2nd ASEAN Symposium and Workshop on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation. Click here

World’s first Trans-Boundary Marine Park between Sabah, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Introduction to the Turtle Island Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA)

History in the Development Of The Sabah - Philippines TIHPA

Management Objectives of the TIHPA

Institutional arrangements

Key Initiatives

Educational Goals Initiative Marked For Critical Funding

Research Objectives and Strategies

Economic Opportunities

Expected Deliverables

News Around the Region

Sharp decline in Turtle population

Turning to a Turtle Haven

2nd ASEAN Symposium and Workshop on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation

SESSION 1: Management and Conservation

ABSTRACTS

  Artificial Lighting and the Recovery of Sea Turtles

Florida serves as an important developmental habitat for sea turtles, and hosts the second largest loggerhead rookery in the world. This paper reviews the historical decline of sea turtles in Florida, U.S.A., and the recent evidence that suggests a modest recovery. ASEAN countries and Florida have in common that they are experiencing rapid coastal development. In Florida artificial lighting from coastal communities is an important source of hatchling mortality, and probably constricts the location of major nesting sites to the few remaining dark beaches. ASEAN countries can plan now to avoid these problems by developing national light management plans. Central to such a plan is protection of the present major rookeries ('core areas'). At these sites, lighting should be entirely excluded not only from the beach, but also from areas behind the beach in the form of a buffer (no development) zone. Such areas should be established as preserves, perhaps supported by ecotourism. The facility at the Malaysian Turtk Islands Park in Sabah can serve as a good model. Smaller rookeries located near existing coastal communities can be protected by well-established light management techniques. By planning now, ASEAN countries can avoid Florida's mistakes, which necessitate expensive and labour-intensive efforts to protect rookeries. They will also be in a better position to both protect and sustain their sea turtle resources for future generations.