|
Nesting Season Starts Today in Hong Kong!
| |
c WWF-Canon / Martin HARVEY |
|
The Green turtle nesting season has run from June to October in the past but numbers returning have dropped to perilously low levels in recent years. Without better protection, such as a multiple-jurisdiction action plan for conservation, marine turtles in the South China Sea are at risk of extinction. Ever since 2003, no Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) have nested at the Sham Wan beach on Lamma Island, which is the only site where Green turtles have nested regularly in recent decades.
"When turtles at this beach historically returned for nesting every year, the three-year gap is looking ominously like this is near the end for green turtles breeding in Hong Kong" noted Dr Andy Cornish, Conservation Director of WWF Hong Kong. "Since 1999, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) have incubated several hundred eggs from Sham Wan and released the hatchlings, but natural mortality is so high it is unlikely this new generation can form a viable population." Scientists estimate only one of 1,000 baby green turtles lives into adulthood. These signs are worrying as marine turtles have the inborn habit of going back to their original natal beach where they are born, for nesting.
Marine turtles actively migrate. Satellite tags attached to a Green turtle at Sham Wan by government experts in 2003 revealed a migration path travelling 310 miles over 20 days to the coastal city of Wanning on Hainan Island.
Existing Protection of Marine Turtles
All marine turtle species are currently protected under the Wild Animal Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170), the Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance (Cap. 187) and other Ordinances. According to information from the IUCN, Green turtle is listed as "Endangered."
| |
© WWF-Canon / Jason RUBENS |
|
The beach at Sham Wan, southern Lamma Island has been declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Restricted Area since 1999. Access to the beach is prohibited during the nesting season in Hong Kong (June to October).
Given the level of protection, why aren't the turtles coming back?
There are many possible reasons, but no easy answer can be given due to the complexity of marine environment as affected possibly by human activities, such as direct consumption, by-catch, pollution, climate change, and habitat destruction and alternation as a result of reclamations and infrastructure developments.
When AFCD introduced protection measures at Sham Wan beach, the numbers of nesting Green turtles was already low. Prior to 1999, Lamma villagers were known to collect and eat turtles and their eggs.
It is estimated that about 200,000 to 300,000 marine turtles are accidentally killed by shrimp trawling nets and offshore longlines globally. Poaching also occurs in SE Asia for food and ornaments, and one Chinese vessel with a crew from Hainan caught in Malaysia in March 2007 had more than 220 Green and hawksbill turtles on board illegally. Fisheries bycatch in waters around Hong Kong and Southern China could be one of the main reasons why Green turtles are disappearing, along with costal developments around previously remote nesting beaches.
Additional protection measures for the Hong Kong Green turtle population may be too late. Conserving populations of long-lived and slow reproducing species such as Green turtles once they go into decline, is very difficult, particularly for migratory species with a large range.
Although it is reported that a single Green turtle nested at a Tai Long Wan beach in 2006, and another at Big Wave Bay on Hong Kong island prior to that, such occasional nestings do not give much cause for hope that this majestic ancient mariner will continue to grace our shores for much longer.
Actions from You
WWF calls for a stop of any further encroachment of natal sites. Known marine natal sites or any newly discovered sites and surrounding waters should be fully protected from human disturbance. The government should preserve coastline areas known for marine turtle nesting currently or in the near past.
Support WWF's Save our Seas (SOS) campaign to prevent our marine ecosystem, where marine turtles rely on, from collapsing.
Fisherman should avoid fishing in waters close to the natal sites during the spawning season. Release them back to the sea if they are caught accidentally.
Beach visitors, divers etc should avoid disturbing any marine turtles in the water or at beaches identified for marine turtle nesting, i.e. Sham Wan and Tai Long Wan, as a passive effort to encourage turtles coming back to Hong Kong for nesting. Report any sightings to AFCD at 1823 during this coming June to October nesting period!
|
