Erosion affecting nesting of sea turtles in Guyana

Available nesting grounds for sea turtles have been dwindling in recent years due to erosion on Guyana’s coastal protected area, Shell Beach.
Site Coordinator at the Protected Areas Commission, Samuel Benn, on Tuesday noted that this has negatively impacted nesting activity within 2015 and 2018. As at last year, there was a small deposition in these figures.

The topic came under light during a ‘Sea Turtle Conservation’ webinar in commemoration of World Sea Turtle Day on June 16.
The nesting data summary shows there is a decreasing trend, from 353 in 2015 to a significant drop of 151 in 2018.
“Some of the challenges that sea turtles face are accidental capture in fishing nets, poaching of eggs, and the slaughtering of an adult female for consumption. The main challenge is beach loss due to erosion…The summary is showing a decreasing trend from 2015 to 2018. All of this is coupled because of the loss of nesting beach,” he outlined.
Because of this, the Commission is tasked with conducting a survey at the start of every nesting season to select suitable areas where these exotic creatures can continue their species.
Shell Beach is one of five protected area systems, namely Iwokrama, Kaieteur, Kanuku and Konashen Amerindian settlement. It is Guyana’s only coastal protected area, spanning some 123,055 hectares with 120 kilometres of beach and mudflats.

The beach is known primarily as the main nesting site for four of the world’s seven sea turtle species. During the nesting period of February to August, the leatherback, hawksbill, Oliver Ridley and green sea turtles return to the shores to continue the existence of their species.

Sea turtle sighting statistics from the Commission show there were 618 turtles in 2015; 373 in 2016; 579 in 2017; 417 in 2018, and 419 last year. Benn highlighted that fluctuation is understandable, given that sea turtles nest within three to four years’ intervals.
During the nesting period, the Commission and World Wildlife Fund-Guianas are tasked with ensuring that sites are stable. In some cases, the eggs are moved to a superior location.
“The Protected Areas Commission, with financial and technical support from WWF-Guianas, has been actively monitoring sea turtles on the main and isolated beaches along the protected area since 2015. The monitoring is conducted by PAC rangers, with other staff from the communities that are hired during the nesting season…If a turtle nests in an area that is prone to erosion or that is likely to erode before that nest has hatched, that clutch would be relocated to a safer spot.”

Fishing inspections
Fisheries Officer Randy Bumbury also highlighted incidents in which sea turtles are trapped in fishing nets and the mechanisms in place to protect these animals. Presently, there is a Turtle Excluder Device (TED) which is specifically designed to allow turtles to escape unharmed. In 2018, Guyana achieved a 94 per cent technical compliance rate by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – higher than the required 87 per cent standard.
“All trawlers are required to have TEDs on their fishing equipment, and carry a spare on board. This is a requirement by law,” Bumbury voiced.
There are other regulations in the Fisheries Act 2000, General Marine Regulations 2018, Guyana Marine Fisheries Management Plan 2013-2020, Seabob Fisheries Management Plan 2015-2020, and others which mandate penalties for any contravention by fishermen.
The leatherback turtle, officially declared an endangered species some time ago, can be found in only a few locations around the globe. According to WWF Marine Conservation Officer Sopheia Edghill, the Guianas – comprising of the Republic of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, has been battling to save other endangered marine species; namely sharks, stingrays and marine mammals.
As part of the regional approach, they are seeking to adopt new technologies, such as flexible TEDs, as well as advocation for the mandatory use of these devices in shrimp trawlers.
During nesting seasons, stakeholders are asked to report any sea turtle sighting to the PAC; WWF; Guyana Wildlife; Conservation and Management Commission, Department of Fisheries; or the Guyana Marine Conservation Society.