This collaborative monitoring programme focuses on the long-term study of green turtles (Chelonia mydas), hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata), loggerheads (Caretta caretta) and leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea) within the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area (MPA). By addressing gaps in their in-water ecology, the programme aims to improve understanding of habitat use, residency and population patterns and support adaptive management within this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Programme Coordinators: Santosh Bachoo, Welly Qwabe (Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife)
Co-Workers: Grant Smith (Sharklife NGO), Natalie dos Santos, Diane Le Gouvello, Ronel Nel (Nelson Mandela University)
Permit: Ezemvelo Project
Objectives
- Develop a robust, multi-year photo-ID database to monitor individual turtles and gather biological data.
- Estimate species-specific population trends, abundance and demographic parameters.
- Refine monitoring methods and identify index sites for long-term data collection.
Monitoring Importance
Sea turtles spend much of their lives in marine habitats, yet these in-water life stages are less well documented than nesting activity on beaches. Long-term monitoring within the iSimangaliso MPA can improve understanding of site use, residency, species composition and population structure, providing managers with information to assess changes through time and identify important habitats.
Monitoring Sites
Initial monitoring focuses on high-priority sites, including:
- Quarter Mile Reef (Sodwana Bay): A frequently used reef with regular turtle observations and comparatively high levels of diving activity.
- Saxon’s Reef (Kosi): A remote reef site used to examine turtle occurrence under lower levels of human activity.
- Adlam’s Reef: An algal-dominated habitat supporting regular green turtle observations.
- Raggie Reef: A lower-disturbance reef where multiple turtle species may be recorded.
Research Methods
The programme uses a combination of non-invasive monitoring methods:
- Underwater Visual Census (UVC): Photo-identification and behavioural observations collected by trained divers.
- Remote Underwater Video (RUV): Provides repeated visual observations of turtles at monitored reef sites.
- Citizen Science: Incorporates verified public submissions of turtle sightings where suitable for the monitoring dataset.
Collaborators
This programme is a collaboration between Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Sharklife NGO, Nelson Mandela University and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, combining management, field and research capacity to support long-term monitoring of sea turtles and their marine habitats.