermuda — may signal a decline in ecological breathing. In addition, FP may Aquarium, mycotic lung disease in health. There is currently an effort drastically reduce the capacity for a stranded Kemp’s ridley turtle, a by many scientists to examine the predator avoidance and increase the Caryospora dieoff in captive 30-day systemic health threats to marine susceptibility of affected individuals old green turtles, and Chlamydophila vertebrate species as they relate to stranding, threatening their mortality in the Cayman Turtle Farm to marine environmental health. survival (Balazs and Pooley 1991; five-year old turtles. A report of Unprecedented number of emerging Morris and Balazs 1994). Cryptosporidium in healthy Hawaiian and re-emerging diseases have greens has also been documented occurred in recent times, such as Monitoring of tumors may be speculating on the potential public brucellosis in dolphins, aspergillosis used as another parameter when health risks (Graczyk et al. 1997). in coral reefs, and morbillivirus evaluating the clinical condition infections linked to large-scale and state of the affected individuals The potential for applying existing marine mammal die-offs. Sea turtles and their ability to survive in the diagnostic capacity to health are facing a worldwide epidemic wild. This monitoring also has monitoring of sea turtles is of fibropapillomatosis and domoic implications during rehabilitation immeasurable. Particularly, the acid poisoning killed thousands efforts. Survivability rates of about limitation of financial resources has of California sea lions and brown 50% in turtles with FP have been been a major barrier. Laboratory pelicans in the Californias with reported in a rehabilitation center in support for performing diagnostic unknown long-term population Florida (Herbst 1994). Studies on the testing is minimal, occurring in impacts. Threats to these charismatic progression of the disease are needed limited laboratories with other megavertebrates are linked to to establish severity of FP and their primary research activities in Hawaii, human activities, including habitat impact on sea turtle populations. Florida and New York, among others. degradation, loss of biodiversity Cross-species diagnostic testing, and biomass, climate change, Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 74

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Parsons T. S. 1968. Variation in the Smith G. M. and C. W. Coates. 1938. choanal structure of recent Fibro-epithelial growths of the turtles. Canadian Journal of skin in large marine Zoology 46:1235-1263. turtles, Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus). Zoologica NY 23:93-598. Rainey, W. E. 1981. Guide to Sea Turtle Visceral Anatomy. NOAA Tabor, G. M., R. S. Ostfeld, M. Technical Memorandum NMFS- Poss, A. P. Dobson, and A. A. SEFC-82. Panama City. 85 pp. Aguirre. 2001. Conservation biology and the health sciences: Quackenbush S. L., T. M. Work, defining the research priorities G. H. Balazs, R. N. Casey, J. of conservation medicine. In: Rovnak, A. Chaves, L. duToit, M. E. Soulé and G. H. Orians, J. D. Baines, C. R. Parrish, P. eds. Research Priorities R. Bowser and J. W. Casey. in Conservation Biology. 1998. Three closely related 2nd edition. Island Press; herpesviruses are associated with Washington, D.C. Pp 165-173. fibropapillomatosis in marine turtles. Virology 246:392-399. Wolke, R. E. and A. George. 1981. Sea Turtle Necropsy Manual. NOAA Quackenbush, S. L., C. J. Limpus, Technical Memorandum NMFS- A. A. Aguirre, T. R. Spraker, G. SEFC-24. H. Balazs, R. N. Casey, and J. W. Casey. 2000. Prevalence Work, T. M. 2000. Field necropsy and phylogeny of herpesvirus techniques of sea turtles for sequences from normal and biologists in remote places. U.S. fibropapilloma tissues of green Geological Survey, National and loggerhead turtles sampled Wildlife Health Center Honolulu at Moreton Bay, Australia. In: Research Station, Hawaii, 25 pp. H. Kalb and T. Wibbels (comps.), Proc 19th Ann Symp Sea Turtle Wyneken, J. 2001. The Anatomy of Conservd Biol U.S. Dep. Commer., Sea Turtles. U.S. Department NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-SEFSC- of Commerce NOAA Technical 443. pp. 242-243. Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-470, 1-172 pp. 77 New Caledonian Loggerhead Dr. Colin J. Limpus, Michelle Boyle, and Turtle Population Assessment: Tony Sunderland 1 Queensland Turtle Research 2005 Pilot Study

INTRODUCTION Moreton Bay Marine Park to the (Kamezaki et al. 2003; Limpus south. and Limpus 2003), there is a high Loggerhead turtle nesting in the • No harvest of the species by non- probability that this remaining North Pacific Ocean is restricted indigenous persons in currently unstudied Pacific loggerhead turtle almost entirely to Japan where it permitted in Australia. population is in urgent need of is under extensive research and • The use of Turtle Exclusion Devices assistance. monitoring (Kamezaki et al. 2003). to reduce trawling induced turtle mortality is now mandatory in PROJECT AIM In the south Pacific, loggerhead the trawl fisheries of Eastern turtle breeding is restricted almost Queensland, Torres Strait and To provide a bench-mark assessment of entirely to eastern Australia and New northern Australia. a loggerhead turtle nesting population Caledonia (Limpus and Limpus, 2003). • Fox-baiting in the vicinity of the at a New Caledonian index rookery. The eastern Australian population important mainland nesting has been extensively monitored beaches to minimize predation of PROJECT GOALS and researched, including long term loggerhead turtle eggs has been implemented since the late 1980s. census trends, genetics analysis The goal of this pilot study is: and demographic studies since • Doomed eggs likely to be killed through flooding or erosion on the • To assess the genetic relationship 1968 (Limpus, in press). The eastern of the New Caledonian nesting Australian stock could qualify under mainland nesting beaches of the Woongarra Coast are rescued and population to the Australian IUCN Red-listing criteria as critically population using mtDNA analysis endangered as a result of an 86% moved to adjacent safe incubation habitat. and microsatellites as required. decline in breeding females over the • To conduct a two-week tagging past 25yr (less than 1 generation). census to establish the size of the Extensive management actions have The New Caledonian stock has not been studied in any detail. It is not current nesting population. been implemented in Australia to • To map the spatial distribution of conserve this species and to halt the known if it is a separate stock to the Australian stock that breeds on the nesting with respect to the available population decline, including (Limpus, habitat for the area. in press): opposite side of the Coral Sea. Given that the two nesting aggregations are • To quantify some basic demographic • The vast majority of the loggerhead parameters for the population turtle nesting of eastern Australia separated by approximately 1,300km of oceanic water, it is anticipated that including: nesting success, size in now protected with the National of adult females, clutch size, egg Park estate of the Queensland they could represent separate stocks. The emerging anecdotal data indicates measurements, nest measurements, Parks and Wildlife Service. frequency of anthropogenic impacts • A major portion of the foraging, that the New Caledonia population has undergone a similar major population on the turtles (fractures, hooking courtship and inter-nesting habitats scars, GTFD tumors) and their nests used by the species in eastern decline to the Australian population since about the 1970s. (dog predation, human interference). Australia is managed within the • To train local residents in appropriate Great Barrier Reef Coastal Marine methods by which they can continue Park and the adjacent Great Given the poor conservation status of the other loggerhead turtle the monitoring of the population Barrier Reef Marine Park, and and contribute to its conservation. the Woongarra Marine Park and populations of the Pacific Ocean

1 Final report to the WPRFMC, Contract No. 04-WPC-03, NOAA award # NA04NMF4410164. Proceedings of the Second Western Paciﬁc Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 78

FIGURE 2. La Plage de la Roche Percée

A B

FIGURE 1. Existing conservation signage in Roche Percée (A to B). 1A. Marine Protected Area sign. 1B. Sign erected by local community to enhance turtle breeding on la Plage de la Roche Percée. Col Limpus and Marile Marteaud, February 2004. C D

STUDY SITE

Four beaches were surveyed for turtle nesting in the Bourail district which lies approximately 160 km north of Noumea on New Caledonia’s west coast. These beaches are shoreward E F of a wide natural break, Passe Popinée, in the barrier reef that lies along the southwestern coast of New Caledonia.

There is a marine protected area over these coastal waters (Figure 1A). However, judging by the behavior of the general public, only minimal heed is paid to the regulations. FIGURE 3. Dune vegetation along la Plage de la Roche Percée (A to F). 3A. Partially However, some members of the cleared dune vegetation at the northern end. 3B. Caretta caretta nesting at the margin local community have a well of the semi-natural forest along the middle section of the beach. 3C. Revegetation established concern for marine turtle of previously cleared dune in front of housing at the southern end. 3D. Extensively conservation as is evidenced by modiﬁed dune vegetation at the southern end of the beach. 3E. Sparce vegetation the car-park sign advocating turtle screening between the road and turtle nesting habitat of the frontal dune, northern friendly behaviors on the beach end of beach. 3F. Erosion of closed forest species in the central beach section. (Figure 1B). 79 New Caledonian Loggerhead Turtle Population Assessment: 2005 Pilot Study

A PLAGE DE LA ROCHE PERCÉE is located approximately mid-way La Plage de la Roche Percée is along the beach, extending for several the second largest of the Bourail hundred meters (> 7% of beach) beaches and is approximately 3km from 21°37.989’S, 165°27.807’E to in length (21°37.369’S, 165°27.751’E 21°36.822’S, 165°27.726’E. to 21°36.855’S, 165°27.383’E). It extends northward from the mouth of A number of the dwellings along the the Nera River (Figure 2). The beach road have signiﬁcant exterior lighting. and the associated La Roche Percée Due to the vegetation being absent, settlement and coastal road are scarce or low along the northern end, B contained on the seaward side of a this lighting causes the beach to be meander of the river that loops close lit up throughout the night. The close to breaking through the dune system proximity of the road and the reduced on the northern end of the beach. The vegetation also results in vehicle Nera River contributes dark sediment headlights intermittently shining directly to La Plage de la Roche Percée brightly across the beach. and, as a result, the sand of at la Roche Percée is darker in color than There is considerable evidence the sand on the beaches immediately indicating that nest erosion is to the north and south. This dark sand occurring at la Plage de la Roche C gets very hot during summer days and Percée. Along sections of the southern surface temperatures can be too hot beach, a 0.5m high erosion bank has for bare-foot walking. developed and remained for at least the last two summers. This erosion A band of natural closed forest bank is cutting further back into the extends 20-30m behind the central forest with each storm season, causing section of the beach. The dunes the undermining of trees that now lie have been cleared and revegetated scattered on the beach (Figure 4c). with coconut palms and Casuarina Dune erosion is enhanced by easy equisitifolia along parts of the vehicle access to the frontal dune D northern and southern ends. In at the southern end of the beach. the cleared areas, the frontal dune This trafﬁc damages the vegetation is vegetated with vines (Ipomoea that helps stabilize the dunes. It also pescaprae) and grasses (Figure 3). damages turtle nests (Figure 4d).

La Roche Percée was first settled PLAGE DE LA BAIE DES TORTUES by Europeans in 1984 and is now Plage de la Baie des Tortues is occupied by approximately 30 approximately 0.3km long and lies residential sites. The beach is backed between two rocky headlands (Figure FIGURE 4. Impacts on the nesting habitat by a bitumen road about 50-100m 5). The dune vegetation has been at La Plage de la Roche Percée. 4A. Road inland of the low frontal dune (Figure modified within the remnant Araucaria immediately behind the nesting habitat 4a). There is no street lighting forest. It is not as subject to erosion as at the northern end of the beach. Two associated with this road. A small la Plage de la Roche Percée. sets of turtle nesting tracks are visible. settlement of ‘western style’ homes 4B. Rock wall constructed to “protect” has been built mostly on the inland A tunnel provides pedestrian access real estate from erosion. 4C. Fallen trees side of this road. A rock wall has been from la Roche Percée to Plage de la and exposed roots prevent turtles from built of offer “protection’ from dune Baie des Tortues. However, this access accessing nesting habitat along the erosion for the road and some of the is limited to very low tides. eroded dune at the southern end of the real estate on the seaward side of beach. 4D. Vehicle tracks across turtle the road. This rock wall extends for ILE VERTE body pits and dune vegetation. several hundred metres and spans Ile verte lies several kilometers off the from below the high tide mark back coast from la Plage de la Roche Percée to the forest margin (Figure 4b) and in Passe Popinée. The small island has Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 80

FIGURE 5. Plage de la Baie des Tortue FIGURE 7. Michelle Boyle weighing and measuring Caretta caretta eggs on the beach as they are collected from the nest by Tony Sunderland. Isobell Roy, at right, was a local resident assisting with the monitoring study.

surveys unsafe. Each nesting crawl was recorded irrespective of whether or not the turtle was sighted and scored for whether or not the turtle had laid.

When nesting turtle turtles were encountered, they were tagged and FIGURE 6. View of eroded white sand beach and vegetated strand on Ile Verte. measured using standard methodology for the Queensland Turtle Research a white coral sand beach (Figure 6) The coast to the south of Nera River Project (Limpus et al. 1983). Each for approximately one quarter of the consists of rocky shore for a number adult turtles was double tagged with island’s ~200 m circumference, whilst of kilometres with no ready vehicle titanium turtle tags (Stockbrands, the remainder of the shore consists access. standard size) in the axillary tagging of exposed beach rock and boulders. position on each front ﬂipper (Limpus, The beach is backed by a 0.5 m METHODS 1992). Curved carapace length was erosion bank within several meters of A survey of marine turtle nesting measured (± 0.1 cm) with a ﬂexible the tree line. Fallen trees along the adjacent to the village of Roche tape measure from the anterior beach indicate that this beach has Percée was conducted during 6th skin-carapace junction to the posterior been subject to nest erosion in recent - 20th January 2005. A general survey edge of the midline junction of the years. was made by foot during daylight of two supra-pygal scutes. Each female all accessible beaches in the area. was assessed for external damage and LA PLAGE DE LA POE La Plage de la Roche Percée was injuries. La Plage de la Poe lies to the north surveyed each night for a period of of la Baie des Tortues. It is a long 6-8 hours around the high tide and A sample of clutches were counted crescent-shaped beach with light the beach was walked daily during within one hour of the turtle colored sand that extends for tens daylight hours. La Plage de la Baie completing her nesting, Ten eggs of kilometers. Only the southern end des Tortues was visited regularly per clutch were selected from top to of the beach is accessible by road during daylight hours as weather bottom of the nest for most counted where some vegetation has been permitted, to record nesting activity. clutches. These eggs were cleaned cleared to allow for camping and Weather conditions during the time of sand with a soft bristle brush and the construction of a few residential of the survey washed away parts with the minimum of rotation before dwellings. of the access road rendering night being and measured for diameter with 81 New Caledonian Loggerhead Turtle Population Assessment: 2005 Pilot Study

rookery, by means of a small skin were conducted with the primers biopsy that was removed with a sterile TCR1 and TCR6 in ET terminator half razor blade from the upper shoulder reactions according to manufacturers region. Tissue samples were stored instructions and analysed in the in dimethyl sulfoxide 20% (DMSO) Genetic Analysis Facility in James saturated with 5M NaCL (without Cook University’s Advanced EDTA), routinely used to preserve Analytical Centre, on a MegaBase Chelonid tissue (Dutton, 1996). In the 1000 (Amersham BioSciences). laboratory the tissue samples were Resulting sequences were edited with removed from the DMSO, rinsed in Sequencher 4.2.2 (Gene Codes Inc), FIGURE 8. Trend line showing the distilled water, and minced up with a and manually aligned using Se-AL v correlation between the average number sterile scalpel blade to optimise DNA 2.0a11. Variability at sites was verified of nesting crawls (tracks) per night during extraction. Genomic DNA was isolated with associated chromatograms. two weeks at mid nesting season and from the tissue using the ammonium the size of the total nesting populations acetate method described by Nicholls RESULTS at the same rookery in the same year et al. (2000). for eastern Australian Caretta caretta nesting beaches. Arrow denotes the size ORAL HISTORY An 1100 base pair (bp) fragment Numerous locals were spoken of the Roche Percée nesting population in located in the control region of the 2004-2005. See Text for additional detail. to regarding the history of la mitochondrial genome was amplified Roche Percée and the local turtle with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) populations. Comments from four vernier callipers and weighed on a methodology, using the primers TCR-6 groups have been included below. digital balance (± 0.1 g) (Figure 7). (5’-GTA CGT ACA AGT AAA ACT ACC GTA TGC C-3’) and TCR-1 (5’- GGA TCA AAC Laurence Langlois (January 2005): a Local residents were interviewed to AAC CCA ACA GG -3’) (Norman et. al local Kanak resident whose father was provide additional insights into past 1994). a fisherman. knowledge and issues related to turtle populations in the Bourail region. PCR conditions were optimized According to Mr Langlois, dugong using methods described by Cobb & (Dugong dugon) and turtles Sand temperatures were measured at Clarkson (1994). PCR amplifications (Chelonia mydas and Caretta 50 cm below the beach surface using were performed in a 25 l reaction caretta) were once numerous in the a digital thermometer (± 0.2°C). volume containing, 3ng DNA template, area of la Roche Percée. However, 1x QIAGEN PCR Buffer (containing their numbers have been greatly Estimation of the size of the total Tris-Hcl and KCl), 0.32 mM of dNTP, reduced. While all species were seasonal nesting population based 4mM MgCl2, 0.20 mM of each primer hunted by local people, dugong on mid-season nesting density made (TCR1 + TCR6), and 0.5 units of Taq and C. mydas were the preferred use of unpublished data from the DNA polymerase (QIAGEN). The PCR species. Grosse Tête (local name for Queensland Turtle Research Project: amplification conditions were as C. caretta) egg consumption and Figure 8 summarizes the relationship follows: 95C for 2 mins followed by 34 the harvest of females when they between the average number of cycles at 94C for 25 sec, 48C for 15 sec, were ashore was common by locals. nesting crawls per night during two 72C for 45 sec with a final extension 20-30 years ago an average of 6 weeks at the peak of the nesting at 72C for 5 sec. PCR amplifications Grosse Tête nested per night at la season and the size of the total included a negative (DNA free) control Roche Percée, with a maximum of annual nesting population measured reaction to test for contamination. 20-35 on some nights. by total tagging census during months of nightly monitoring at the The amplified products were Prior to extensive tree-felling of the same rookery. This figure pools annual electrophoresed in low-melt agarose surrounding mountains in 1988, census data from Mon Repos, Heron gels and exised from 1.5% agrose gels ‘the beaches were whiter in color Island and Fraser Island. and purified using a gel extraction ... the water was much clearer and kit (QIAGEN). Quantification of DNA turtles could be seen in the water Genetic samples were taken from concentrations were performed with from 100m away… this is no longer nesting female turtles during nesting ImageJ software (http://rsb.info. the case’. observations at la Roche Perceé ih.gov.ij). Cycle sequencing reactions Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 82

Jean-Pierre Revercé (J-PR ) (January During the 2002/2003 nesting season reports of sand removal from the 2005): a local New Caledonian Association pour la Sauvegarde de la beach (J-PR). These factors would resident who grew up in the region Nature Neo-Caledonienne (ASNNC) have undoubtedly contributed to the and who has previously been conducted a turtle nesting survey high rate of erosion that has been employed as the deputy-major for the at la Plage de la Roche Percée and witnessed over the last couple of Bourail Council and as a land surveyor estimated that a total of 215 clutches decades and that is of considerable at the Université de la Nouvelle- were laid during that season. concern to the local residents. Caledonie (UNC). The general conclusions that can There was variation among old verbal ‘30 years ago during the peak of be drawn from all discussions that reports for estimated numbers in the nesting season 5-6 loggerheads were held with local residents is that past C. caretta nesting populations at laid clutches at la Roche Percée per since settlement 20 years ago, the la Roche Percée. However, in general night, with a maximum of 10 per area of la Roche Percée has changed the consensus was that the C. caretta night’. considerably. One signiﬁcant change nesting population at la Roche Percée has been to the vegetation. Anecdotal has declined over recent decades. J-PR was commissioned through reports suggest that the vegetation UNC during 1994-96 to conduct once extended many tens of meters WEATHER surveys in response to an behind the dunes. However, the On January 7, 2005, Cyclone Kerry application for sand mining of development of western style homes approached New Caledonia and this beach. The results of this and access roads, including the brought substantial rain during research document the erosion establishment of a road behind the January 7 to 16 (Figure 9). This rain that has occurred at la Plage de la frontal dunes of la plage de la Roche caused the Nera River to ﬂood and, Roche Percée during this time. J-PR Percée has markedly reduced the on the 7th, to break across the road commented that his work showed natural vegetation. The catchment that connects la Roche Percee to that the northern end of la Plage area of the Nera River surrounding the mainland. The water in the bay de la Roche Percée has receded la Roche Percée has also been contained a high sediment load 80m and the southern end has extensively cleared for cattle grazing. with close to zero visibility for the receded 30 m in the previous couple In addition, there are unsubstantiated remainder of the survey period. of decades. However, it should be noted that this erosion survey was conducted over the period of time that was effected by Cyclone Betty (26-37 March 1996).

Marile and Daniel Marteaud (February 2005): Local residents Marile and Daniel believe from discussions that they have held with local people, that up to 300 turtle clutches were laid per day about 30 years ago. However, these reports are from indirect sources and the time frame is uncertain. At that time, the beach at la Plage de la Roche Percée was considerably wider and the forest extended some hundred of metres seaward of the current high tide mark. The coast line has been subject to long term erosion over the decades. These comments were also supported during discussions with other local FIGURE 9. Track of Cyclone Kerry during early January 2005 (Australian Bureau of peoples, including Rick Annex. Meteorology). 83 New Caledonian Loggerhead Turtle Population Assessment: 2005 Pilot Study

A Cyclonic winds generated heavy surf on the beach at la Roche Percée. The wet conditions that occurred throughout the study period caused considerable damage to the road to Baie de Tortues. This prevented nightly observations of that beach as had been originally intented. High water levels prevented access to the Baie de Tortues via the pedestrian B tunnel route. SAND TEMPERATURES Sand temperatures at nest depth (50 Cyclone Kerry brought high rainfall cm) were recorded within the open that caused flooding of the Nera sand of the dune nesting habitat of River. The river overflowed its backs la Plage de la Roche Percée after to cut across the access road to the heavy from Cyclone Kerry had Roche Percée at the northern end of ceased (Table 1). Unfortunately, the beach (Figure 10A), effectively these data do not provide a measure leaving the village as a small island. of the normal sand temperatures This north river outflow eroded large at nest depth for this beach. Sand C volumes of sand from the northern temperatures will have been end of the beach (Figure 10B). lowered below normal by the heavy Large amounts debris was washed cyclonic rain. These temperatures to sea from both river mouths and do, however, demonstrate the rapid substantial amounts of this debris rise in temperature that occurs at washed onto nearby beaches (Figure nest depth, following the cessation 10C). In some localized areas, the of heavy rain during the summer debris was thick enough to impede months. The rising temperature as turtle access to nesting habitat. the survey finished indicated that D Because the cyclone center lay to this should be a warm beach, well the west of the main island of New above the pivotal temperature Caledonia, the winds along this (28.7°C. Limpus et al. 1985) for west coast area were not onshore. eastern Australian population. It Therefore, this cyclone had minimal is presumed that this would be a storm-surge impact on the beaches. female-producing beach for C. caretta There was, however, some fresh in New Caledonia. erosion of the dunes at this time (Figure 10D). GENETICS Thirty nesting female C. caretta were FIGURE 10. Illustrations of the impact Because of the heavy rain during sampled for the genetics study. Of of Cyclone Kerry on the beaches in the the cyclone, local residents did not the 30 samples, 28 (93%) were found Bourail district. 10A. The Nera River participate in the night-time training to be haplotype CC-P1, and 2 (7%) cut through the road at the northern and monitoring until after the rain were found to be haplotype CC-P5 access to Roche Percée. 10B. 2 m erosion had abated. Thus, we only had (Figure 11). No new haplotypes were bank at the northern end of la Plage three nights of effective community discovered. de la Roche Percée. 10C. Flood debris participation in the project. Similarly, accumulated on la Plage de la Baie participation by members of ASNNC The identified haplotypes (CC-P1 des Tortues. 10D. Erosion of vegetation who had to drive up from Noumea & CC-P5), and the frequencies at on the southern end of la Plage de la and visits by the local media were which they occur, parallel those Roche Percée. limited to the last few days of the found throughout the east Australian survey. rookeries. Therefore, based on the current understanding of stock structure, the New Caledonian Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 84

Ile verte Ile verte was visited for one hour on January 19, 2005 during daylight hours. The entire beach was surveyed on foot and no evidence of turtle nesting crawls or body pits or hatchling tracks were identiﬁed. This was consistent with the oral reports given by J-P. Revercé.

While no turtle nesting was identified, the island was terrestrial habitat for sea kraits, Laticauda sp. FIGURE 11. Examples of genotypesA region of the aligned mtDNA sequences of Caretta (sea snakes). caretta from La Roche Percee. Illustrated is the base La Plage de la Poe and Eastern Australian nesting number of clutches laid was 3.0 per Only approximately the southern populations cannot be defined as night (SD = 2.1, range = 1 – 9, n = 14 most kilometer of potential nesting separate genetic stocks. These data nights) habitat along la Plage de la Poe was are being included in Michelle Boyle’s surveyed on foot on January 6, 2005. PhD thesis (James Cook University) Of the 76 beachings, 43 resulted in No evidence of turtle nesting crawls and are being prepared for peer- successful laying of clutches, whilst or body pits or hatchling tracks reviewed scientific publication. the remaining 33 were unsuccessful were observed. This was consistent nesting crawls (i.e. clutches were with the oral reports given by local This is an unexpected result given the not laid) (Table 3). This equates residents (J-P. Revercé: no observed approximately 1,300 km separation to a nesting success of 57%. The nesting. D. Marteaud: only 1 nesting of the New Caledonian and eastern majority of tracks and nests were turtle observed) that turtle nesting Australian breeding sites. The at the northern end of the beach. is rarely observed on this beach. In samples have been banked with other Throughout the survey 40 beaching the absence of access to a suitable genetic samples from the Queensland by turtles were not observed, but vehicle for driving the beach, this Turtle Research Project and they will were subsequently recorded from the beach was not surveyed further. be made available for future analysis tracks. These included 15 clutches laid as new genetic analytical tools are and 25 unsuccessful nesting crawls. Combining the data for all beaches, developed. a total of 45 C. caretta clutches were La Plage de la Baie des Tortues laid in the two week period January 6- TURTLE BIOLOGY During the survey period, January 19, 2005. This is a minimum estimate Only C. caretta was recorded nesting 6-19, 2005, a total of 2 crawls by of the number of female C. caretta on any of the beaches surveyed. nesting turtles were recorded on la nesting during one renesting interval Plage de la Baie des Tortues. See Table at approximately mid-breeding NESTING CENSUS 2 for a summary of nightly beach season. Thirty-one of these females census scores. The mean number of were tagged. The combined beaches La Plage de la Roche Percée C. caretta nesting crawls during the nightly nesting attempts were 5.5 During the survey period, 6-19 census period was 0.14 per night (SD beachings per night at La Roche January, a total of 76 crawls by = 0.36; range=0 - 1; n = 14 nights). Percée for the same period. This nesting turtles were recorded on la During the same period, the mean period overlapped the late December Plage de la Roche Percée. See Table number of clutches laid was 0.14 per – early January peak density of 2 for a summary of nightly beach night (SD = 0.36; range=0 - 1; n = 14 the C. caretta nesting season in census scores. The mean number of nights). Queensland (Limpus, 1985). Applying C. caretta nesting crawls during the the relationship between the mean census period was 5.4 per night (SD Both these nesting crawls resulted in number of beachings per night at the = 3.4; range=1 - 13; n = 14 nights). successful nesting, although neither peak of the Queensland C. caretta During the same period, the mean turtle was observed for its nesting nesting season and the total nesting (Table 3). 85 New Caledonian Loggerhead Turtle Population Assessment: 2005 Pilot Study

this damage. When she returned on the 3rd consecutive night and was again observed to be unsuccessful in digging an egg chamber, an artiﬁcial egg-chamber was dug under her while she was digging. She accepted this hole as a nest and laid 137 eggs. The remaining four females that were recorded on their return, following an unsuccessful nesting attempt, each successfully laid on their next return. Given the incomplete interception of the nesting turtles, these data are consistent with the concept that females that return to the sea following unsuccessful nesting attempts do not drop their eggs at sea, but return on subsequent nights for further nesting attempts.

The majority of the turtles (89%) laid their eggs in bare sand habitat, rather than within vegetated areas (Table 4). 4% of clutches were laid below the high tide level and should not have incubated due to flooding. Although not quantified, the significant erosion at both extremities of the beach occurred on the low density nesting areas of the beach and had minimal impact on the incubation of the clutches.

The majority of the nesting occurred on the northern side of the rock wall and in front of the area with houses. Numerous turtles came ashore in front of the rock wall and, with no beach above high tide in front of the wall, they turned back with out laying. No turtles crossed the rock wall to nest. Fewer turtles attempted population for the entire season to nest south of the rock wall. In this (Figure 7), the 5.5 beachings per Five females that were unsuccessful section, where turtles came ashore in night in the present study translates in a recorded nesting attempt were front of fallen trees, they usually were to approximately 60-70 C. caretta recorded returning for a subsequent unsuccessful in nesting. nesting on this coast for the entire attempt. On average, a turtle that 2004 – 2005 breeding season. failed to nest was most likely to SIZE OF NESTING FEMALES return on the following night (SD NESTING BEHAVIOUR = 0.71, range = 0 – 2 d, n = 5). One The size of nesting female C. caretta of these females was missing the at la Roche Percée is summarised in Of the 76 recorded nesting attempts, entire right hind ﬂipper and failed to Table 5 and Figure 12. The mean size only two occurred during daylight (3% successfully dig an egg chamber on of nesting females was 95.1cm CCL. daylight nesting attempts) and both two consecutive nights because of resulted in successful laying. Proceedings of the Second Western Paciﬁc Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 86

FIGURE 13. Michelle Boyle excavating a nest to assess incubation success. Hatchlings had run from this nest during the previous night.

FIGURE 14.A. Caretta caretta hatchling

FIGURE 14.B. Caretta caretta hatchling and track.

FIGURE 12. Frequency distribution for size of nesting female Caretta caretta at la Roche HATCHLINGS Percée. Hatchlings from the two emerged These nesting C. caretta were 2005. However, given the storm clutches measured 4.40 cm SCL and recorded laying on average 113.6 conditions of the preceding week and weighed 21.1 g (Table 3). These eggs per clutch that were 4.16 cm in extensive erosion of the fore dune, hatchlings were the typical dark diameter and weighed 39.5 g (Table there is the possibility that some brown color for the species (Figure 5). No yolkless eggs were recorded in clutches may have emerged on an 14a). They crawled with the typical this sample of 13 clutches and only 1 earlier date and escaped detection. alternating gait for hatchlings for this multi-yolked egg (double yolked egg, The incubation success recorded species (Figure 14b). All 10 hatchlings diameter = 4.82 x 5.14 cm, weight = from these two clutches was: hatch examined had the standard scale 68.9 g) was recorded. success = 86.9% of eggs laid and count for the species of: 1 nuchal, 81.5% of eggs produced hatchlings to 5 vertebrals, 2 supra-pygals, 5/5 The ﬁrst hatchling emergence from the beach surface (Table 5). costals, 12/12 marginals, 3/3 nests was recorded on 18 January post-occulars, no pre-occulars, 3/3 infra-marginals and 0 intergulars. 87 New Caledonian Loggerhead Turtle Population Assessment: 2005 Pilot Study

The post parietal scutes were variable Based on reports from local with frequencies of: 1 with 2 scutes, residents, a small number of eggs 1 with 3 scutes, and 8 with 4 scales. appear to be eaten by people from the district. No human removal of INJURIES AND DISEASE eggs was observed during the survey period. Significant injuries from both natural and anthropogenic sources were Ghost crabs, Ocypode cordimana, recorded for five of the nesting were abundant along the beach. females: FIGURE 16A. Dog-predated Caretta caretta These crabs were large enough to • R24764: large healing fracture clutch. Tony Sunderland discussing dog prey on turtle hatchlings. While to the right side of the carapace predation issues with local residents, hatchling predation was not (Figure 15a) possibly resulting from Claudia and Eric. observed, these crabs were seen a boat-strike. preying on frogs and bivalves along • R24771: healing shark bite to the the beach. right shoulder (Figure 15b). This bite probably occurred during TRAINING AND EDUCATION courtship. • Two females were each missing This project could not have succeeded almost 100% of the right hind without the assistance and support flipper: R24359, R24369. These of J-Louis d’Auzon, President of turtles had difficulty in preparing Association pour la Sauvegarde de their egg chambers. la Nature Neo-Caledonienne and • R24361: missing the left marginal FIGURE 16B. Two of the regularly observed other members of the Association. rim of the carapace equivalent to dogs that were free-ranging on la Plage Before the team traveled to Bourail, the area of the posterior four left de la Roche Percée. J-Louis organized for the team to marginal scutes; completely healed. spend half a day at the Noumea Aquarium assisting the staff with None of the 30 nesting females had HARVEST AND PREDATION tagging of their turtles in preparation external fibropapilloma tumours. for their release. A discussion session People removed at least one nesting explaining the function of the A female, R24771, from the beach after present study occurred at that time. she had laid her clutch and before she had returned to the sea on 16 As was expected following the January. She was presumably killed. preliminary February 2004 visit to Multiple local folks reported that at the site, the local residents were least two other nesting females had enthusiastic towards participation been similarly taken from the beach in the project and being trained in earlier during the nesting season, turtle monitoring methods. However, including one at Christmas. This Cyclone Kerry dampened their B represents a harvest of at least 5% of enthusiasm. As a result, local folks the season’s total nesting population. only participated in the field work during the last few nights. Through Free-ranging dogs were plentiful on out the study, locals participated on the beach throughout the day and five nights with 1 – 15 persons per night during the survey period (Figure night. 16). While they were not recorded to harass the nesting turtles, at least A public education night was held in one clutch of eggs was observed the outdoor dining area of the village FIGURE 15. Recent injuries to nesting destroyed by dogs. Local residents hotel on January 18, 2005 (Figure 17). female Caretta caretta. 15A. Healing reported that numerous clutches of Two local folks, Isabell Roy and Ingrid fracture in carapace of R24764. eggs have been destroyed by dogs at Vallejo-Torres, assisted Michelle in 15B. Healing recent shark bite to the la Roche Percée each summer. preparation of the slide presentation shoulder of R24771. Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 88

FIGURE 17. Public education: An illustrated talk on turtle biology and the current research project was given to local residents and media in the lounge of L’Hotel de la Roche Percée. so that it was presented in French by a fisherman. It was an Australian accessing the nesting habitat along and also facilitated the answering of tagged green turtle that was this portion of the beach. While this questions following the presentation. captured and eaten in northern New rock wall appears to have placed Approximately 50 persons attended Caledonia (Table 6). within the most preferred nesting this slide presentation on sea turtle habitat for La Roche Percée, no biology and conservation. The talk Loggerheads (C. caretta) in the size turtles successfully laid along the also served to acquaint the broader range of “about 70 to 85 centimeters section of the beach with the rock local community with the purpose of long” are regularly encountered wall during the time of the survey. the study. foraging in the reefs, channels and sea grass areas to the north of The continuing erosion of the beach A full kit, including datasheets, tag Bourail. They occur there all year is causing concern among local applicators, tags, measuring tapes, round. Up until May 2005, no tagged residents and local government. helmet and head spot, was left C. caretta had been seen. Some residents are advocating for with J-Louis to facilitate continued this rock wall to be significantly monitoring of the area. In addition, Following the visit to the Aquarium extended. If this occurs it will further electronic copies were also left and the education night, the decrease the amount of suitable with these folks of: 1) powerpoint project was aired on local TV news nesting habitat for the turtles. presentation prepared for the Public broadcasts. The project was also education night, and 2) copies of our reported in the local news paper. The least stable areas occur at data sheets. both ends of the beach. This was MANAGEMENT ISSUES particularly evident on the southern Turtle tags used for this study were A range of human activities was end of the beach during Cyclone chosen to be integrated with the negatively impacting both the Kerry. During the time of the existing ASNNC turtle tagging project nesting habitat and the nesting survey a sand cliff formed that was in New Caledonia, rather than turtles, their eggs and hatchlings. unsurmountable by nesting turtles. introduce tags with an Australian As a result turtles were returning address for this short term study. This Erosion to the water, without successfully was facilitated by J-Louis. A full copy The erosion of the beach in recent laying in this section of the beach. of all data from this project will be years has threatened housing and the lodged with ASNNC. adjacent road. This is a continuing We consider that beach erosion problem. The local government has and the proposed extension of the The team has maintained an ongoing responded by depositing rocks along rock wall pose a significant threat communication with the local folks. approximately 7% of the beach. to the viability of this turtle nesting This has lead to at least one new The rocks extend to below the high population. reporting of a tagged turtle captured tide mark and prevent turtles from 89 New Caledonian Loggerhead Turtle Population Assessment: 2005 Pilot Study

Housing and traffic lighting Dogs encountered outside of eastern There was intense lighting of the There is a large dog population Australia (south Queensland and beach area from housing and from within the La Roche Percée northern New South Wales), New traffic headlights on the northern community. Many of these dogs Caledonia and Vanuatu (Limpus end. The house lighting that was of are free to roam the nesting beach. and Limpus, 2003). In contrast with concern was primarily the external Residents reported that dogs often the well known eastern Australian lights. There were strong outside dug into nests and destroyed nesting population (Limpus, 1985), security lights that remained on developed eggs on a regular basis. the nesting distribution in New throughout the night with at least Caledonia and Vanuatu remains two houses near the northern end Boating incompletely described. With about of the beach. This lighting caused There were no reports of turtle 60-70 nesting females annually, the the beach to be brightly illuminated strandings that could be attributed to Bourail District C. caretta nesting and was strong enough to impair the boat strike. The quiet waters of the population is the largest currently night vision of the research team. Bay offshore from the nesting beach known within New Caledonia. In While there was little evidence of will be the inter-nesting habitat the absence of more comprehensive turtles returning without laying used during the summer months surveys, Roche Percée is identified because of this lights, there remains by the females, while they are as a suitable index beach for on the concern that new females preparing their successive clutches going monitoring the population recruiting to the nesting population for laying. During the survey most status of C. caretta within New will avoid using brightly illuminated boats departed the boat ramp (at Caledonia. This assessment is based beaches. The long-term decline in the entrance of the river mouth) on the combination of the size of the nesting turtle numbers in response to and headed directly out to the reef. annual nesting population and the increased illumination of beaches has While very little motorboat activity accessibility of this mainland nesting been observed at others rookeries was observed in the Bay, jet skis were beach for ongoing monitoring, even and is a distinct possibility here at observed travelling back and forth under adverse weather conditions. Bourail. and at speed in the bay during the survey period. This activity would be Based on the results of the present Because the survey did not occur disturbing to any turtles using these study, the C. caretta nesting during the primary hatchling shallow waters. populations of New Caledonia and emergence period, the effect that eastern Australia should be regarded this lighting would have on hatchling Poaching as forming a single management orientation was not documented. During the survey, one nesting unit. Allowing for the small sample Changes to the light horizons that female was removed from the size of the population at Roche occur with passing traffic were beach by humans. Local informants Percée, the size of nesting females, relatively intermittent and should reported nesting turtles being the number of eggs per clutch, the not significantly impair hatchling removed from the beach at a rate of size and weight of the eggs and orientation under current traffic approximately 2-3 per year. This has the size and weight of hatchlings densities. This can be expected to not been validated. There was one (Table 5), this representative New change with increased development report of eggs being removed from Caledonian nesting population is very and tourist visitation to the district. a nest. The traditional inhabitants similar to the respective parameters of the area, Kanak people, appear to measured at eastern Australian Vehicles on dunes have a greater desire to utilize the rookeries (Limpus, 1985). This Vehicles have access to the nesting turtles and eggs as food than the similarity in reproductive parameters habitat at the southern end of the folks of European origin. is what would be expected from beach. Vehicle traffic on the beach rookeries within a single genetic is damaging nests where vehicle DISCUSSION stock. Until more comprehensive tracks occur over nesting sites and is data area available from the retarding vegetation growth. Where Within the Pacific Ocean region, C. New Caledonian rookeries, it is vehicle damage to dune vegetation is caretta breeding is restricted to the recommended that values derived excessive, there is the increased risk western margin (Figure 18). In the at the Australian C. caretta rookeries of beach erosion. North Pacific, nesting only occurs be used to describe the relevant within Japan (Kamezaki et al. 2003). reproductive biology at the New In the South Pacific, nesting is rarely Caledonian rookeries. Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 90

It can be assumed that the C. caretta in the Pacific Ocean basin. It would be that foraging in New Caledonian appropriate then for steps to be taken coastal in areas, like off Bourail (see to improve the conservation outlook above) and Ile des Pines (Beloff, for C. caretta in New Caledonia. In 1997) will include turtles that breed particular, at nesting beaches, such as both at the Australian rookeries those in the Bourail District, there are (Limpus and Limpus, 2003) and at a number of actions that can be taken New Caledonian rookeries. by the local community that will contribute to improving reproductive Again, until data are specifically success for the species: available from a wider range of • Reduce erosion and increase the foraging areas, it is recommended stability of the dunes that are the that the demographic parameters nesting habitat: described for the species in eastern – planting of suitable vegetation Australian foraging areas and the that will stabilize the beach; associated demographic modelling – excluding vehicle traffic from the (Chaloupka, 2003) be applied for frontal dunes. This action would investigating the potential responses reduce loss of eggs due to being of the New Caledonian populations run over in the nests. to anthropogenic impacts and their • Extension of the existing rock wall potential responses to management as a solution to erosion should be FIGURE 18. Distribution of loggerhead options. avoided. turtle, Caretta caretta, nesting within the • Dense vegetation should be planted Pacific Ocean region (Source Limpus and There are some discrepancies among along the dunes. While this will Limpus, 2003). Dots denote nesting sites. the reports from local informants: contribute to reduced erosion of the Laurence Langlois recollected that dunes, it also will provide the beach 20-30 years ago an average of 6 with protection from lighting. Grosse Tête nested per night at la • Where possible, it is recommended Roche Percée, with a maximum of that a 1.5km darkness zone be 20-35 on some nights. This is similar maintained around these nesting to estimates provided by Jean-Pierre beaches. Dark beaches are the Revercé, also a local man who grew preferred management option for up in the region, who suggests maintaining sustainable turtle that around 30 years ago, during populations. Altered light horizons the peak of the nesting season, 5-6 resulting from the continued FIGURE 19. Identified foraging areas for loggerheads laid clutches at la Roche expansion of housing development two adult female Caretta caretta that Percée per night, and at the most 10 within this community can bred in New Caledonia. Crosses denote per night. Other reports claim that be minimized via the use of nesting sites. Dots denote feeding sites. nesting loggerheads once numbered appropriate turtle-friendly lighting in the hundreds on any given night including: within the breeding season. However, – Low pressure sodium vapor Migration data are available the general consensus was that there lights should be used where road from only two New Caledonian had been a decline in the amount of lighting is required along roads nesting females to link the nesting nesting that occurs annually on the and for external lighting of populations to their dispersed Bourail District beaches over recent buildings; foraging areas (Limpus, 1994; decades. – Security lighting visibly from the Limpus and Limpus, 2001). Both beach should be turned on by females migrated from feeding A decline in the New Caledonian proximity sensors rather than areas in eastern Australia to New nesting population would be being turned on continuously Caledonian rookeries (Figure 19) and consistent with the substantive throughout the night; subsequently returned, each to the declines in C. caretta breeding – Intermittent slowly flashing same feeding area from which she recorded at the sites where lights can be used to mark began her breeding migration. monitoring has occurred elsewhere walking tracks. 91 New Caledonian Loggerhead Turtle Population Assessment: 2005 Pilot Study

• It is recommended that vehicle These issues need to be addressed by Dutton, P. H. (1996). Methods for traffic be kept from access to the an education campaign directed to collection and preservation of turtle nesting habitat of the frontal both the local residents and the local samples for sea tutle genetic dunes of these beaches. This has government. studies. Proceedings of the already been achieved in some International Symposium sections of beach through the use ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS on Sea Turtle Conservation of a line of closely placed large Genetics, Miami, Florida, NOAA. rocks to obstruct vehicle access This project was conducted as part Kamezaki, N., Matsuzawa, Y., Abe, (Figure 3e). of the Queensland Turtle Research M., Asakawa, H., Fujii, T., Goto, • Turtle nesting would benefit from Project. It was funded in part by K., Hagino, S., Hayami, M., restricting boating activity to a grant from the Western Pacific Ishii, M., Iwamoto, T., Kamata, defined navigation channels while Regional Fisheries Management T., Kato, H., Kodama, J., Kondo, limiting boat speed within the Council (Contract No. 04-WPC-030). Y., Miyawaki, I., Mizobuchi, waters immediately off the nesting The project could not have achieved K., Nakamura, Y., Nakashima, beaches. While boating activity without the invaluable assistance of Y., Naruse, H., Ohmuta, K., does not appear to be a pressing the Association pour la Sauvegarde Samejima, M., Suganuma, H., management issue at present, it de la Nature Neo-Caledonienne Takeshita, H., Tanaka, T., Toji, can be expected to increase with and in particular the President, T., Uematsu, M., Yamamoto, A., increased development of the area J-Louis d’Auzon. Marile and Daniel Yamato, T. and Wakabayashi, and increased tourist visitation. Marteaud provided assistance with I. (2003). Loggerhead turtles • Local residents should be accommodations. Numerous local nesting in Japan. In “Biology encouraged to manage the dog residents provided oral background and Conservation of Loggerhead population to prevent them from information on the region and Turtles.” (Eds. Bolten, A. B. and wandering the dunes throughout its turtles and assisted with the Witherington, B. E.) Pp. 210-217. the night. beach studies. This assistance is (Smithsonian Institution Press: • Local laws relating to harvest of acknowledged and appreciated. Washington, D. C.). turtles should be enforced. If the Limpus, C. J. (1985). A study local Kanak people are permitted to of the loggerhead turtle, harvest turtles and/or eggs, then REFERENCES Caretta caretta, in eastern the following general principals Australia. PhD Thesis, Zoology can be applied to ensure that the Beloff, P. (1997). Report on the Isle Department, University of harvest can be sustainable: des Pines marine turtle survey Queensland. – At least 70% of the clutches (21st December 1996 to 5th Limpus, C. J. (1992). Estimation of eggs should produce January 1997. Unpublished of tag loss in marine turtle hatchlings. The loss of eggs to Report to Association Pour La research. Wildlife Research 19: dog predation, to erosion and Sauvegarde De La Nature Neo- 457-69. to human harvest need to be Caledonienne. Pp. 1-10. Limpus, C. J. (1994). Marine turtles: collectively regulated to Chaloupka, M. (2003). Stochastic ancient mariners in distress. ensure that sufficient simulation modeling of Air Sea Rescue Journal 12(2): hatchlings are produced. loggerhead population dynamics 99-113. – The harvest of nesting females given exposure to competing Limpus, C. J. (in press). “A biological should not exceed 10% of the mortality risks in the western review of Australian marine annual recruitment rate to South Pacific. In: Bolten, A. B. turtles. i. Loggerhead Turtle, the nesting population. Based and Witherington, B. E. Biology Caretta caretta (Linneaus).” on eastern Australian and Conservation of Loggerhead (Queensland Environmental populations, this would Turtles. Pp. 274-294. (Smithsonian Protection Agency: Brisbane). translate to no more than 10% Institution Press: Washington, D. C.) Limpus, C. J. and Limpus, D. J. of 30% = 3% of the total Cobb, B. D. and Clarkson, J. M. (2001). The loggerhead turtle, annual nesting population, (1994). A Simple Procedure for Caretta caretta, in Queensland: i.e. about a maximum of Optimizing the Polymerase Chain- breeding migrations and fidelity 2 adult females annually. Reaction (Pcr) Using Modified to a warm temperate feeding – The management of a sustainable Taguchi Methods. Nucleic Acids area. Chelonian Conservation level of take should be addressed Research 22(18): 3801-3805. and Biology 4(1): 142-153. by the Kanak elders. Proceedings of the Second Western Pacific Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 92

Limpus, C. J. and Limpus, D. J. (2003). The loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, in the equatorial and southwest Paciﬁc Ocean: a species in decline. In “Biology and Conservation of Loggerhead Turtles.” (Eds. Bolten, A. B. and Witherington, B. E.) Pp. 199-209. (Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington, D. C.). Limpus, C. J.; Reed, P. C., and Miller, J. D. (1985). Temperature dependent sex determination in Queensland sea turtles: intraspeciﬁc variation in Caretta caretta. In: Biology of Australian Frogs and Reptiles. (Grigg, G., Shine, R. and Ehmann, H., Eds.) Pp. 343-51. (Surrey Beatly and Sons: Sydney.) Limpus, C. J., Parmenter, C. J., Baker, V. and Fleay, A. (1983). The Crab Island sea turtle rookery in north eastern Gulf of Carpentaria. Australian Wildlife Research 10: 173-84. Nicholls, J. A., Double, M. C., Rowell, D. M. and Magrath, R. D. (2000). The evolution of cooperative and pair breeding in thornbills Acanthiza (Pardalotidae). Journal of Avian Biology 31(2): 165-176. Norman, J. A., Moritz, C. and Limpus, C. J. (1994). Mitochondrial-DNA control region polymorphisms – genetic-markers for ecological- studies of marine turtles. Molecular Ecology 3(4): 363-373. 93

Appendix 1: North Paciﬁc Loggerhead Turtle – Threat Mix

RISK MATRIX: THREATS RANKED (1-4) 1 = High threat level; high importance to take action 2 = Medium threat level 3 = Low threat level; low importance to take action 4 = No threat level (not applicable) Unk = unknown threat (but could potentially be a threat, once more is known)

High level threats versus medium level threats ranked and/or prioritized based on tasks that are within reason to implement given available monetary resources.

THREAT ADULTS JUVENILES HATCHLINGS EGGS Threats to Nesting Beaches Direct harvest (humans) 4 4 4 4 Coastal construction (disruption of nesting & hatching activities) 1 4 4 2 Nest predation by domestic, native and/or feral animals 4 4 3 3a Artificial lighting 2.5 4 2.5 4 Data deficiencies (nesting activity, identify nesting beaches, determine and monitor trends, nesting beach origins, 3 4 3 3 define stock boundaries, genetics)

Threats to Nesting Habitat Degradation due to erosion-control measures, jetties, breakwaters 1 4 4 1 Sand removal & mining practices 2.5 4 4 2.5 Vehicular driving/ Foot trafﬁc 2 4 1.5 1.5 Degradation by upland, coastal erosion, siltation (mining), 1 4 4 1 river armoring, dams Ceremonial purposesb 4 4 1 4 Global warming* (increasing sand temperature, sea level rise) 2 4 4 2 Typhoon 1.5 4 4 1.5 Proceedings of the Second Western Paciﬁc Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 94

THREAT ADULTS JUVENILES HATCHLINGS EGGS Threats to turtles in marine habitats Direct harvest 1c 1 4 4 Data deﬁciencies (distribution, abundance, migration, growth rates, survivorship, threats on foraging grounds) 2 2 4 4 Entanglement and ingestion of marine debris 2 2 3 4 Boat collisions 3 3 4 4

Incidental take in Fisheries Longline 1 1 4 4 Purse seine 3 3 4 4 Trawl 1 1 4 4 Gillnet 1 1 4 4 Pound nets/traps/pots 3 3 4 4 FADs 3 3 4 4 Hook and line 3 3 4 4

Other Disease 3 3 4 4 Predation 3 3 4 4

Threats to marine habitat Data deficiencies (identification of important foraging habitat) 1.5 1.5 4 4 Degradation of reefs by boating, diving, human use activities 2 (Unk) 4 4 4 Degradation by coastal erosion, siltation, including mining, 3 3 4 4 logging, pollution Degradation of pelagic habitat by oil trans-shipmentd* 2.5 2.5 4 4 Bioaccumulation of heavy metals through prey ingestion* Unk Unk 4 4 Commercial red crab fisherye Unk Unk 4 4

a Depending on the beach, egg predation by ghost crabs and ants takes place. In addition, a raccoon, introduced from the U.S., may prey on eggs and hatchlings – this may be an emerging issue. b In Hamamatsu (Shizuoka Prefecture), an NGO relocates eggs to hatchery and holds loggerhead hatchlings longer than normal after they hatch to be released en masse on a set calendar day, for the purpose of educating and attracting tourists and local media. Hatchlings are released during the day, after spending their frenzy period in a tank. Threat is therefore high for hatchlings in this area only. c There is minimal direct harvest by 3-4 communities in Japan of non-nesting loggerheads of minimum size of 70 cm. This is likely decreasing due to education and outreach efforts. The direct harvest of loggerheads off Baja California, Mexico is still occurring at high levels and is the primary reason this threat is ranked “high.” Few adults are taken - mainly juveniles and subadults. d There are proposals for installation of several Liquid Natural Gas facilities off southern California and Baja California, Mexico. This is an emerging issue. e While this ﬁshery is currently non-existent, if a commercial ﬁshery for pelagic red crabs does emerge, this could have serious impacts on loggerheads foraging off Baja California, since this is one of their primary food sources.

* emerging issue 95

Appendix 2: Workshop Participants Contact Information

Alonso Aguirre Christina Fahy David Maldonado Director for Conservation NMFS–SWFSC Instituto de Estudios Ambientales Medicine, Wildlife Trust 501 W. Ocean Blvd. # 4200 Pino Suarez # 73 460 West 34th St. 17th Floor, Long Beach, CA 90802, USA Col. El Jaral. NY 10001 USA Phone: (1) 562-980-4023 Loreto BCS México. CP. 23880 Phone: (1) 212-380-4461 Fax: (1) 562-980-4027 [email protected] FAX: (1) 212-380-4475 [email protected] [email protected] Jeff Mangel Naoki Kamezaki Pro Delphinus, George “Keoki” Balazs Sea Turtle Association of Japan Octavio Bernal 572-5 NMFS-PIFSC University of Tokyo Lima 11, Peru 2570 Dole Street Dept. of Ecosystem Studies [email protected] Honolulu, HI 96822, USA Nagao-motomachi 5-17-18-302 Phone: (1) 808-983-5733 Hirakata, Osaka 573-0163 Japan Yoshimasa Matsuzawa Fax: (1) 808-983-2900 Phone: 81-72- 864-0335 Sea Turtle Association of Japan [email protected] Fax: 81-72-864-0535 Nagao-motomachi 5-17-18, [email protected] Hirakata, Osaka 573-0163, Japan Milani Chaloupka Phone: 81-72-864-0335 Ecological Modeling Services Irene Kinan Fax: 81-72-864-0535 P.O. Box 6150, Western Paciﬁc Regional [email protected] University of Queensland, Fishery Management Council St. Lucia 1164 Bishop St. #1400 Kojiro Mizuno Queensland 4067, Australia Honolulu, HI 96813, USA Sea Turtle Association of Japan Mobile: ++0419-180-554 Phone: (1) 808- 522-7495 Nagaomotomachi 5-17-18 Fax: ++61-7-3362-9372 Fax: (1) 808-522-8226 Hirakata, Osaka 573-0163, Japan [email protected] [email protected] Phone: 81-72-864-0335 [email protected] Peter Dutton Colin Limpus NMFS-SWFSC Queensland Parks Authority Wallace J. Nichols P.O. Box 271 160 Ann St. 8th Floor Blue Ocean Institute San Diego, CA 92038, USA Brisbane, QLD P.O. Box 324 Phone: (1) 858- 546- 5636 P.O. Box 155, Brisbane Albert St. Davenport, CA 95017, USA Fax: (1) 858-546-7003 Queensland 4002, Australia Phone: (1) 831- 426 - 0337 [email protected] Phone: 61-7-3227-7718 [email protected] FAX: 61-7-3227-6386 [email protected] Proceedings of the Second Western Paciﬁc Sea Turtle Cooperative Research & Management Workshop 96

Kazuyoshi Ohmuta Amanda Southwood Yakushima Umigame-Ka NMFS-PIFSC 489-8 Nagata, Kamiyaku 2570 Dole Street Kagoshima, 891-4201 Japan Honolulu, HI 96822, USA Phone/Fax: 81-997-49-6550 [email protected] [email protected] Yonat Swimmer Hoyt Peckham NMFS-PIFSC Blue Ocean Institute 2570 Dole Street Long Marine Lab Honolulu, HI 96822, USA 100 Shaffer Rd Phone: (1) 808-592-2813 Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA [email protected] Phone: (1) 831- 566-0510 [email protected] Hiroshi Takeshita 3-9-11 Higashi-Ohmiya, Nicolas J. Pilcher Miyazaki 880-0825, Japan Marine Research Foundation Phone: 81-985-25-7585 136 Lorong Pokok Seraya 2 [email protected] Taman Khidmat Kota Kinabalu Sabah 88450, Malaysia Anne Patricia Trevor Phone: 60-88-386136 SPREP Fax: 60-88-387136 P.O. Box 240 [email protected] Apia, Samoa Phone: 685- 21929 Jeffrey Polovina Fax: 685- 20231 NMFS-PIFSC [email protected] 2570 Dole Street Honolulu, HI 96822, USA Phone: (1) 808- 983- 5301 Fax: (1) 808- 983-2900 [email protected]