Previous Story
It’s sea turtles nesting season • DFW appeals help to community to protect these species
|
Posted on Jul 09 1999
During the months of April to approximately August of year, sea turtles come up to beaches around Saipan to lay their eggs. It is sea turtle season.
The Division of Fish and Wildlife of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources wishes to remind the public of the plight of the sea turtles.
Sea Turtles have a challenging life, they need to be at least 20-50 years old before they are sexually mature to reproduce. Although they can lay up to 1,000 eggs in a nesting season, they face many natural predators throughout each phase of their lives.
Hatchlings from undisturbed nests risk getting eaten by birds, dogs, and land crabs on their long journey out into the open sea. Once in the open sea, bug fishes can feed on the newly hatched sea turtles. The lucky few that reach medium size or juvenile stage, risk getting caught in commercial fishing nets in the pelagic water.
Many times more often than not sea turtles’ flippers get tangled in these commercial fishing nets.
Sea turtles need to breath, but when their flippers get caught in any commercial fishing net they will drown and die.
Out of 1,000 sea turtles hatched during a nesting season, as few as three will reach maturity. Of the three living matured sea turtles, none or in very rare occasion only one will live to lay eggs in some of the beaches here in the CNMI.
The Conservation Officers of the DFW cannot be at every beach in the CNMI to protect sea turtles from poachers. We need the assistance from CNMI’s communities. If anyone sees any illegal activity pertaining to sea turtles, please contact the DFW at 322-9627 or 322-9628 (Saipan), 433-9293 (Tinian) and 532-9494 Rota). After regular working hours or holidays, please contact your local police.
