Destination Revealed: Post-Nesting Migrations of Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) from Moso Island, Republic of Vanuatu.

Abstract

Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting populations and behaviors in the Republic of Vanuatu are poorly understood. In an effort to evaluate their internesting home range, post-nesting migration and foraging habitat home ranges, 7 post-nesting hawksbill turtles were satellite tagged at Moso Island, Republic of Vanuatu between January 2018 and January 2020. The mean internesting home ranges of two turtles was 0.8 km2 proximal to their nesting beach indicating possible value in establishing a marine protected area along the north coast of Moso Island during the nesting season. The Great Barrier Reef, Australia and New Caledonia were the two major post-nesting destinations. Hawksbill turtles are legally protected by law in both countries. Foraging home ranges for 4 hawksbill turtles in New Caledonia and Aneityum Island, Vanuatu ranged from 1.7 to 28.9 km2. It will be important to continue this study to better determine the total area of habitat utilization of the internesting hawksbills at Moso Island in order to facilitate the implementation of community-based conservation measures and to illuminate home range location and size.