Island and Ocean Ecosystems
On Wednesday this week, a group of good samaritans rescued a live hawksbill turtle which was on sale at a roadside stall on the north coast of Upolu in Samoa. Staff from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) were involved in tagging the rescued turtle and releasing it at the Palolo Deep Marine Sanctuary in Apia. The release was co-ordinated by Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson and James Atherton of Samoa Conservation Society.
Ms. Juney Ward of Samoa's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) believes that this incident presents a good opportunity to remind the public about the laws in Samoa surrounding the protection of marine turtles.
"Under the Marine Wildlife Protection Regulations 2009 and Fisheries Regulation 1996, it is illegal in Samoa to sell, catch, injure or kill turtles. We are asking the public to support our efforts to protect these endangered animals by reporting such incidences of sale or capture to MNRE or the Fisheries Division."
The turtle that was released on Wednesday was named 'Storm Turtle' by the people who rescued it and now carries the tags R31052 and R31053 on its flippers. Ms. Penina Solomona, SPREP's Convention on Migratory Species Pacific Officer, explains that these tags will contribute to ongoing efforts to protect marine turtles in the Pacific region:
"Should Storm Turtle, or any other tagged turtle, be encountered, we ask that the tag numbers are reported to SPREP to help us track its movements. Turtles that have been tagged in Samoa have previously been reported as far away as Fiji, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. This highlights the migratory nature of the species, and the importance of working in collaboration across the region in order to protect them."
Ms. Solomona added that hawksbill turtles can live up to an astonishing 100 years. "Given the rescued turtle's size, we estimate that it is no more than 15 years of age - it's even too young for us to determine whether it is male or female."
Witnesses to the turtle release on Wednesday applauded Storm Turtle as he or she enthusiastically made its way back into the ocean for a second chance at a long, and hopefully safe, life.
For more information: An easy-to-understand guide to conservation laws in Samoa, including information on the protection of marine turtles, can be downloaded from here.
Ms. Juney Ward of Samoa's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) believes that this incident presents a good opportunity to remind the public about the laws in Samoa surrounding the protection of marine turtles.
"Under the Marine Wildlife Protection Regulations 2009 and Fisheries Regulation 1996, it is illegal in Samoa to sell, catch, injure or kill turtles. We are asking the public to support our efforts to protect these endangered animals by reporting such incidences of sale or capture to MNRE or the Fisheries Division."
Pictured above: The rescued hawksbill turtle gets ready for release after being fitted with SPREP turtle tags.
The turtle that was released on Wednesday was named 'Storm Turtle' by the people who rescued it and now carries the tags R31052 and R31053 on its flippers. Ms. Penina Solomona, SPREP's Convention on Migratory Species Pacific Officer, explains that these tags will contribute to ongoing efforts to protect marine turtles in the Pacific region:
"Should Storm Turtle, or any other tagged turtle, be encountered, we ask that the tag numbers are reported to SPREP to help us track its movements. Turtles that have been tagged in Samoa have previously been reported as far away as Fiji, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. This highlights the migratory nature of the species, and the importance of working in collaboration across the region in order to protect them."
Ms. Solomona added that hawksbill turtles can live up to an astonishing 100 years. "Given the rescued turtle's size, we estimate that it is no more than 15 years of age - it's even too young for us to determine whether it is male or female."
Pictured above: Ms Penina Solomona, with onlookers, watch as Storm Turtle is released at the Palolo Deep Marine Sanctuary in Apia, Samoa.
Witnesses to the turtle release on Wednesday applauded Storm Turtle as he or she enthusiastically made its way back into the ocean for a second chance at a long, and hopefully safe, life.
For more information: An easy-to-understand guide to conservation laws in Samoa, including information on the protection of marine turtles, can be downloaded from here.