Sea turtles migrate from American Samoa to Fiji
Craig P. 1994. Sea turtles migrate from American Samoa to Fiji. Marine Turtle Newsletter. 66:7-8
The study was conducted because sea turtle populations have seriously declined in American Samoa, as they have throughout the South Pacific. Little is known about these turtles. As nature would have it, turtles do not generally nest and feed in the same area. Instead, they undertake large-scale migrations between their nesting and feeding areas. Available data indicate that migratory patterns of turtle stocks in the central South Pacific are vast and complex. Consequently, turtles throughout the region are a shared resource among the islanders. This greatly complicates conservation efforts for these animals. It does little good, for example, to protect turtles at their nesting sites in one country, only to have them killed for food or tortoise-shell jewelry when they migrate to their feeding areas in another country.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Craig, Peter
- Units
- NPSA , PACN
- Keywords
- American Samoa, Animal Studies, Fiji, Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Migration