Green turtle nesting sites and sea turtle legislation throughout Oceania

Abstract

This is a literature review compiled by the National Marines Fisheries Service (NMFS) Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) Protected Resources Division (PRD) to facilitate better understanding of green turtle nesting distribution in the Central and Western Pacific Ocean, including a summary of legal protections for sea turtles throughout the region. This synthesis of 189 Pacific green turtle nesting locations, nesting assemblage characteristics where available, and current national legislation provides the background information necessary to identify where gaps exist in monitoring and management. This will help NMFS (or other relevant stakeholders) prioritize and direct future research, management activities, and international collaborations to advance green turtle conservation and recovery efforts in the Pacific.