NOAA SEA REPORTING INFORMATION

For injured or dead :

O`ahu/Lāna`i/Moloka`i (808) 725-5730 (primary) (808) 286-4377 (after hours) GREEN TURTLE FAQS 96% of honu nesting Kaua`i • Green turtles are air- • Adults can hold their breath occurs at French • Incubation temperature (808) 274-3344 breathing marine for up to three hours while Frigate Shoals in the of the nest determines a that depend on land, sea, resting, but typically surface Papahānaumokuākea hatchling’s sex — warmer and healthy reef . every 15 to 30 minutes to Marine National nests produce females, and (808) 286-2549 (primary) breathe. Monument, with some cooler nests produce males. (808) 286-2899 • Green turtles are named after the color of their body • The age of first reproduction sporadic nesting activity Hawai`i due to their herbivorous (sexual maturity) is between occurring throughout the (808) 286-4359 (Hilo) (vegetarian) diet. 25 to 35 years old. main Hawaiian Islands. (808) 881-4200 (N. Kona) • Honu feed primarily on red • Honu nesting and hatching (808) 327-6226 (S. Kona) and green (known season spans May to • Each female lays an average as limu), , and December. of four nests in a season. (such as • Adult females typically nest • Each clutch (nest) of • Hatchlings typically emerge For illegal or suspicious activity that may result ). in turtle injury or death, contact: every 4 years, returning contains an average of 100 from the nest at night and • Adults grow to 3 to 4 feet to the same geographic eggs that incubate for about find the ocean by crawling DOCARE: (808) 643-DLNR (3567) in shell length and weigh location where they hatched two months, depending on towards the brighter, open NOAA OLE: 1-800-853-1964 upwards of 350 pounds. to nest. temperature. horizon. [email protected] SEA TURTLES IN HAWAIIAN HAWAIIAN CULTURE VIEW TURTLES RESPECTFULLY GREEN SEA TURTLES View sea turtles on land and in the water from a As indigenous in Hawai‘i, Recovering yet still protected respectful distance of 10 feet (3 meters). sea turtles play an important role in Hawaiian cultural traditions and It is common for Hawaiian honu to rest (bask) on mo‘olelo (stories). the beach. Honu (green turtle) and ‘ea or honu‘ea (hawksbill turtle) are mentioned in the fourth verse of the Kumulipo, the Hawaiian creation chant. Some families continue to revere sea turtles as their ‘aumākua, spiritual guardian. Traditionally, sea turtles were incorporated into native practices, religious ceremonies, and diet. Shells, bones and oil were used to make fish hooks, tools, jewelry, and medicine. Harvest was tightly regulated by traditional management practices of the kapu system (cultural rules, code of conduct) enacted by Chiefs or Ali‘i. Photo credits: D. McLeish, C. King, NOAA Fisheries, JIMAR/NOAA

green_brochure_fnl.indd 1 6/19/2017 9:30:39 AM PRIMARY THREATS YOU CAN HELP! FISHING AROUND TURTLES

• Increasing temperatures and sea level rise may • “It’s OK to help!” Fishermen, check your gear often and, An accidental turtle interaction can occur when fishing. affect nesting and foraging habitats, alter sex ratios, if safe to do so, release turtles from gear (cut line close to Fishermen are encouraged to help prevent deadly effect nesting success and hatchling survival. hook). Help remove derelict gear and line from reefs to entanglement by following these best-practice guidelines: prevent entanglement. SAFETY FIRST • in shore-based fisheries (hook and line, If safe to help... trap, and gillnet) can entangle, injure, or kill turtles. 1. Reel-in turtle • Disease such as fibropapillomatosis (FP) can cause 2. Hold turtle by shell/flippers debilitating and sometimes life-threatening tumors. 3. Cut line close to hook Although FP has declined over time, it persists in the 4. ID-green or hawksbill? population and may be related to poor or degraded 5. Release with no line attached quality. REMEMBER TO: UNIQUE TO HAWAI‘I • Boats or jetskis can strike turtles that live near Check bait after every nibble or in shallow reef habitats. Use barbless circle hooks to reduce injuries The global green turtle population is classified into 11 Clean your catch away from turtles threatened and endangered Distinct Population Segments. • Coastal development and , beach • View turtles from a distance of 10 feet (3 meters). Give turtles space. Human disturbance can disrupt Hawaiian green turtles (honu) are genetically distinct and armoring, erosion, and urban/agricultural runoff normal behavior and cause stress. GREEN OR HAWKSBILL? spatially isolated from all other populations. They remain can damage or reduce the quality of habitats. Both species occur in Hawaiian waters, yet hawksbill turtles protected under state and federal laws as a “threatened” • Never feed directly or indirectly. Do not are rare. Learn to identify the difference and report any species under the Act (ESA). • Other threats include entanglement in marine debris, predators, and illegal hunting. unintentionally feed turtles when cleaning fish at hawksbill sightings to NOAA or HIhawksbills.org. harbors or from your boat. Status As a result of protections, the nesting population has • Post-a-Watch on your boat to look out for marine Green / Honu Hawksbill / `Ea / Honu`ea Chelonia mydas increased over the last two decades by 5% per year, with wildlife to prevent boat strikes. Ensure “turtle safe” transit Eretmochelys imbricata almost 800 females nesting annually (compared with 67 (5–10 knots) near harbors and in shallow reef habitats turtles in 1973). where turtles tend to live.

If the population is recovering, why is it still • Avoid beach driving. Off-road vehicles crush nests, protected? Reasons include: create tire ruts that trap hatchlings, and degrade habitats. • Small isolated population in the Central North • Rounded head • Narrow head and Pacific (less than 4,000 total nesting females) pointed with low genetic diversity • Prevent debris and rubbish from entering the ocean. Top image: Green turtle Participate in beach and reef cleanup activities. with FP tumors on neck • Anticipated climate impacts and . 1 2 • Volunteer with a program. 1 2 • Extremely limited spatial distribution — 96% of Bottom image: Deceased Contact [email protected] for information. 3 4 the population nests at one low-lying atoll that green turtle entangled is very susceptible to erosion and habitat loss in a fishing line. from sea level rise • Report injured or dead turtles, nesting activities or baby hatchlings to the phone numbers located • Accidental catch in shore-based fisheries on the back of this brochure. • 2 pre-frontal scales • 4 pre-frontal scales (between eyes) (between eyes)

green_brochure_fnl.indd 2 6/19/2017 9:30:42 AM