Sea Turtles Remain Protected Under State And Federal Laws

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Damon

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and NOAA Fisheries remind the community that sea turtles remain protected under State and Federal laws.

In Hawai‘i, sea turtles are protected by the Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (Chapter 195D) and Hawai‘i Administrative Rules (13-124). Although Federal and State wildlife conservation laws differ in some respects, all prohibit actions that can harm, injure, kill, or otherwise disturb sea turtles without a permit.

The two types of sea turtles most frequently observed in Hawai‘i nearshore waters are the green and hawksbill sea turtle. The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is listed as threatened and the hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Three other listed species – loggerhead, leatherback, and olive ridley sea turtles – generally inhabit offshore environments in the region and are very rarely seen in Hawai‘i’s coastal waters.

“We want to remind the community that all sea turtles are still protected, and that both State and
Federal consequences apply to anyone harming a green sea turtle,” said DLNR Chairperson William J. Aila, Jr. The public is urged to act responsibly and not attempt to touch, disturb, feed, pursue, ride, harass, harm, or otherwise injure these animals.

On February 16, 2012, NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (jointly referred to as the Services) received a petition to classify the Hawai‘i population of green sea turtle as a Distinct Population Segment (DPS) and evaluate that population for de-listing under the ESA. The contents of this petition are currently being reviewed to determine if the petition warrants further consideration. If so, a scientific review of the status of the species will be initiated.

While any person or organization may submit a petition to list or de-list a species, this action alone does not affect the legal status of that species. If the Services propose any changes to the listing status of green sea turtles in the future, public comments will be requested and considered before any final decisions about de-listing are made. “Even though a petition for de-listing was filed, green sea turtles in Hawai‘i remain protected under State and Federal laws,” said Aila.

Sea turtles across the U.S. face threats including, but not limited to, illegal harvest, destruction and alteration of nesting and feeding areas, incidental capture in commercial and recreational fisheries, entanglement in and ingestion of marine debris, disease, vessel strikes, and climate change. To effectively address all threats to sea turtles, the Services have developed recovery plans to direct research and management efforts for each sea turtle species.

In Hawai‘i, on-going sea turtle recovery activities include efforts to reduce and eliminate direct harvest of, and interactions with, sea turtles in nearshore and commercial fisheries; eliminate the threat of fibropapilloma (a tumor disease that can be harmful to sea turtles); protect important nesting and
feeding areas; and reduce impacts from boat strikes, disturbance, and marine debris.

To report a sea turtle in distress, please call (808) 983-5730 or visit NOAA’s sea turtle stranding website at: http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/psd/mtrp/turtle_contact.php

For more information on the DLNR visit http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr

For more information on NOAA visit http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/

For more information on the USFWS visit http://www.fws.gov/pacificislands/teslist.html

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Hawaii to Receive Federal Money for Monk Seal and Sea Turtle Protection

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Damon

Hawaii will receive $128,584 to develop and expand programs designed to protect and help preserve the Hawaiian monk seal, green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles, Senator Daniel K. Inouye and Senator Daniel K. Akaka announced today.

Monk Seal sign posted at Onekekaha Beach Park

The money comes from a grant administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The project will enhance efforts to reduce and document human disturbance of monk seals and sea turtles caused by growing numbers of beach goers and inshore recreational fishers on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Hawaii island.

The project will establish the States first Marine Protected Species (MPS) program for the long-term conservation and management of monk seals and sea turtles.

The work will include developing and delivering public education products and activities. Outreach efforts will be designed to enhance public knowledge of “seal-friendly” and “turtle-friendly” ocean recreation and fishing practices.

The work will also entail direct intervention at popular beaches and fishing areas.

“Protecting the monk seal, the most endangered fin-footed marine mammal in U.S. waters, the green sea turtle and the hawksbill turtle will require a concerted effort by all who use the ocean.  The alleged killing of four monk seals during the last six months highlights the immediate need for a combination of intervention and culturally sensitive education and outreach.  This grant will continue the process of correcting misinformation about the monk seal while also addressing the challenges facing the green sea and hawksbill turtles.  We must be diligent stewards of the ocean and I am very pleased the administration recognizes the need to invest in the protection of these marine animals,” said Senator Inouye.

“The monk seal and honu are among Hawaii’s most treasured native species.  We must do all we can to protect these important marine animals so that our keiki and future generations can learn from and enjoy them like we do,” said Senator Akaka.

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Volunteers Witness First Green Turtle Nesting on Hawai’i Island

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Damon

Hawai‘i Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project recorded one of its most historic sea turtle nesting seasons in 22 years, including the first recorded green turtle nesting on the island of Hawai‘i, a rare daytime nesting by a hawksbill turtle, and an increase in the number of newly tagged female hawksbills.

Courtesy of the Hawai'i Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project

In the 2011 report released today, a female green turtle, or honu, was first observed attempting to nest on the beach in front of the park’s remote Halapē campsite.  She then traveled 52 coastal miles southwest and nested at Pōhue Bay. Her historic nest was a success, with 40 baby honu reaching the ocean. Green turtles are federally listed as threatened, are indigenous to Hawai‘i, and are seen throughout the islands. They typically nest in the French Frigate Shoals, but there have been occasional documented nestings by honu on the other main Hawaiian Islands.

Courtesy of the Hawai'i Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project

Also within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, a female honu ‘ea, or hawksbill turtle, was observed nesting at ‘Āpua Point at noon, the earliest daytime crawl in project history.  Hawksbill turtles are endangered, and nest primarily at beaches along the southern coast of Hawai‘i Island at night.

Volunteers helped an estimated 3,000 hatchlings reach the ocean from a total of 30 nests (one green, 29 hawksbill) along five of the beaches they monitor: ‘Āpua Point, Halapē, Kamehame, Kōloa, and Pōhue Bay.

“Without the help from over 20 dedicated volunteers this season, many of these hatchlings would not have made it to the ocean.  Thanks to them, there is hope for the survival of honu‘ea” said Will Seitz, project coordinator.

Other season highlights included a nest excavation with third grade students from Volcano School, and a continued increase in the number of newly tagged honu ‘ea females. Out of the nine female adult hawksbill turtle observed, five were newly tagged while the rest were returnees from previous seasons.

During nesting season, from May through December, females come ashore to lay clutches of eggs.  The eggs are vulnerable during the two-month incubation, and are preyed upon by mongoose, rats, feral cats, and dogs. After the hatchlings emerge they can become caught behind rocks or vegetation, disoriented by artificial lights, run over by vehicles, or eaten by mammals and birds. Volunteer efforts are critical to their survival.

The 2011 report can be downloaded from the park’s website,
http://www.nps.gov/havo/naturescience/turtles.htm
.

For information on how to help, visit www.volunteer.gov/gov, or contact the Hawksbill Project at 808-985-6090.

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UH Hilo Students and Professors Rescue Endangered Sea Turtle

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Damon
Media Release:

University of Hawai‘i at Hilo students enrolled in the Marine Science (MARE) Summer Program were recently treated to a rare hands-on learning experience as they witnessed the real-life rescue of an endangered sea turtle at Punalu‘u.

George Balazs with the turtle at Punalu‘u

Wednesday, June 29, began routinely enough as the students, Professors Dr. Jason and Jennifer Turner, plus MARE staff John Coney and Jill Grotkin huddled with George Balazs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Marine Turtle Research Program to evaluate the health and fitness of Hawaiian green sea turtles (honu). However, their session was interrupted when Hawai‘i Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project Coordinator Will Seitz reported that a green sea turtle had inadvertently crawled into and became stuck in a freshwater pond at the site of the old Punalu‘u Village Restaurant.

The distressed animal turned out to be a critically endangered female Hawksbill sea turtle (honu‘ea); whose numbers total just over 100 nesting females. Dr. Turner and Balazs initially tried deploying a large net to surround the animal. That is until Dr. Turner felt something brush up against him.
“The turtle bumped into me right as we got into the water, then swam toward the other end of the pond,” Dr. Turner explained, “The second time I felt the turtle swim by I dove under, grabbed onto a hind flipper, and held on until the rest of the team could help. I couldn’t see the entire body due to the muddy water, but I could tell it was a big animal.”
It wasn’t until students and researchers managed to restrain the animal and place it on a scale that they understood the extent of their discovery. At 309-pounds, the female Hawksbill was one of the largest ever recorded. The animal was examined for injuries, measured, tagged, and then released into the ocean as visitors and beach-goers looked on and erupted into applause.
For Balazs, a world-renowned sea turtle expert, the episode had a touch of déjà vu. It was just over 11 years ago that Balazs, with the help of UH Hilo Professor Leon Hallacher and a group of university Marine Option Program students saved another female Hawksbill from the very same pond. “George was telling us the story of that Hawksbill as we were setting up, but we had no idea that history was about to repeat itself,” said Jennifer Turner.

Students and onlookers watch as the turtle is released into the ocean at Punalu‘u

The latest rescue is apparently known to observers, as she is believed to be one of an estimated 12 percent of Hawksbill females that utilize multiple beaches. The animal was seen nesting a few days ago at Kamehame, where she was first tagged in 2005. She was also spotted there in 2007 in addition to a site at Halape.

How she ended up in the freshwater pond remains an open question. Balazs believes the animal may have entered the pond during the March tsunami and remained there until her rescue. There are also reports that she crawled into the pond sometime this summer after attempting to nest on Punalu‘u beach, where a nesting turtle had been reported by the public weeks earlier.
What is certain is that for everyone involved, the rescue of a rare Hawaiian Hawksbill turtle was an educational experience they won’t soon forget and one that left quite an impression on the students. “Awesome,” said one student when asked how it felt to be involved in the rescue. “I’m seriously thinking of transferring here.”
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