Myrtle (the turtle of course) Battles Climate Change

A new book is available that discusses the challenges that climate change pose for sea turtles. Though written for Torres Islander's children, the book is general enough to have relevance for most classes in the Pacific.
Download a pdf of the book at:
http://www.coralcoe.org.au/edures/myrtleclimatechange.pdf

The book's full citation- should you want to order the actual book-  is:
Fuentes (2010) Myrtle's battle against climate change. Reef and Rainforest Research Centre Limited, Cairns, Australia (22pp.). ISBN 978-1-921359-42-2 (pbk.)

More outreach materials are available at
http://www.coralcoe.org.au/edures.html

Sea turtle status and conservation efforts in the NMI

Reprinted from the Marianas Variety, Jan 18, 2010. Link to the original article at:
http://www.mvariety.com/2011011733495/local-news/sea-turtle-status-and-conservation-efforts-in-the-nmi.php

(CNMI Sea Turtle Conservation Program) — There has been a recent flurry of activity in the news lately regarding sea turtles and associated court cases. This is a brief update regarding sea turtle status in the CNMI and a summary of current activities of the Department of Land and Natural Resources Sea Turtle Research and Conservation Program.

Sea turtles are a long-lived species with a complex life history. They undertake wide-ranging, international migrations and reach maturity (age at first reproduction) at about 30 years of age.  This life cycle leaves turtles vulnerable to multiple sources of mortality or impacts (harm) ranging from natural environmental causes to human- caused impacts from development, disease, fisheries, or direct harvest.

The status of green turtles in the Mariana Archipelago is not well known due to the lack of long-term data on nesting and foraging populations. “Long-term” data in this case means population information ranging over the species lifespan, or about read more....

Additional information

Volunteer with the Sea Turtle Program:
664-6026/ haggan@pacmares.com info@pacmares.com
CNMI Sea Turtle Conservation Program:
664-6024/ info@pacmares.com
Report harassment or capture of turtles:
DLNR Enforcement 664-6030/898-3570
Rota DLNR 532-9494/5
Tinian DFW 433-1404/1
On the web: http://www.pacmares.com/stp/Welcome.html  
www.ihaggan.com

NOAA Sea Turtle Coordinator Sets the Record Straight

NOAA NMFS PIRO (google that!) Sea Turtle Recovery Coordinator Irene Kelly provided a clear overview of the state of understanding about our local sea turtle populations and threats to their recovery in the Marianas. Though published in the Saipan Tribune in May, its worth revisiting as a recent survey of CNMI residents by Pacific Marine Resources Institute showed that the current, available information is not reaching the general public-- an issue that the letter to the editor highlighted. Click here to see the full article.

Sea Turtle Film Showing at American Memorial Park

First Friday Films, a partnership between Division of Environmental Quality and National Park Service, sponsors screenings of environmental films at American Memorial Park on the first Friday of every month. This month (Dec. 3, 7 pm) FFF is featuring a short film on hawskbill sea turtle conservation efforts by several communities in Solomon Islands as well as a locally produced film on the Fanihi or Marianas fruitbat. Visit the FFF's Blog for details.

Update on Chuuk Sea Turtle Consumption Mortalities

An article published in the Kasalehlie Press on November 19 reports that the original death toll of three on Murillo Atoll from eating sea turtle meat has risen to seven. There is still no indication of what exactly caused the poisoning, but a post on the CTURTLE listserve from health officials clarified that the cause was not from eating spoiled meat. Read the Kaselehlie Press article here.

$1000 reward for Turtle Poaching Information

Although put this story was new news in 2008, its worth repeating. NOAA Office of Law Enforcement is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of sea turtle poachers in the Marianas. Federal fines are substantially greater than those issued by the local government... up to $25,000 in civil penalties, up to $100,000 in criminal penalties and up to a year in jail. Read an article in Saipan Tribune on the subject here.

Man Sentenced for Turtle Poaching on Saipan

Although three other 'fishermen' pled guilty and were also issued jail time, the last defendant was just sentenced. The news of this sentencing is receiving global recognition via the CTURTLE listserve, which published the following:

On Monday Nov. 15, 2010, the Superior Court sentenced Jimmy K. Manalo to six months in prison for removing a green sea turtle from CNMI waters.

The six-month sentence is all suspended except for one month, with credit for time served.

Manalo had admitted that, on Sept. 5, 2010, he with others knowingly and willingly possessed a green sea turtle by removing it from the ocean to the land, violating administrative regulations and laws of the CNMI.

Manalo will be placed on three years of probation, pay a $1000 fine, forfeit the fishing gear used to possess the turtle, and perform community service.

Manalo is barred from boarding a boat for fishing during his probation, and his spearfishing shall be limited and monitored by local conservation authorities.

http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=104699