Sea Turtles in Polynesia: An Incredible Renewal Thanks to the Mobilization of Residents and Sanctuaries

Thanks to permanent awareness campaigns and the implementation of conservation programs across the territory by the Polynesian government’s Environment Directorate, the situation of sea turtles has seen a marked improvement.

Species progressing thanks to increased vigilance

Dr. Cécile Gaspar, founder of the association Te mana o te moana (« The spirit of the ocean »), which has been working in favor of sea turtles since 2004, is encouraging: « For green turtles, it seems that we are on an upward trend for about five years now. » This positive trend is reflected in the increase in observations made by fishermen, boaters, or divers, both in lagoons and on the outer slopes of reefs. Even better, green turtle nesting is reported again in areas that had been deserted for many years.

Regarding the hawksbill turtle, although there are no confirmed nesting sites yet, its presence is becoming more frequent on reef slopes. Populations appear stable, and there is an increase in the number of young individuals observed.

As for other species of sea turtles present in French Polynesia – loggerhead, leatherback, and olive ridley – data remains too scarce and scattered to establish reliable trends at present.

Care and rehabilitation: committed centers in Bora-Bora and Moorea

Two specialized care centers for sea turtles have been established: one in Bora-Bora and one in Moorea, welcoming injured, sick, or weakened turtles. « Since its creation, » explains Dr. Cécile Gaspar, « we have received at the Moorea center over 500 turtles, mainly greens and hawksbills, but also a few olive ridleys and one loggerhead. »

More than half of the residents have injuries or illnesses caused by human activity: shot, trapped in abandoned fishing lines, or victims of plastic ingestion. The latter scourge is recurrent, and even when not the cause of their death, plastic waste is found in the majority of autopsied animals.

Good news, however: unlike in other parts of the world, accidental catches in fishing nets are rare in Polynesia, as is the ingestion of hooks or collisions with boats.