Conservation Actions in a Small Sea Turtle Feeding Area at Phra Thong Island, Thailand

Abstract

This study has been conducted as part of the Sea Turtle Conservation Project (STCP) at Phra Thong island (PTI), South Thailand, which has focused on sea turtle research and conservation since 1996. An area of about 40 m2 in the sea was identified and used as a study area to collect data on sea turtle behavior. Every turtle nesting season (January to April), juveniles of hawksbill turtle (E.imbricata) and green turtle (C.mydas) were regularly observed. The number of sightings from 2006 to 2011 varied from 8 to 128. The highest number of sightings (N=128) was recorded in 2010, when a hawksbill turtle (juvenile) was observed in the area within the same space nearly everyday. Those sightings were also noted as the longest diving time (15.4 to 17.3 minutes on average) compared with other years. The data collected confirmed the importance of this area as a sea turtle feeding ground. The area is also used by local fishermen, by touristsvisiting for snorkeling trips and more recently by divers. The human impact is increasing year by year, threatening one of the remaining areas suitable for sea turtle feeding ground.