Wetlands of International Importance and Sea Turtle Conservation CIT-CC10-2013- Tec.6

Published by the Secretariat Pro Tempore of the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles

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CIT. 2014. Wetlands of international importance and sea turtle conservation CIT-CC10-2013- Tec.6. IAC Secretariat Pro Tempore,Virginia USA

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IAC Secretariat Pro Tempore 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 U.S.A Tel: + (703) 358 -1828 E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] CIT-CC10-2013-Tec.6

Wetlands of International Importance and Sea Turtle Conservation

Introduction

The Inter-American Convention for the Protection considered as justification towards designation of and Conservation of Sea Turtles (IAC) and the potential Ramsar Sites. Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran 1971) recognized that sea turtle species in the Americas The technical document has three sections. The are at risk of extinction and are aware that key first section provides an introduction to sea turtles, habitats (foraging, breeding, migrating and to their habitats, and to wetlands and their nesting) for these endangered species are often importance. The next section identifies the benefits congruent with coastal and marine wetlands. They of Ramsar Site designation for the protection and also acknowledged that some of these wetlands conservation of sea turtles by using concrete have been designated as Ramsar Sites or are examples in Parties of both Conventions in the potential areas for designation. Accordingly, the Americas. This includes Ramsar Sites in the Secretariat pro tempore of the Inter-American Americas in which sea turtles have been reported Convention for the Protection and Conservation of (table 1.), Ramsar sites where sea turtles are Sea Turtles and the Ramsar Convention Secretariat present but this has not been reported in the signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Ramsar Information sheet (RIS) (table 2.) and July 2012. The MOU’s objective is to collaborate important areas for the conservation of sea turtle within the framework of each Convention to build species that may be designated as Wetlands of capacities in their corresponding Contracting International Importance in the near future (table Parties to achieve the wise use of Ramsar Sites 3). Finally, the last section comprises conclusions which contain essential habitat for sea turtles. The from the IAC Scientific Committee. MOU represents an opportunity to enhance the scope and effective implementation of both Conventions at the national and regional level.

Under this MOU, IAC’s Scientific Committee (SC), with the support of the Ramsar Secretariat, has prepared this Technical Document. The use of this document is recommended as an informative tool for Contracting Parties and the general public about the benefits that Ramsar Site designation offers to the conservation of sea turtles and their critical habitats. This document’s objectives are: i) to highlight the importance of Ramsar Sites for the protection, conservation and recovery of sea turtle species in the Americas; ii) to identify Ramsar Sites that sustain sea turtles and the main threats to these species in the Site; and iii) to identify key areas for sea turtle conservation which may be

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I. Sea Turtles and Wetland Ecosystems

1. Sea Turtles in the Americas 2. Sea Turtle Habitats and Life Cycle

Six of the seven living species of sea turtles A sea turtle’s life cycle is complex and some parts are distributed in the Americas among tropical, are still not well understood, especially their early sub-tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic marine stages. Depending on their life stage, and Pacific Oceans. These species are: species are linked to a variety of marine and Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), coastal wetland habitats (Figure No. 1) including leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), green mangroves, estuaries, sandy beaches and coral turtle (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead turtle (Caretta reefs. caretta), Olive-Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) and Kemp’s Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii). All sea turtle species use sandy beaches to lay Coastal wetlands are used by sea turtles as their eggs. Females emerge onto beaches, nesting sites and their waters as foraging, usually at night, to lay their eggs and afterwards reproduction, migration and development habitats. return to the sea. The characteristics of preferred nesting beaches vary according to the sea The importance of sea turtles to human populations turtle species. For example, leatherback turtles use and coastal and marine habitats is reflected in wide, long, gently sloping tropical beaches. various ways. They are an important direct source Nesting beaches preferred by this specie are of protein and income for local communities in characterized by deep, rock-free sand, and have coastal areas, and are part of the cultural heritage unobstructed access from the sea. On the other of these communities. Also, for more than 100 hand, hawksbill turtles nest on narrow tropical million years they have contributed to maintaining beaches on islands or mainland shores, with reefs the health of marine and coastal ecosystems, upon sometimes obstructing access onto the beach. which humans depend, by playing major roles in Their smaller size and agility allows hawksbills to marine food chains and transferring energy access beaches that are not accessible to other between marine and coastal habitats. species (Pritchard and Mortimer, 2000).

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Figure No. 1. Sea Turtle Life Cycle (CIT, 2006b)

After the incubation period, which varies according reefs, sea grass beds and mangroves in the to the sea turtle species, the hatchlings leave the Americas (Bjorndal and Bolten 2010, Gaos et al nesting beach and head out to sea. During this 2011) and that green turtles are important initial phase, sea turtles may travel hundreds, even herbivores in sea-grass beds and mangroves in thousands of kilometers, and spend several years coastal wetland ecosystems (Limpus and Limpus, in open sea habitats. Depending on the species, 2000). Coastal wetlands in the Americas can be after 2-5 years juvenile turtles may settle in closely associated with sea turtles during one or coastal areas like sea grass habitats, coral reefs, several stages of their development: eggs, and coastal lagoons where they mature. Once hatchlings, juveniles or adults. Some of these they reach sexual maturity, they initiate wetlands have been designated as Ramsar Sites. periodic migrations to breeding areas and then to the pre-nesting areas that are normally shallow waters near the nesting beaches. It is now known that hawksbills are important inhabitants of coral

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3. Major threats to sea turtles in 15 Contracting Parties, all of which are the Americas Parties to the Ramsar Convention.

The six sea turtle species in the Americas are threatened. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List, 4. Wetlands and their importance the Olive-ridley turtle is Vulnerable, the green turtle and loggerhead turtles are Endangered and the leatherback, Kemp’s Ridley and hawksbill turtle are Wetlands are ecosystems in which water is the Critically Endangered. The primary causes of their primary factor that controls the environment and threatened status are over-exploitation for products associated life. According to the Ramsar such as eggs, meat, oil and /or shell for local and Convention, wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, national trade, incidental catch and degradation of peatland or water, with natural or artificial regime, critical nesting and foraging habitats. temporal or permanent, lentic or lotic, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water, Sea turtles populations are probably most the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six vulnerable to anthropogenic threats while females, meters. This definition includes ecosystems with a eggs and hatchlings are on nesting beaches. range of habitats distributed from coastal zones to Threats at these stages are caused by coastal the highest mountains on the planet. development, loss of beaches due to erosion, pollution by human activities and meteorological The Ramsar Convention classifies wetlands into 42 events like hurricanes, as well as poaching of types grouped in 3 categories: marine and coastal eggs and predation of females. Sea level rise due wetlands, continental wetlands and human-made to climate change further threatens the nesting wetlands. Among the marine and coastal wetlands beaches. in the Americas are: coral reefs, marine sub tidal aquatic beds, marshes, shores, estuaries, mangroves, coastal lagoons and subterranean The Inter-American Convention for the hydrological systems. These ecosystems are Protection and Conservation of Sea among the most productive, providing goods and Turtles (IAC) is an intergovernmental treaty services that directly benefit human communities. which provides the legal framework for countries of the American continent to take Ecosystem services provided by wetlands are action for the protection, conservation and organized into four categories according to the recovery of sea turtle populations and their Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005): habitats, based on the most reliable scientific provisioning, regulating, cultural and support data available and considering the services. The quantity and quality of the services environmental, socioeconomic and cultural provided by a wetland are determined by its characteristics of IAC Parties. ecological character, defined as the combination of ecosystem components, processes and The IAC entered in force in 2001, in benefits/services that characterize a wetland at a response to the importance of sea turtle given point in time. species to the region, their threatened status, the recognition that many of the threats they Among the provisioning services provided by faced were regional in scale and the need marine-coastal wetlands are the variety of animal therefore to join forces to conserve them and vegetable products (e.g., reptiles, fish, successfully. The Convention currently has mollusks, wood, fruit) derived from species within the ecosystem and used by coastal communities.

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These services have a high social value as they allow the subsistence of many families. Similarly, (Ramsar, the regulating services provided by coastal and The Convention on Wetlands Iran 1971) or is an marine wetlands include determining hydrological Ramsar Convention intergovernmental treaty that provides the flows, and preventing erosion and pollution by framework for actions oriented towards the retaining sediment. They also regulate climate at a conservation of wetlands and their resources global, regional and local level and mitigate under three basic pillars: i) the wise use of natural disasters by controlling floods and wetlands and their resources; ii) the protecting coastal areas from storms. Marine and designation of significant wetlands as coastal wetlands also provide cultural services by Wetlands of International Importance or offering a source of aesthetic benefits that make Ramsar Sites; and iii) International them areas with high potential for tourism and Cooperation. recreational activities. Furthermore, communities develop their life styles and culture in close Currently 168 countries are Contracting relationship with the wetlands they occupy. Finally, Parties to the Ramsar Convention, with a marine and coastal wetlands greatly influence soil total of 2,181 Ramsar Sites covering and sand formation processes, the functioning of 208,545,658 hectares. This is the largest biogeochemical cycles, and the sustaining of network of protected areas worldwide. In biodiversity in their areas. These ecosystems the Americas, 202 Ramsar Sites that cover provide critical habitats for resident and 27,269,353 hectares have marine and migratory species and/or rare and threatened coastal wetlands according to the Ramsar species, including sea turtles. Sites database, and 108 of these Sites report sustaining sea turtles at various life-stages. Despite their importance, marine and coastal wetlands are threatened by anthropogenic impacts such as: changes in land-use (urban areas expansion, ports, development of tourism and hydroelectric projects, among others), pollution and over-exploitation of resources. These activities generate changes in the wetlands’ ecological character, compromising their ability to provide ecological services for local communities and biodiversity.

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II. Benefits of Ramsar Site Designation For The Protection And Conservation of Sea Turtles

When a country ratifies the Ramsar Convention, Taking into consideration the range of benefits it commits itself to fulfilling the Convention’s obtained from designating an area as a Wetland obligation in good will under international law. In of International Importance (Ramsar Secretariat, this sense, the country must promote the wise use 2011), IAC’s Scientific Committee has identified of all wetlands within its territory. Wise use refers to some specific benefits that the Ramsar maintaining the ecosystem’s ecological character Designation may accrue towards protection, through the implementation of the ecosystem conservation and recovery of sea turtle species: approach in the context of sustainable development. This is fundamental for the 1.- Increased community participation in sea promotion of activities aimed at the protection and turtle conservation. The designation of a conservation of sea turtles within Ramsar Sites and Ramsar Site increases public awareness and pride all wetlands of a given Contracting Party. In this of local and national stakeholders by being part of sense, the implementation of Ramsar’s first and an internationally recognized ecosystem. It also second pillars “wise use of wetlands” and entails, in several cases, involvement of national “designation and management of wetlands of and international organizations supporting the international importance” are the main contributors designation process and later getting involved in to the conservation of key habitats for sea turtles. the management of the Site. This provides the Additionally, these two pillars combined with the potential for the establishment or strengthening of third pillar regarding international cooperation, community-based sea turtle conservation activities, represents an ideal context for the protection of within the management activities of a Ramsar Site. sea turtles and their critical areas, given the migratory nature of these species, which are 2.- Strengthening of National legal frameworks considered a shared resource among countries. to promote wise use of wetlands. A number of Contracting Parties have adopted/modified their In addition, under Article 2.4. Each Contracting legal frameworks based on the international Party shall designate at least one wetland to be Convention´s Resolutions, as well as increased included in the List when signing this Convention technical support, in order to promote wise use in or when depositing its instrument of ratification or wetland areas and thus, by extension, the wise use accession, as provided in Article 9. In order to of key sea turtle habitats. For example, in 2007, the do so, the identified area must meet at least one Dutch government canceled a permit to build a of the nine criteria, designed to recognize the area resort adjacent to mangroves in the Ramsar Site, as a Wetland of International Importance based on Het Lac in Bonaire, based on the review of the the representative and/or singularity of the wetland State Council of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and/or its biodiversity values. Wetland areas that which stated that “the Resolution decisions and sustain sea turtles and other threatened or rare guidelines accepted unanimously by the species also fulfill Criterion 2 for the designation of Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Ramsar Sites. Convention ... should be part of national

6 CIT-CC10-2013-Tec.6 obligations under the Convention.” (Ramsar No. 2 to work with Ramsar Focal Points to collect Secretariat, 2011). This decision protected the necessary information about the presence of important feeding grounds for green and hawksbill sea turtle in the sites in order to update the RIS turtle found at the Site. as needed. Table No. 3 highlights sites in IAC member countries that are important for sea turtle 3.- Increased conservation and protection conservation that have been identified by the IAC efforts in Ramsar Sites.The Ramsar Site Scientific Committee to be consider for possible designation highlights internationally and designation as Ramsar sites. nationally the unique characteristics of a wetland area. This may bring a range of possible benefits such as increasing conservation and protection efforts on the site and its surrounding areas, increasing scientific, academic and recreational interest, and increasing funding opportunities aimed at the conservation of these areas. These benefits accruing to sea turtle habitats could translate into protection, conservation and recovery of sea turtle populations.

In this regard, some IAC Countries have designated the most important sea turtle nesting beaches as Ramsar Sites. In this way, in addition to protection by national laws, local regulations and decrees, the designation has strengthened the conservation efforts in the area, and has also helped to ensure a budget and government support, participation of state agencies and in some cases NGO support. Table 1 lists the Ramsar Sites in the Americas in which the presence of various species of sea turtles is reported as of May 2014. The location of these sites in the Americas is illustrated in Figures 2,3,4,5. The table has been prepared by the Ramsar Secretariat using the official information of the designated sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance. Besides the official information of Ramsar Sites, the “species”, “use”, and “threat” columns have been complemented by the IAC Scientific Committee and the IAC PT Secretariat based on information from IAC’s Annual Reports submitted by IAC member countries. This information appears in italics. Table No. 2 contains Ramsar Sites with presence and/or of importance for sea turtles, which have not been documented in the Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS) for the Site. This table was prepared with information provided by the IAC Scientific and Consultative Committee. We suggest using table

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Table No.1 Ramsar Sites with presence of Sea Turtles in the Americas

Use Nesting- Ne Latitude Foraging - Fo No. Ramsar Site Area Species1 Country And Reproduction - Threats to sea turtles Name (has) Longitude Re Transit - Tr Developmental- De

C.m., D.c., Incidental by-catch from E.i. C.c. y artisanal fisheries and 36 15S . (in order Bahía Foraging commercial trawling 1 Argentina 57 15W 243,965 from more Samborombón industry. Plastic ingestion in to less the bay areas. abundance)

Mining exploitation/ Reentrâncias exploration impacts Maranhenses’ 01 41S C.m., D.c., C.m., D.c., E.i. – (unspecified); 2 Brasil Environmental 2,680,911 45 04W E.i. Vista en agua Erosion; Protection Area Domestic sewage pollution; (EPA) Dredging impacts

Parque Estadual Oil pollution; Marinho do Tourism-based /recreational Parcel Manoel 00 30S in water disturbance (unspecified); 3 Brasil 34,556 E.i., C.m. Luís incluye 44 45W occurrence Solid waste pollution; los Baixios do Unspecified disturbance Mestre Álvaro from human activities; & Tarol

Unspecified development E.i. - Fo/De/Tr impacts; C.m. – Fo/De Industrial development Abrolhos D.c., E.i., 17 49S C.c., D.c., L.o., impacts; 4 Brasil Marine National 91,300 C.c., C.m., 38 49W E.i, C.m. – in water Illegal fishing methods; Park L.o. occurrence Tourism-based /recreational No nesting activities disturbance (unspecified); Unspecified pollution

Costa 10 19N 5 Tamarindo 500 D.c. Water Pollution Rica 85 50W

Costa Gandoca- 09 37N C.c., E.i., 6 9445 Nesting Poaching of eggs Rica Manzanillo 82 40W D.c., C.m.

Costa Humedal 10 30N C.m., D.c., Nesting Illegal hunting and poaching 7 75,310 Rica Caribe Noreste 83 30W E.i., C.c. Foraging of eggs

Refugio de Vida 1 specie 03 10S 8 Ecuador Silvestre Isla 46 (not 80 26W Santa Clara specified)

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Humedales del Sur 00 57S Light pollution, domestic 9 Ecuador 872 C.m. Foraging de Isabela 90 58W animals

United Everglades National 25 33N C.m., L.k., Contamination from 10 610,497 Foraging, nesting States Park 80 55W E.i., C.c agricultural run off

Foraging Incidental by-catch in crab United Chesapeake Bay 38 00N C.c., L.k. (focus on blue 11 45,000 fisheries, contamination States Estuarine Complex 76 20W claw crab)

Intensive fishing of 5 species United Delaware Bay 39 11N horseshoe crab as C.c. feeds 12 51,252 (just C.c. was Foraging (C.c.) States Estuary 75 14W on them, oil spills, beach identified) erosion

Pelican Island United 27 48N L.k., E.i., Dredging, oil and gas 13 National Wildlife 1,908 Foraging States 80 25W C.m., C.c. exploration, illegal hunting Refuge

Palmyra Atoll United 05 52N Nesting 14 National Wildlife 204,127 C.m., E.i. States 162 06W Foraging Refuge

Manchón- 14 28N L.o,. C.m., 15 Guatemala 13,500 Nesting Poaching of eggs Guamuchal 92 05W D.c.

Punta de 15 50N C.c., C.m., 16 Guatemala 132,900 Nesting Poaching of eggs Manabique 88 28W E.i., D.c.

Reserva de Usos 15 51N C.c., C.m., 17 Guatemala Múltiples Río 35,202 88 58W E.i., L.o. Sarstún

Water pollution because on industries in upper Parque Nacional 15 51N E.i., D.c., 18 Honduras 78,150 Nesting watershed, Touristic Jeanette Kawas 87 40W C.c., C.m. development and urban growth.

Refugio de Vida Erosion, beach pollution by 15 44N C.m., E.i., 19 Honduras Silvestre Punta 11,200 Nesting solid waste, hunting, feral 87 21W C.c., D.c. Izopo animals.

Sistema de Nesting L.o L.o. eggs used for human Humedales de 13 20N 20 Honduras 69,711 E.i., L.o. (August and consumption, water pollution, la Zona Sur de 87 25W December) erosion and tourism Honduras

15 08N C.m., C.c., Water pollution from human 21 Honduras Laguna de Bacalar 7,394 Nesting 85 10W D.c. population waste, erosion

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Sistema de 15 39 18N Nesting Turtle hunting for 22 Honduras Humedales 30,029 D.c., E.i. 88 11 49W Foraging consumption Cuyamel-Omoa

Sistema de 16 06 00N C.c., C.m., Nesting Urban and tourism 23 Honduras Humedales de la Isla 16,226 85 56 14W E.i. Foraging development de Utila

Extraction of resources Sistema de 15° 47´ 54 Nesting D.c., E.i. from fauna and agricultural 24 Honduras Humedales Laguna N 87°13´ 649 Foraging de Zambuco (SH-LZ) 23 W development.

Humedales de Importancia Habitat fragmentation, Especialmente para Nesting 21 30N E.i., C.c., chemical and organic 25 México la Conservación 60,348 Foraging 88 00W C.m., D.c. pollution, decreasing de Aves Acuáticas vegetation coverage Reserva Ría Lagartos

Marismas 22 08N C.m., D.c., Fisheries and industrial 26 México 200,000 Nacionales 105 32W E.i., L.o. development

Urban development, reserva de la 15 11N D.c., C.m., consumption, illegal fishing, 27 México Biósfera La 144,868 92 53W L.o. waste pollution, industrial Encrucijada development

Dzilam (reserva 21 35N E.i., C.m., Incidental by-catch and 28 México 61,707 Nesting estatal) 88 35W C.c. consumption

Parque Nacional 18 20N C.c., C.m., 29 México 17,949 Fisheries tourism Arrecifes de Xcalak 87 48W E.i., D.c.

Cuencas y corales 15 47N C.m., E.i., Nesting Capture, eggs collection and 30 México de la zona costera 44,400 96 12W L.o., D.c. Transit (D.c.) tourism development de Huatulco, Oaxaca

Parque Nacional Isla Nesting 21 29N C.m., C.c., 31 México Contoy, Quintana 5,126 Foraging Tourism 86 47W D.c., E.i. Roo

Parque Nacional Isla 21 51N L.o., C.m., 32 México 94 Fisheries and cats Isabel 105 53W E.i.

Nesting L.k. Artisanal fisheries, Playa Tortuguera Reproduction 23 14N (endemism), contamination by solid waste, 33 México Rancho Nuevo, 30 (L.k-very 97 46W C.m., C.c., oil and natural predation by Tamaulipas important), from D.c. dogs. may-august

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Playa Tortuguera 16 25N D.c., L.o., Nesting Poaching of eggs and 34 México Tierra Colorada, 54 98 38W C.m. Foraging natural predation Guerrero

Reserva Estatal 21 03N 35 México 50,177 E.i. Foraging, nesting Poaching of eggs El Palmar 90 12W

19 30N C.m., D.c., 36 México Sian Ka´an 652,193 tourism 87 37W C.c., E.i.

Reserva de la Nesting (E.i.), Habitat reduction, by-catch, 20 45N 37 México Biósfera Ría de 81,482 E.i., C.c. Foraging (C.c., dogs and local consumption 90 22W Celestún E.i.) of eggs and turtles, tourism

Reserva de la 19 29N L.o., D.c., 38 México Biósfera Chamela- 13,142 Nesting Hunting for consumption 104 59W E.i., C.m. Cuixmala

Laguna Ojo de 27 45N 39 México 36,600 C.m. Foraging Illegal fishing Liebre 114 05W

26 45N 40 México Laguna San Ignacio 17,500 C.m. Illegal fishing 113 07W

Manglares y humedales de 18 32N C.c., E.i., 41 México 8,921 Nesting Touristic development la Laguna de 95 02W L.k., D.c. Sontecomapan

Parque Nacional 20 55N 42 México Arrecife de Puerto 9,066 C.c., C.m., Nesting Touristic development 86 50W Morelos

20 42N Touristic development, 43 México Islas Marietas 1,357 E.i., L.o. Foraging 105 34W fisheries, urban growth

Hunting for consumption, Parque Nacional 19 08N C.c., C.m., water contamination, 44 México Sistema Arrecifal 52,238 Nesting 96 00W E.i., L.k., D.c. tourism, industrial and urban Veracruzano development

Nesting D.c. (oct- Lights near nesting Playa Tortuguera 16 17N D.c., L.o., march), L.o. (all beaches. poaching of 45 México 65 Cahuitán 98 29W C.m. year), C.m. (Oct eggs for consumption and -Jan) commercialization.

Playa Tortuguera 19 06N Erosion, infrastructure 46 México 121 C.m., E.i. Nesting Chenkan 91 00W development

Nesting (L.o. y Playa Tortuguera 23 24N E.i., C.m., Urban and touristic 47 México 6,454 D.c. ) El Verde Camacho 106 32W D.c., L.o. development Foraging Transit 18 07N D.c., L.o., 48 México Playón Mexiquillo 67 Nesting Urban development, tourism 102 52W C.m.

Playa Tortuguera 20 20N 49 México 362 C.c., C.m. Nesting Tourism X´Cacel-X´Cacelito 87 21W

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Reserva de la 18 35N C.c., E.i., 50 México Biósfera Banco 144,360 Nesting Illegal fishing 87 20W C.m. Chinchorro

Reserva de la 20 11N 51 México Biósfera Los 282,857 E.i., Foraging Fishing 90 32W Petenes

Área de Protección Nesting 18 40N E.i., C.m., Industrial and urban 52 México de Flora y Fauna 705,016 Foraging 91 45W L.k. development Laguna de Términos

Reserva de C.m., la Biosfera 18 50N 53 México 636,685 D.c., E.i., Erosion Archipiélago de 112 47W L.o. Revillagigedo

C.m., Parque Nacional 25 49N Fishing and tourism 54 México 206,581 D.c., E.i., Bahía de Loreto 111 08W development C.c., L.o.,

Isla San Pedro 28 23N 55 México 30,165 Mártir 112 19W

Área de Protección E.i., C.c., 21 28N Tourism, lights and walls on 56 México de Flora y Fauna 154,052 C.m., Nesting 87 19W beaches Yum Balam D.c., L.k.

24 44N 57 México Laguna Madre 307,894 L.k., C.m. Nesting Fishing, tourism, pollution 97 35W

Laguna Costera El 17 58N urban, touristic and industrial 58 México 1,125 C.m. Caimán 101 16W development Nesting (C.c., C.m.), Parque Nacional C.m., 20 16N Foraging (D.c., 59 México Arrecifes de 11,987 C.c., E.i., Tourism, urban development 87 02W E.i.), Cozumel D.c. Transit (D.c., E.i.)

Corredor Costero C.m., Incidental by-catch, tourism, 29 27N 60 México La asamblea - San 44,304 C.c., L.o., Foraging oils spills and coastal 113 50W Francisquito E.i., D.c. development

Nesting (in Laguna de 20 58N Water pollution and 61 México 88,000 C.m., L.k. Cabo Rojo, not Tamiahua 97 19W the lagoon) commercial fishing

Organic contamination Laguna Huizache- 22 50N 62 México 48,283 L.o. Nesting of water and industrial Caimanero 105 55W development

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Ensenada de 24 26N Illegal fishing and water 63 México 40,639 L.o. Nesting Pabellones 107 34W pollution

Santuario Playa Female hunting for meat Boca de Apiza-El 18 45N L.o., D.c., and eggs, predation, and 64 México 40 Nesting Chupadero - El 103 49W C.m. poaching of eggs , pollution Tecuanillo and by-catch

Laguna Xola- 19 44N D.c., L.o., Fishing for consumption and 65 México 775 Nesting Paramán 105 16W C.m. touristic development

Female hunting for meat, Nesting (L.o., Sistema Estuarino 15 48N L.o., D.c., eggs and oil, poaching of 66 México 8,931 D.c., C.m.) Boca del Cielo 93 35W C.m. eggs , predation, by-catch Foraging (E.i.) and touristic development

Zona Sujeta a conservación 14 46N Nesting Organic pollution, illegal 67 México 2,832 L.o. Ecológica Cabildo - 92 28W hunting. Amatal

Zona Sujeta a Organic pollution in water, conservación 14 37N 68 México 4,643 L.o. Nesting urban development, changes Ecológica El Gancho 92 18W in water quality Murillo

Bahía de San 30 26N 69 México 5,438 Quintín 115 58W

Manglares de 21 04N Urban and tourism 70 México 4,257 C.m. Nichupté 86 48W development

Nesting (L.o., D.c.) Parque Nacional 23 27N C.c., C.m., 71 México 7,100 Foraging (E.i., Fishing, tourism and pollution Cabo Pulmo 109 25W D.c., E.i., L.o. C.m.) Nesting, Foraging, Reproduction Predation, illegal capture, 18 18N L.o., D.c., 70% of C.m. 72 México Playa de Colola 287 urban and tourism 103 26W C.m. population development Reproduce in this site 19 54N D.c., L.o., Hunting for consumption, 73 México Estero El Chorro 267 Nesting 105 24W C.m. poaching of eggs

19 50N D.c., L.o., 74 México Estero Majahuas 786 Nesting Tourism 105 21W C.m.

Nesting 18 16N C.m., L.o., Predation, urban and tourism 75 México Playa de Maruata 80 Reproduction-20% 103 21W D.c. development of C.m.

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Urban and tourism Laguna Barra de 19 11N development, hunting 76 México 794 D.c, L.o., C.m. Nesting Navidad 104 40W commercialization of by products Laguna 19 40N D.c., L.o., Water pollution, tourism, 77 México 1,093 Nesting Chalacatepec 105 13W C.m. urban development

Urban development, Lagunas de 16 00N 78 México 17,424 D.c., L.o., C.m. Nesting poaching of eggs for Chacahua 97 40W commercialization

Nesting Parque Nacional 22 28N E.i, D.c., C.c., 79 México 334,113 Foraging Domestic fauna Arrecife Alacranes 89 41W C.m.

D.c. (Oct-Mar), Poaching of eggs, by- Playa Barra de la 15 50N 80 México 18 L.o.(All year), Nesting catch, subsistence hunting, Cruz 95 56W C.m.(oct-Jan) lights near beaches

Poaching of eggs , female Sistema Estuarino 16 00N L.o., D.c., C.m., Nesting, predation, by-catch, beach 81 México 62,138 Puerto Arista 93 53W E.i. Foraging (E.i.) and water pollution and touristic development

Sistema Lagunar 24 02N Tourism, industrial 82 México 1,497 L.o., C.m., D.c. Nesting Ceuta 107 04W development

Sistema Lagunar 20 00N 83 México Estuarino Agua 1,281 D.c., L.o., C.m. Nesting Tourism development 105 30W Dulce- El Ermitaño

Sistema Lagunar San Ignacio- 25 26N industrial development, 84 México 79,873 C.m., E.i., L.o. Navachiste- 108 49W fishing, water pollution Macapule

Urban, touristic, and Humedales Bahía 31 35N C.c., C.m., D.c., 85 México 42,430 industrial development, Adair 113 53W L.o. fishing

Canal del Infiernillo y Foraging esteros del territorio 29 10N E.i., C.c., D.c., Reproduction Fishing and industrial 86 México 27,900 Comcaac (Xepe 112 14W L.o., C.m. Transit development Coosot) Nesting

Manglares y Nesting 20 35N Fishing, urban and tourism 87 México Humedales del Norte 32,786 C.c., C.m., E.i. Foraging 86 48W development de Isla Cozumel

Humedales de Bahía 31 06 00N C.c., C.m., D.c., Urban and tourism 88 México 12,198 San Jorge 113 04 11W L.o. development

Laguna de Cuyutlán 18 58 09N 89 México 4,051 L.o., D.c., C.m., Tourism vasos III y IV 104 06 42W

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Lagunas Santa 25 36 33N L.o., C.m., D.c., Water pollution and 90 México María-Topolobampo- 22,500 Foraging 109 06 23W E.i. industrial development Ohuira

Foraging Humedales de la 28 47 15N Industrial development, 91 México 6,665 C.m. transit Laguna la Cruz 111 52 53W fisheries, waster pollution

Tourism, oil spills. Netherlands/ 12 12 16N Transit Small coral reef area is 92 Rif-Sint Marie 667 E.i., C.m. Curaçao 69 03 16W Foraging the area relevant to sea turtles.

Nesting (June- November) tracks found starting April Predators, nest lost

Northwest 12 21 11N D.c., E.i., C.m., mostly E.i., because of abiotic factors, 93 Netherlands/ 2,441 Curaçao 69 05 00W C.c., L.o. C.c. and C.m. beach erosion, lost of Curaçao Foraging area native vegetation for C.m. and E.i. year round (important)

Nesting (May- Jan) for E.i., Tourism, beach erosion Klein Bonaire C.c. Netherlands/ 12 10N E.i., C.m., C.c. as a result of Climate 94 Island & 600 Foraging for Bonaire 68 19W Change Adjacent Sea E.i. and C.m year round.

Foraging year Tourism, illegal fishing, Netherlands/ 12 06N round (very 95 Het Lac 700 E.i., C.m. invasive marine plants. Bonaire 68 14W important)

Netherlands/ 12 14N 96 Gotomeer 150 Bonaire 68 22W

Netherlands/ 12 16N 97 Slagbaai 90 Bonaire 68 25W

San San-Pond 09 30N C.c., C.m., D.c., 98 Panamá 16,414 Nesting Sak 82 30W E.i.

08 18N 99 Panamá Punta Patiño 13,805 D.c., E.i. 78 14W

Nesting (D.c., Humedales de E.i, C.m., C.c.) Importancia Foraging Consumption of C.m., 08 56N E.i., C.c., C.m., 100 Panamá Internacional 24,089 (C.m.-juv; E.i.- touristic development in 81 44W D.c. Damani- juv) Transit, nesting beaches Guariviara Reproduction

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Reserva 13 55S 101 Perú Nacional de 335,000 D.c., C.m. 76 15W Paracas

Santuario Nacional Los 03 25S 102 Perú 2,972 C.m., L.o. Manglares de 80 17W Tumbes

Bañados del 33 48S Tourism development and 103 Uruguay Este y Franja 407,408 C.m. Foraging 53 50W urban growth Costera

10 55N 104 Venezuela Cuare 9,968 68 20W

Archipielago los 11 50N E.i., C.m., C.c., Tourism development, 105 Venezuela 213,220 Nesting Roques 66 45W D.c. artisanal fisheries by-catch

Trawling, affectations Laguna de la 11 02N C.m., E.i., C.c., to nesting sites, sand 106 Venezuela 5,248 Nesting Restinga 64 09W D.c. extraction, solid waste pollution and tourism

Laguna de 10 12N C.m., E.i., C.c., 107 Venezuela 9,200 Water pollution Tacarigua 65 56W D.c.

Ciénaga de los 10 55N C.m., E.i., L.o., Pollution due to shrimp and 108 Venezuela 26,000 Olivitos 71 26W C.c. salt industrial waste.

Species1: C.m.: Chelonia mydas; E.i.: Eretmochelys imbricata; D.c.: Dermochelys coriacea; L.o.: Lepidochelys olivacea; C.c.: Caretta caretta; L.k.: Lepidochelys kempii

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2.- Ramsar Sites with presence of sea turtles whose information is not included on Ramsar Information Sheets (RIS)

Location Use (province, Nesting- Ne Name of the coordinate of Area Foraging - Fo No Country Species1 Comments Area approximate (has) Reproduction - Re center) Transit - Tr coordenadas) Developmental-De

D.c. – few nesting D.c., C.c., Major loss of Cabo Orange 003°38’59 N activities; Brasil 657,328 L.o, E.i., recruitment through 1 National Park 051°11’24 W C.c., L.o., E.i., C.m., D.c. C.m. egg collection – in water occurrence

Manglar de 10 50 N Foraging 2 Costa Rica 139 E. i., C.m. Potrero Grande 86 46 W Reproduction

Terraba-Sierpe 08 52 N Foraging 3 Costa Rica 30,654 E. i., C.m. Mangrove extraction 83 36 W Reproduction

Manglares de 05°31’S 4 Perú San Pedro de E.i.,C.m., L.o Foraging 080°53’W 3,399 Vice

Species1: C.m.: Chelonia mydas; E.i.: Eretmochelys imbricata; D.c.: Dermochelys coriacea; L.o.: Lepidochelys olivacea; C.c.: Caretta caretta; L.k.: Lepidochelys kempii

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Table No. 3.- Important Areas for the conservation of sea turtle species in IAC countries

The table was prepared with the inputs of the IAC scientific Committee members to highlight important areas for the conservation of sea turtles that may be designated as Ramsar Sites.

Use Location Nesting- Ne (province, Foraging - Fo Name of the Area No Country coordinate of Species1 Reproduction - Re Comments Area (has) approximate Transit - Tr center) Developmental-De

Reserva Natural de Provincia de Uso Múltiple Buenos Aires, C.m., D.c. Foraging Argentina 210,000 1 Bahía Blanca, Argentina. y C.c. Transit Bahía Falsa y Bahía Verde

Reserva de Departamento 25% of the area is Nesting (D.c.); 2 Honduras Biosfera del de Gracias a 390,000 DC y EI a coastal zone with Transit (E.i.) Río Plátano Dios mangroves

Parque Departamento Nacional de Islas de la 48,533.7 Nesting 3 Honduras E.i. Cayos Bahía Foraging Cochinos

Netherlands 11°58’56.80”N; Ei, Cm, Nesting 4 Klein Curaçao 1 / Curaçao 68°38’38.50”W Dc, Foraging

Netherlands Zeelandia 17°30’24.68”N 5 / St. 1 Dc, Cm, Ei Nesting Beach 62°58’50.89”W Eustatius

Netherlands 6 Guana Bay N/A 1 Ei, Dc Nesting / St. Maarten

Species1: C.m.: Chelonia mydas; E.i.: Eretmochelys imbricata; D.c.: Dermochelys coriacea; L.o.: Lepidochelys olivacea; C.c.: Caretta caretta; L.k.: Lepidochelys kempii

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III. Conclusion

IAC Contracting Parties have identified 108 and the Ramsar Secretariat to continue to explore Ramsar Sites which provide habitat for various sea mechanisms to provide joint technical support turtle species at different developmental stages. aimed at strengthening the management and These Ramsar Sites are located in the following conservation of key sea turtle habitats in the countries: Argentina (1), Brazil (3), Costa Rica (3), Americas. Ecuador (2), Guatemala (3), Honduras (7), Mexico (68), Netherlands/Curaçao (2)/Bonaire (4), Panama (3), Peru (2), United States (5), Uruguay (1) and Venezuela (5).

The implementation of the Ramsar Convention in a Contracting Party provides protection for all wetlands in its territory, thus protecting key sea turtle habitats (nesting beaches, foraging, reproduction and/or developmental areas). The implementation of the IAC provides represents the protection and conservation of the habitats of which sea turtles depend. In this way IAC and the Ramsar Convention both contribute to the protection and conservation of these threatened species.

The Ramsar designation of a wetland area may lead to the conservation of the ecological character of the wetland and securing its services. This will therefore translate into the protection and conservation of critical habitats for sea turtle populations in the Americas. It is important for Site managers to include sea turtle conservation in their management programs.

Sea turtle species are key in maintaining healthy and robust marine ecosystems, and therefore in allowing the ecosystem services to be provided to the human communities.

The complementary information on Ramsar Sites, provided by the IAC in tables 1-3 may be used to update the Ramsar Information Sheets (RIS) of the Wetlands of International Importance and the designation of new sites.

It is important for IAC Secretariat Pro Tempore

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Acknowledgements

This document has been prepared by a team CIT. 2001. Texto de la Convención Interamericana consisting of the IAC Scientific Committee during para la Protección y Conservación de las Tortugas its 10th meeting, led by Dr. René Márquez, with Marinas http://www.iacseaturtle.org/eng-docs/ contributions from the Ramsar Secretariat and the Texto-CIT-ENG.pdf. Viewed: October 20th, 2014. IAC Secretariat Pro Tempore. We would like to thank the IAC Consultative Committee of Experts Evaluación de los Ecosistemas del Milenio. 2005. for the review and editions to this document at their Los Ecosistemas y el Bienestar Humano: Los 7th meeting, and we thank all our colleagues who Humedales y Agua/Informe de Síntesis. World contributed with additional information, reviews Resources Institute, Washington, DC. and comments to this document. Gaos, A.R., Lewison, R.L., Yañez, I.L., Liles, M., Wallace, B., Nichols, W.J., Baquero, A., Hasbún, C.R., Vasquez, M.J., Urteaga, J. & J.A. Seminoff. 2012. Shifting the life-history paradigm: discovery of novel habitat use by hawksbill turtles. Biology References Letters DOI:10.1098/rsbl.2011.0603

Limpus, C.J and Limpus, D.J. 2000. Mangroves in Bjorndal, K. A. & Bolten, A. B. 2010 Hawksbill sea, the Diet of Chelonia mydas in Queensland, turtles in seagrass pastures: success in a Australia. Marine Turtle Newsletter 89: 13-15. peripheral habitat. Mar. Biol. 157, 135–145. (doi:10.1007/S00227-009-1304-0) Newton, E. 2007. Anulación de las decisiones para la construcción cerca de un Sitio Ramsar fue CIT. 2012. Memorandum of Understanding is justificada. En http://www.ramsar.org/cda/es/ entered into by and between the Secretariat of the ramsar-news-archives-2007-a-ramsar-site-wins-its/ Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) and main/ramsar/1-26-45-48%5E18583_4000_2__ the Secretariat pro tempore of the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Pritchard. P., y Mortimer. J., Taxonomia, Morfología Sea Turtles. http://www.iacseaturtle.org/eng-docs/ Externa e Identificación de las Especies. En MOU_IAC_RAMSAR_Signed_ENG.PDF. Viewed: Eckert. K., Bjorndal. K., Abreu-Grobois. A. y January 6th, 2014. Donnelly. M. 2000. Técnicas de Investigación y Manejo para la Conservación de las Tortugas CIT. 2006. Amenazas a las Tortugas Marinas y Marinas. Grupo Especialista en Tortugas Marinas Posibles Soluciones. http://www.iacseaturtle.org/ UICN/CSE Publicación No. 4. 24 pp docs/publicaciones/9-Amenazas- Publicacion-con-fondo-Espanol.pdf. Consultado el Ramsar Convention Secretariat, 2010. Uso racional 15 de octubre 2013. de los humedales: Conceptos y enfoques para el uso racional de los humedales. Ramsar CIT. 2006b. Sea Turtles Life Cycle. http://www. Handbooks for the wise use od wetlands. 4ª iacseaturtle.org/eng-docs/publicaciones/ edition, vol. 1. Ramsar Convention Secretariat, ciclo-de-vida-ENG.pdf. Viewed: October 20th, Gland, Switzerland. 59 pp 2014. Ramsar Convention Secretariat, 2011. Wetlands in

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the Americas: The role of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the benefits of Ramsar Site Designation. Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Gland, Switzerland. 106pp

Ramsar Convention Secretariat, 2013. The Ramsar Manual: Guide to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Irán, 1971), 6a. edición. Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Gland, Switzerland. 120pp