Leatherback turtles are difficult to see from boats, often raising only their heads from the water. Photo / Nathan Pettigrew
Leatherback turtles are difficult to see from boats, often raising only their heads from the water. Photo / Nathan Pettigrew
Experts from the US, Australia, and Aotearoa are studying endangered leatherback turtles from Whakatāne.
The research, funded by the DoC Marine Conservation Services Programme, aims to inform conservation strategies.
The Western Pacific leatherback population has declined by over 80% in 40 years, risking extinction.
Experts from the United States, Australia and Aotearoa are taking flight from Whakatāne to learn more about critically endangered leatherback turtles.
Their research involves a series of flights following gridlines to visually record numbers of leatherback turtles and estimate distribution to help inform conservation strategies, a media release said.
The research is funded through the DoC Marine Conservation Services Programme and is a New Zealand first.
DoC is leading the study locally alongside Upwell Turtles in the United States and with support and expertise from Niwa, Monash University in Australia, and Moss Landing Marine Laboratories in the Unites States.
Some of the team from Upwell Turtles, DoC, Niwa, and Monash University on a monitoring mission. Photo / Sean Williamson
International collaboration was essential to these research and conservation efforts because the West Pacific leatherback population being studied migrated huge distances across the entire Pacific Ocean.
DoC senior marine science advisor Dr Karen Middlemiss said leatherbacks were like the tuatara of the sea.
“They are as ancient as dinosaurs and their existence is under threat.
“The Western Pacific leatherback population has declined by more than 80% in the past 40 years and is at risk of extinction,” Middlemiss said.
Leatherbacks were seen off the east coast of New Zealand in summer and spring when the weather was warmer.
“Some of the population migrate here after nesting to forage on jellyfish and salps, but we don’t have a lot of information about them while they’re here.
“The Upwell team are world leaders in monitoring leatherback turtles and we are excited to be working together and benefiting from their knowledge and experience,” Middlemiss said.
Sarah Dwyer of the DoC Aotea Operations Team and Sierra Fullmer, Research Project Technician for Upwell Turtles, ready to monitor leatherback turtles. The special ‘bubble window’ is a necessity for viewing directly below the plane. Photo / DoC
Upwell Turtles executive director Dr George Shillinger said leatherbacks were among the most highly migratory and transboundary marine species on the planet.
“Effective conservation requires international collaboration from nesting beaches all the way to distant foraging habitats. We are thrilled to have New Zealand contributing to our global understanding and conservation of this ancient turtle species.
“It’s also exciting for our team to be experiencing New Zealand’s marine biodiversity. It’s a hotspot for so many species, we’ve seen beaked whales, baleen whales, ocean sunfish, and many different dolphins and toothed whales,” Shillinger said.
Leatherbacks face many threats across their habitats, including unintentional capture by fisheries, the harvesting of adult turtles and eggs, plastic pollution, nesting beach habitat loss, climate change, and vessel strike.
The public can contribute to protecting leatherbacks and other marine animals by preventing plastics and pollution reaching the sea.
No marine turtles nest on beaches in New Zealand. Any turtle on the beach should be reported immediately to 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).
