Tagging activities of olive ridley turtle at Gadongalay and Gayetgyi Islands, Bogalay Township in Ayeyarwady division, Myanmar

Abstract

The population of sea turtle is distinctly decreasing year after year due to poaching, incidental catch by fishing gear, degradation of feeding grounds and nesting beaches. Myanmar started systematic conservation and management activities of sea turtle around 1997. In 2001, applicators and Inconel Tags were provided by SEAFDEC-MFRDMD so that research on sea turtles could be carried out using tagging technology. The tagging can yield valuable insight into migrations and the locations of foraging areas. Olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) is known to nest and forage in Myanmar. Inconel tagging activities on olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) were conducted at Gadongalay (Kadonlay) and Gayetgyi Islands. The nesting turtle population was recorded from 2001 to 2007. A total of 74 turtles at Gadongalay and 102 turtles at Gayetgyi island were tagged. Twelve tagged turtles at Gadongalay and 17 tagged turtles at Gayetgyi were recovered during the study period. Among 12 tagged turtles recovered, 10 turtles laid their eggs in Gadongalay Island. In Gayetgyi Island, 15 turtles of 17 recovered tagged turtles laid their eggs.