IMIS

More data on marine turtle abundance, distribution, nesting success, mortality, and movement throughout the Republic of Palau must be gathered to better ensure the survival and restoration of healthy turtle populations. The Palau Marine Turtle Conservation and Monitoring Program’s goal is to continue to assess, publicize, and improve the current status of the critically endangered hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, as well as the threatened green turtle, Chelonia mydas. The nation-wide turtle program, initiated in September of 2004, has established a national management program that includes nesting beach monitoring, flipper tagging, satellite transmitter tracking, and foraging surveys. This program is the catalyst for collaborative efforts with local, regional, and international partners to improve turtle management in Palau.