Marine turtles in the Southwest Palau Islands

Abstract

Green turtles, Chelonia mydas, nest on all of the islands in Southwest Palau in varying abundance, generally between the months of March and July. The largest nesting area for the region surveyed is Merir Island, which hosted an active nesting population of approximately 50 green turtles for the 1992 season. Helen Island also supports a small population of nesting green turtles, and Helen Reef accommodates a resident feeding population of both C. mydas and hawksbill turtles, Eretmochelys Imbricata. Even though E. imbricata feed in the reef areas, this species is not known to nest on any of these islands. The fluctuation of green turtle nesting numbers is regulated by the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in Australasia. It appears that the population of the Southwest Islands is also influenced by this phenomenon. Both species of turtle and their eggs are a food source for the islanders. It was estimated that 75-300 turtles per year are taken for subsistence use in the Southwest Islands, not including the numbers taken by poachers. The legislation governing the take of turtles and turtle eggs is ineffective in such remote areas due to lack of enforcement.