Kalli De Meyer 1 St Eustatius Country Report Jessica Berkel, Sea Turtle Program Coordinator St Eustatius National Parks Outline Just where is St Eustatius? Laws protecting turtles Turtles in the Marine Park Statia s Role in Sea Turtle Conservation Research on Statia s Sea Turtles on land and in-water Questions
Coral Parks Programme 2/3/2013 Where is St Eustatius? Laws protecting Sea Turtles in St Eustatius 1978 Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention) Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW ) Protocol of the Cartagena Convention Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles Turtles are protected year round on St. Eustatius Kalli De Meyer 2
Kalli De Meyer 3 Species of turtles in Statia s waters Leatherback Turtle Hawksbill Turtle Green Sea Turtle Loggerhead Turtle (unconfirmed sighting in 2003, confirmed tracks in 2010/13) Statia s role in sea turtle conservation Goal: to promote the long term survival of the endangered sea turtles populations of Statia Monitor sea turtle nesting and foraging populations Protect habitat and reduce impacts on nesting populations Conducting beach clean-ups Limit impacts on nesting beaches (sand mining, erosion, driving) Involve the local community
Kalli De Meyer 4 Concerns on index beach: Cliff falls Driving on sand Sand Mining Beach Erosion
Kalli De Meyer 5 Research and Monitoring past, present, future Beach Mapping 10 years - ongoing Long term record of sand movement and beach erosion Facilitates better management of the nests and decisions on relocation or not Average of the distance from the stakes to HTL in 2006-2011 80 70 HTL distance [m] 60 50 40 30 20 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 10 0 1 4 7 101316192225283134374043464952555861646770 Stake number
Kalli De Meyer 6 Sand temperature survey Swansea University Black volcanic sand Some areas high % of cooked eggs Results so far. Shading experiment Wageningen University 2m 1 m 0,5m 25 12,5 25 2 m? 50 25 37,5 37,5 2,25m? Palm leaves, white sand, white sheet Preliminary results: Palm leaves seem to work the best, dropping the temp by up to 1 o after 3 days
Kalli De Meyer 7 Leatherback Hatching Success History of low nesting success 2009 pilot nest relocation project Hatching success in relocation area was 0% Use the shading method advised or Incubation Program has the equipment and know how but no opportunity yet
Kalli De Meyer 8 Future project: sand analysis In water surveys
Kalli De Meyer 9 In-Water survey in 2008 and 2011 Survey is done around the entire island Most sightings are on the Caribbean side of the island the busiest side In Water Dive Sightings Collaboration with the local dive shops to provide data of all sighted sea turtles in marine park Started in 2005 and is ongoing Size, sex, distribution, activity, environment, periods
Kalli De Meyer 10 G5 Loggers Swansea University G5 s record temperature and pressure Learn about movements and feeding behaviour Sleeping turtles on the Chien Tong Wreck Population assessment at Chien Tong Results from the G5 logger research continued in follow up population assessment study (40 turtles counted) Tagging Sea turtles with all-weather paint stick and the Lincoln-Petersen method will be used
Kalli De Meyer 11 Notable since we last spoke Albino green hatchlings Track 5 time visitor to Statia Laid Dec 13, hatched March 31 Miracle nest relocations 108 days incubation!!!!!! Thanks to the following:
Kalli De Meyer 12 Closing Questions and Answers Thank you for your interest