Marine Turtle Conservation in the Mediterranean: Update on Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Conservation Monitoring in Fethiye, Turkey MEDASSET - The Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles March 4th 2011 Submitted to The Bureau Meeting of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) The Republic of Turkey Ministry of Environment and Forestry - Environmental Protection Agency for Special Areas
MEDASSET hereby submits its comments on the document “Monitoring and Conservation Project (Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas) and Nile Turtle (Trionyx Triunguis) Population” distributed by the Turkish Delegation at the 30th Standing Committee Meeting of the Bern Convention (6-9 December 2010, Strasbourg) in light of the discussion on item 6.5 of the Meeting’s Agenda: Follow-up of previous Recommendations: Implementation of Recommendation No. 66 (1998) on the conservation status of some nesting beaches for marine turtles in Turkey”. The Turkish Delegation document is annexed to this short report. The below comments to the report concern information regarding Fethiye nesting beaches only. Several nesting records on Fethiye reported in the table “Number of nesting areas of Caretta caretta by years” of the abovementioned report are totally incorrect (in red and bold). The below table provides the correct numbers as per the 2010 IUCN report (in bold italics). NESTS RECORDED IN FETHIYE 2010 Turkish Delegation 2010 IUCN Year Report to Report the Standing Committee 1993 122 118 1994 281 158 1995 697 191 1996 147 88 1997 196 95 1998 97 93 1999 273 100 2000 248 110 2001 123 114 2002 84 84 2003 106 106 2004 85 58 2005 80 80 2006 72 72 2007 106 106 2008 79 79 2009 90 90 2010 93 93 Mean value 165.5 102
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It should also be noted that the number of nesting sites in Turkey has been revised. The Baran & Kasparek 1989 survey identified 17 important nesting beaches; Turkozan and Kaska (IUCN report, 2010) indicate that 4 additional important nesting sites have been identified since 1989 in Turkey, bringing the total to 21. COMMENTS ON THE SECTION “FETHIYE-GOCEK 2010 SUMMARY” OF THE REPORT SUMBITTED BY THE TURKISH DELEGATION Point 3 of the summary report: When compared to other beaches in Turkey (Cirali, Dalaman, Belek, Akyatan, Anamur, Dalyan, Demirtas and Gazipasa; Bolton & Witherington, 2003), the original nest numbers recorded at Fethiye make it of primary importance. With what criterion has it been declared of “secondary” importance in this report? Özdemir et al. 2007 state that “Fethiye Beach represents one of the most important nesting sites of loggerhead turtles” and “its importance increases because of the relatively higher proportion of male-producing nests (35%-40% of the hatchlings were males during the period 2000-2002) than other Turkish beaches.” The mean value of nests in Fethiye (165.5) deriving from the incorrect data in the table “Number of nesting areas of Caretta caretta by years” of the report is clearly incorrect. Türkozan (2006) and Ilgaz et al. (2007) show that the mean number of nests in Fethiye is 105, which largely agrees with the value in point 3 of the 2010 summary report (108.9). However, the Turkish report fails to recognise that the nest numbers are decreasing and there is no mention or explanation for the decrease of nest numbers in Fethiye. Point 13 & 15: Although the report mentions that hatchling success reaching the sea is about 83.7%, it fails to note that, due to the extreme light pollution and heavy disturbance due to tourism and other activities, almost all hatchlings at Calis have to be collected and brought to a darker part of the beach, where they can find their own way to the sea. In addition, the hatchling mortality at Calis beach would possibly be nearly 100% if protective cages were not placed on each nest and guarded for the entire incubation period. Also, the report does not indicate that a major cause of hatchling mortality at Yaniklar beach is erosion: the hatchlings get stuck in between cobbles, partly due to the sand mining occurring on the beach. Point 17: “The foremost factor of decrease is the hatchling success of the sea turtle nests in Fethiye Beach is the high ratio of egg decaying (20.9%)”: The author does not provide egg decay ratios from other nesting beaches in Turkey in order to justify why the ration in Fethiye is considered high. In addition, the ratio of egg decay at Fethiye beach is not the foremost factor for the reported decrease in hatchling numbers. Sand mining over the past years may be another significant reason for the decay of eggs, as this changes the structure of the beach. In conclusion, the report misses virtually all the critical elements that are causing the scientifically proven nesting decline at Fethiye SPA: light pollution; unlimited vehicle and visitor beach access at night; dense rows of beach furniture; waste pollution on the beach; absence of information signs; tree planting on the beach; and the plan to build a dry dock facility in Akgöl, among other developments.
REFERENCES CASALE P. & MARAGARITOULIS D. (Eds.) 2010. Sea turtles in the Mediterranean: Distribution, threats and conservation priorities. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. 257-294 ILGAZ C, O. TÜRKOZAN, A. ÖZDEMIR, Y. KASKA, M. STACHOWITSCH. 2007. Population decline of loggerhead turtles: two potential scenarios for Fethiye beach, Turkey. Biodiversity and Conservation 16, 1027–1037.
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MARGARITOULIS D., ARGANO R., BARAN I., BENTIVEGNA F., BRADAI M., CAMINAS J.A., CASALE P., DE METRIO G., DEMETROPOULOS A., GEROSA G., GODLEY B.J., HADDOUD D.A.,HOUGHTON J., LAURENT L.,LAZAR B. 2003: Loggerhead Turtles in the Mediterranean Sea: Present Knowledge and Conservation Perspectives. In: Bolton A.B. & Witherington B.E. (eds.) Loggerhead Sea Turtles, Smithsonian Institution pp. 175-231 ÖZDEMIR A., TÜRKOZAN O., GÜÇLÜ Ö. 2007: Embryonic Mortality in loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) Nests: A comparative study on Fethiye and Göksu Delta Beaches. Turkish Journal of Zoology 32: 287-292 TÜRKOZAN O. 2006. Preliminary Results for the population trends of two index beaches, Fethiye and Dalyan, Trukey, in: Frick, M., A. Panagopoulou, A. Rees and K. Williams (eds). Book of Abstracts - 26th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation, p. 330.
DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED (September 2010) T-PVS(2010)08E: Implementation of Recommendation No. 66 (1998) on the conservation status of some nesting beaches for marine turtles in Turkey - Report by the NGO (March 2010) Summary of follow-up actions to the Complaint submitted to the Bern Convention on 02-092009: Turkey: Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) in Fethiye. (September 2009) Complaint to the Bern Convention addressing the threats facing the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nesting beaches in Fethiye, Muğla province of Turkey. Available online at: http://www.medasset.org/cms/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=176&Itemid=85&lang=en
(2008) Published without a T-PVS reference: Sea turtle nesting beach degradation in Çirali and Fethiye, Turkey. Available online at: http://www.medasset.org/cms/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=153&Itemid=85&lang=en
RELEVANT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE: Recommendation No. 66 (1998) on the conservation status of some nesting beaches for marine turtles in Turkey
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Monitoring and Consery{tiorr Project for Selt l nftb (Cuntlla ctnllt4t, Chelottfum!11,1) Ln l Nilc Aur e(Ttitrtvx tritutgrri$) Population
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(Seventeenarâ‚Źas)have beenlocalizedin oLrrcountryfof nestingofthe seaturtles.Thifteenof these Iiethiye-G6cel(, bEache!haveprimafy inrpo[ar)ceand 5 of thert (Kdycegiz-Dalyan, GdksllDeltasr, Protection Belel(andPatafaSEPAs)areSpecialEnvironlnental Afeas. Continuousffonitofing studies have beerrcarried out within their reproductiolrperiod siDce is i establishment ofOurAgency( 1989). Ainrofthesestudies .
to reduce adverceeffects of activities ou sea tuftles on beachesin Special Protection to nininrum, Environmental Arcas(SEPAS)
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withinthebalance to irrplenentrleoessary measurcs of conservation-use, maiDtainirg nordtorillgstudiesfor population staftedin thepreviolrliyeam,
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to ensurethat problemsb6sed ponthattoLrrism activitiesin the regioncoiicideswith by nrear]s nestiIgafeasofseatuftlesareresolved oftrainingandraisirlgawareness.
Monitoring and Marhing Studieson Populntion During studiesmade at Dight,matureferualesgoing out in order to lay in the field are is madeandthenmarked.Duringstudiesperformedin theday determined, theirmeasurement time everyday,Destsof turtlesgoingout the nightbeforearemarkedandGPSofthesenests are recorded, Contlolling lests determinedbefore,data relatedto pfedation,hatchling andcoDtlolopeningsarelecorded. erlergelrcigs
Predatorsand Predstion Camelais settlp on beachin orderto watchmammalsdamaging nestsandotherspecies at ofpredatorsdamaging nestsareobtained. night.Thercforeinfornrationaboutpopulation Digitalmapswith scaleof 1/25.000ofnestingareasofspeciesareproduced.
I|rfbrnration Saudics At peakhoLLrs ofbeaches.Localcomnrunityandvisiton comingtc' beachareinformedabout stlLdies carricdoulgpdscaturtles.
SeaTurtle Rescarch,Rcscue,Rehabilitationand Information Center SEPAby EPASA,Gencml A protocolhasbccnsignedin iztuzuBeachof KtiyceEiz-Dalyar Direclorateof NalureProtectio|rand NationalParks,DalyanMtunicipality,and PamLrkkale Universityfor necessary response to the injuredseatutles. This protocolcameinto forceon 01.01.2009and The SeaTurtle Research,Rescue,Rehabilitationand lnformationCentre (DEKAMIIR)starledto strLdies. and Infornation Centre(DEKAMER) on The SeaTurtlo Research, Rescue,Rehabilitation 7 backto the seaand3 are Dalyanbeachrcceived12 injuredturtlesin 2010. ofthesereleased stil underrchabilitationbut 2 of them urdbrlunatelydied. Also,asatellitetransmitterwere seaturtLelested on Dalyanbeachand a femalegreenseaturtle attachedto one loggerhead arebeingfollowed. broughtliom Italy andtheirmi$ation roulesin Mediterrenean In 2008.Dalyar beachwas awarded"Bcst Open SpaceEurope 2008" prize by Magazine "TheTimcs".
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2010 Fethiye-Giicek SUMMAIIY thedates.l[0el2th 2010Rcgaldilgthc studiescafriedolrt on FethiyeBeachbetween I 5th2010: Seotember have been deterninedduring the tield studies l- 160 (:aretta c.r"erLlemergenccs 95 (59.4%)haveresulled oondLrcted on lrethiyeBcachin 2010.Of thcseemcrgencos. 'fwo tracks). in nesls,whefeas65 (40,6%)have not resultedin nests(l1on-neslcd havebeendetermined duringthe field studiesconducted Chelonict mydu; emergences on FethiyeBeachin 2010.Oftheseerncrgences, onehaveresultedin nests.whereas tracks).Nonoslsor non-nested traoksof onc havcnol resultedin nests(non-nested dulingor.ufield studies. eitherTi iottyctriungtli,iwereencountcrcd 2- Nestingdcnsityhasbeendeteminedas I 1,4nests/kmf(t Carellctcarettaalongthe lotal018.3lsn longstudiedFelhiyoBeach. 3- Accordingto Canbolat,2004,annualnean nestingdensityfor a. carel/,lon Fethiye on all regarding theevaluatiorl ol studiesconducted Beachis givenas 108.9nests/year hasclassifiedFethiye Canbolat(11004) nestingarcasin'l'urkey betwoen1987-2000. lor C. cdrellaaccordingto this llnp_ortance" Beachas a "NestinoSite all Sqc-oodary evaluation. As fot this studyconductedin 2010,anrlualnestingnumberfor C c4le//,1 as 95 nests/year. Outconeof this yearis closeto the evaluation hasbeendetennined of Canbolat(2004). or FethiyeBeachin 2010, 6 adtlt C. caretta 4- During the tleld studiescondrLcled lemaleshavebeentagged. on l'ethiyeBeach,40,0%havebeencagedagainst 5- Ol'1heCl.c./rclt4nestsdeterminled possibLe humanbaseddamagewith prismcages. o '
Gl,Of ,l" C. c4r?ridneslsdeternineclon FethiyeBeach,two nestslrasbeenencountered
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7- Of the C. carella nests determined on Fethiye Beach, 100,0"/0have resulted in hatchlilg emergence. 8- Of the C c(lrctla \esls determinedon Fethiye Beach,2,lVo have bee[ subjectedto decayingof the entireclutch. 9- Due to the risk ofwashing effect ofthe wavcstltat may result in decayingofthe entire clutch.0,0oloof lhe C. caretla \1estshave been relocatedand ca ied 10 suitableareas liLrtherfrom the sea. 10- 12 eggspredatedhas been observedon the eggsofc carella Destson Fethiye Beach Nevertheless.larval damageon the eggshasbeendete nined insidethe nesls. I l- Hatchlingemergencesuccessofthe eggsleft in (-l caretta nestson Fethiye Beachhas beendeten'ninedas 79,070.
l2-Decayingdensil)'ol' thc cggs in ('. turtt!tt nesLsolr lrclhiyc Bcach lras bcen determined as2 i.0%.
along ihi 6irir.n"rniy. l3-lor thc (l rrr-?//,rhatchlings crllergingflom their nesrs the been deterrnined as 83,79lo, whereas the ratio of Beach.success to reach scahas monalityon theway1()theseahasbeendctermined as 16,3%. 14-Ofthe C. crl/'?I/ahatchlingsemergingfiotl (heir nestson Fetlliyo Beach.80,57ohavc ofiented towtuds the directioDs labelLedas Y2+Y3 (exDected[atufal orientation directions),whereas19,5%haveofienled towardsother dircctions. 15-According to the dala obtained from tl,e hatchling olifl'ltation sludies, succcssof rcachingthe seafor the halchLi[gsleaving tlreir nestshastreenclctemrinedas 80,070. 16-Fof the tolal ol 7.695 eggs depositedlD the C. cdretta nesls on Fethiye Beach, the as 4.949(64,37o). numbefofhalchlings reachingthe seahas beencaLculated 17-'fhc fofemostlhctor to decreasethe hatchlingsuccessoI tlre seaturtlc nostsoD Fethiye Beachis thc high ratio ofegg decaying(20,9%).
Trainingand InlbrmatoryStudies A booth was establishedin the mo[ths betweenJune and Septemberin 2010 al the of tourism informationcenterfbundedin (lalg districtfot localpeople.staff and managers l'acilities.nativeand loreignbeachuscrs.ID this booth,the film introd[cingseaturlleswas shown;posteN,stickersandleafletswergdistribuled. for Environmental Training,the boothof EPASA Anong thc acliviliesol MobileTransporter carried out. place weil and inlbrmatory studies were took as Under the organizationand coordinationof IIPASA Mulla Direolorate;three distinct of mectingswereheldwilh thepadicipation 1. thepcoploliving on tourismin qahg,Fethiyc. 2. therelatedpublicirslitutionsandlocalauthorities, 3. tl,epeopleliving on toudsmir YanlldarandNGOs. with thepafiicipants on; theideaswereexchanged In the meetings, thel'nbitatsolsea turtlesa[d lil'ecycleofthe species, thesDecies. themeasurements to betakenin orderto conserve public institutions, theresponsibilities of to betakenby thepeopleliving on tourismduringtheiractivitieson theDleasurements wheredefinedastudles andusageprinciplesofthe beacheri the beaches. Protection breedingarea, solutiotls, 5. problernsfacedin theareaandsuggested protection pfogram planned implemented in nextyearto be 6. the
l. 2. 3. 4.
After thesemeetingsin September'2010, in anotherneetingwasheldwith thepaticipationof Aclion Planof all ofthe peoplelivi[g on tourismin thearea,the infonnationon Conservation SeaTurtlesthatis planncdto be inplenentedin nextyâ&#x201A;Źarwasgiven.