SPREP -Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme

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Marine turtle satellite tracking

Satellite tagging was one of the priority actions identified for the Year of the Sea Turtle (YOST) campaign under the SPREP regional Marine Turtle Action Plan 2003-2007, and continues under the Marine Species Regional Action Programme 2008-2012.

The plan calls for continuation of the satellite-tagging programme first initiated under YOST. It focuses on tag releases by multiple member countries to emphasize the shared nature of turtle stocks. In addition, satellite tagging will provide the needed data where not known/available, in particular the movement of nesting turtles after nesting.

The current turtle satellite programme is a collaborative undertaking by SPREP, the Marine Turtle Research Program (NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Hawaii), and member countries. Dr George Balazs is the Head of the Marine Turtle Research Program, NOAA.

Current trackings

Update migration of two green turtle nesters satellite-tagged and released north of Taveuni Island, Fiji, on 7 December, 2010. These green turtles were "caught" nesting on Vetau'ua Island and brought to Taveuni for attaching the satellite tags. They migrated back to Vetau'ua Island to re-nest.

Update for the three loggerheads satellite-tagged and released on Yadua Island, Fiji, on July 14, 2010.

Adi Laveti Yadua (adult female Argos ID 52702) has only been giving a few signals lately, so the antenna may be wearing away as the turtle rubs against coral and rocks on the sea floor.

Some of the recent positions for Vueti Yadua (sub-adult Argos ID 50136) suggest movements to the west beyond Yasawa.

It is the start of the mating and nesting season for loggerheads in our Southern Hemisphere and it would be interesting if the Yadua loggerhead turtles migrate to some distant nesting area.