Climate change’s impact on turtles
Published on: Friday, April 19, 2024
By: Sherell Jeffrey
Gavin Jolis, Marine Species Strategy Manager, conducting marine turtle research in Tun Mustapha Park. © Marine Programme / WWF-Malaysia
Kota Kinabalu: Sea turtles and their habitats in Sabah is significantly impacted by climate change and the rising sea levels, according to WWF-Malaysia Marine Species Strategy Manager Gavin Jolis.
These environmental changes could lead to the loss of nesting beaches due to erosion and inundation, as well as reducing available nesting habitat for sea turtles,” said Gavin in an interview with Daily Express on marine turtle conservation in Sabah.
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One of the critical issues Gavin pointed out is the effect of global rising temperatures on the sex of turtle hatchlings.
“The warmer temperatures tend to produce more female hatchlings, while cooler temperatures result in more males. This could potentially skew the sex ratio of sea turtle populations, leading to imbalances and affecting reproductive success,” he said.
Community members of Tun Mustapha Park tagged a female nesting marine turtle. © Marine Programme / WWF-Malaysia
Additionally, Gavin expressed concern about the bleaching of corals in reefs caused by global rising temperatures.
“This bleaching can result in the loss of foraging grounds for sea turtles, further impacting their ability to survive and reproduce,” he said, adding that several key initiatives have been undertaken in Sabah to address the impacts of climate change on sea turtles and their habitats.
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One approach is the protection and restoration of coastal habitats through the establishment of marine protected areas and habitat restoration projects by authorities and non-governmental organisations.
“These efforts aim to provide safe nesting beaches and foraging grounds for sea turtles, helping to mitigate the loss of habitat due to erosion and inundation caused by rising sea levels,” he said.
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He also emphasized the importance of having continuous monitoring and research by institutions and universities.
“These efforts are essential to understand the effects of climate change on sea turtle populations and their habitats.
“By studying the trends and impacts, conservationists can develop more effective strategies to protect these vulnerable species,” he said.
He said Sabah has implemented adaptation strategies to help sea turtles cope with changing environmental conditions.
“One such strategy is the relocation of turtle nests to safer areas to prevent them from being inundated by rising sea levels,” he said, adding that authorities and hatchery operators have implemented appropriate shading of turtle hatcheries to ensure optimum nest incubation conditions,” he said.
In addition to the impacts of climate change, other specific threats that turtles in Sabah face are coastal development, illegal poaching and harvesting of eggs and turtles, marine pollution and bycatch (accidental capture in fishing gears).
“The illegal poaching of turtles is a significant concern, especially in Sabah, although it has not officially been documented in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak,” he said.
Kekal Asli Tigabu community members conduct nightly beach patrols on Tigabu Island within Tun Mustapha Park. © Marine Programme / WWF-Malaysia
He said WWF-Malaysia has played an active role in addressing the threats faced by sea turtles through a combination of conservation initiatives.
“One of the key strategies is supporting the State Government and agencies in establishing and managing protected areas, including nesting beaches, foraging grounds, and migration routes, to conserve critical turtle habitats.
“These protected areas help ensure that sea turtles have safe spaces to nest, feed, and migrate, thereby contributing to their long-term survival,” he said.
Additionally, WWF-Malaysia collaborates with the private sector, such as resort operators, and local communities to raise awareness about the importance of turtle conservation.
“By empowering these stakeholders to participate in conservation efforts, WWF-Malaysia aims to create a sense of ownership and responsibility towards protecting sea turtles and their habitats.
“This includes initiatives such as patrolling nesting beaches and developing alternative income opportunities for local communities, which reduces their reliance on activities that may harm sea turtles,” he said.
Another aspect of WWF-Malaysia’s work is supporting efforts to strengthen law enforcement measures to combat illegal poaching and trafficking of turtles and their products.
“This includes providing training and capacity building for enforcement agencies and promoting collaboration with authorities to prosecute offenders,” he said.
He said WWF-Malaysia has collaborated with local communities and authorities in Semporna and Tun Mustapha Park to protect turtle nesting sites through a variety of approaches.
“One key strategy is engaging and empowering communities through workshops, awareness, and educational programs,” he said.
“These initiatives aim to raise awareness about the importance of turtle conservation and encourage active participation in protecting nesting sites among local residents.
“WWF-Malaysia also provides training and capacity-building programs to equip local communities with the necessary skills and knowledge for effectively monitoring and safeguarding turtle nesting sites.
“This includes training in nest identification, protection methods, and data collection techniques, enabling communities to play a more proactive role in turtle conservation,” he said.
In addition to training, WWF-Malaysia facilitates the establishment of community-based monitoring programmes.
“These programmes empower local communities to actively monitor turtle nestings and promptly report any illegal activities or threats to nesting sites.
“This real-time monitoring helps ensure the timely intervention of authorities and conservationists to protect the nests and nesting sites,” he said.
He said they also work closely with relevant government agencies and authorities, such as the Sabah Wildlife Department and Sabah Parks, to support the management and enforcement of regulations related to turtle conservation and their habitats in Semporna and Tun Mustapha Park.
Gavin said the collaboration with the Sabah Wildlife Department, Sabah Parks, local communities, NGOs, and private sectors to protect nests and nesting beaches for turtles in Semporna and Tun Mustapha Park has been impactful.
“Through these partnerships, we have contributed significantly to increasing the nestlings of green and hawksbill turtles and ensuring the survival of turtle hatchlings in the region,” he said, adding that in Tun Mustapha Park these efforts have yielded remarkable results.
“Initially, only one beach was monitored, with fewer than five nests recorded per year. However, by 2023, the number of monitored beaches has expanded to over 10, thanks to the efforts of local communities and NGOs in Tigabu Islands Complex, Maliangin, Berungus, Balambangan, Simpang Mengayau, and Bavang Jamal.
“This increase in monitoring sites has corresponded with a significant rise in nesting activity, with more than 30 green turtle nests recorded annually,” he said.
Similarly, in Semporna, there has been a significant positive shift in turtle nesting activity over the years. Initially, only two beaches were monitored, resulting in fewer than 100 nests annually in 2009, he said.
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