Title of Project:
2024 Survey of Sea Turtles in Taiping Island

Duration: 
From May 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024

Name of Principle Investigator: 
Assistant Researcher Fellow Tsung-Hsien Li, National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium 

Abstract of Project:
In order to continue the sea turtle reproduction monitoring program inTaiping Island and train our marine conservation inspectors in sea turtle reproduction survey capabilities, we plan to have the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium and our inspectors work together to record the reproduction of egg-laying female turtles (surveys of new and old turtles, marking of female turtles, ratio of turtles coming ashore to lay eggs on the north and south coasts, etc.), and record the temperature of the egg nests, so as to understand and compare the differences in Taiwan's coastal spawning sites, population differences, and explore the sex ratio of young turtles in the in Taiping Island, thereby promoting understanding of the sea turtle population in Taiping Island and providing a reference for the planning of subsequent conservation policies.

Outcomes and Milestones:
From May to October 2024, three times surveys were conducted, along with continuous monitoring by officers from the Ocean Conservation Administration. These efforts focused on collecting data on nesting turtles, as well as information related to nest distribution and hatching success rates. A total of 141 nesting female green turtles were tagged, with mean curved carapace length and width measuring 97.06 cm and 86.16 cm, respectively. During the survey period, 221 nests were recorded, with the majority (141 nests, 63.80%) located on the northern shore of the island. The middle part of the southern shore, characterized by disrupted sand cliffs, had the fewest nests (2.26%; 5 nests), suggesting that topography may influence nesting site selection. In total, 19 temperature sensors were buried in nests (10 on the northern shore, 9 on the southern shore) to monitor temperature and calculate hatching success rates. The average nest depth was 71.55 cm, the mean clutch size was 69.75 eggs, and the overall hatching success rate was approximately 73.3%.Taiping Island currently holds the record for the highest number of nesting green turtles and nests among Taiwan's offshore islands. To further the conservation of this protected species, it is recommended that government agencies consider implementing a long-term monitoring program to collect more comprehensive data and gain deeper insights into the local sea turtle population.