Marine Turtle Research Program
Goal
The goal of the Marine Turtle Research Program (MTRP) is to achieve the biological recovery and sustained management of sea turtle populations in Hawaii and other U.S.-affiliated islands in the Pacific Ocean, and to assist Pacific Island and Pacific Rim nations to recover sea turtle populations to the degree possible. To obtain this goal, MTRP objectives are to:
- Monitor, assess, and conduct biological investigations at selected sea turtle breeding sites.
- Develop comprehensive computer stimulation models and other quantitative tools to monitor population trends, better facilitate sea turtle recovery efforts and to assess impacts of fishery bycatch data.
- Assess post-hooking survival, movements, and ecology in pelagic habitats relating to interactions with high seas fisheries.
- Investigate the pathology, etiology and epidemiology of fibropapilloma disease.
- Conduct cooperative research and provide technical assistance and research training to Pacific Island and Pacific Rim nations to promote the collection, analysis, and sharing of sea turtle data, including fishery bycatch data.
Research Priorities
The following constitutes a summary of the research priorities of the Protected Species Division's Marine Turtle Research Program. All elements encompass significant if not exclusive research components designed to support management decisions. Many of these elements represent on-going monitoring and other studies that comprise valuable long term (>20 years) datasets and time series of biological and ecological information directly relating to better understandings of the dynamics of sea turtle populations, not only in Hawaii but world wide. The program is a recognized leader in these research arenas, based on peer reviewed publications.
- Conduct basic investigations of the biology, life history, and ecology of sea turtles in their benthic habitats and on nesting beaches to establish and to continue long term time series datasets.
- Conduct fishery by-catch reduction and/or mitigation through international collaboration leading to increased knowledge of the pelagic ecology and movements of turtles in oceanic habitats (in partnership with Dr. Jeff Polovina's Ecosystems and Oceanography Division).
- Monitor population trends at nesting beaches and in foraging areas-establishment of long term datasets.
- Conduct simulation modeling of long term datasets to determine population dynamics for stock assessment (substantially in cooperation with Dr. Milani Chaloupka).
- Conduct health assessments with focus on fibropapilloma disease complex to determine causes, containment measures, impacts to individuals and populations (substantially in cooperation with Dr. Thierry Work and other wildlife disease specialists).
- Conduct a sea turtle stranding and salvage network involving long term time series datasets, but as an ancillary objective and benefit also involves rescue, rehabilitation, and return to the wild of turtles.
- Conduct observer training of both agency and foreign personnel in the collection of sea turtle data as part of their duties aboard commercial long line fishing vessels.
- Conduct sea turtle research training, capacity building, and data/information exchange for Pacific island and Pacific Rim personnel.
- Conduct "remote viewing" for research and monitoring using digital imaging cameras and other experimental instrumentation.
- Undertake educational outreach involving superior "customer service" to the public focused on the research we conduct and results obtained.
- Publish our research findings in peer reviewed journals.
Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Release Studies
Marine Turtle Stranding Contact Information
- All Hawaiian main islands
- Oahu (pdf)
- West Hawaii (Kohala-Kona) (pdf)
- East Hawaii (Hilo) (pdf)
- Maui / Molokai / Lanai (pdf)
- Kauai (pdf)
To report suspected law enforcement violations, such as killing, harming or harassing a turtle, please call:
- State of Hawaii Conservation Enforcement at 587-0077 (on Oahu) or Dial "0" for the operator and ask for "Enterprise 5469" from an outer island.
- NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Law Enforcement at 541-2727, or toll-free at 800-853-1964.