A Review of the Status of Sea Turtles in the Pacific Ocean 2021

Abstract

This status review is a compilation of the most recent literature and statistics on the status of sea turtles in the Pacific Ocean region, providing a clearer understanding of the risks to sea turtles and their habitats. It presents a summary of the relevant (published) literature and knowledge about sea turtle reproductive biology, movements, and connectivity, and presents these alongside relevant threats that, in combination, are pertinent to understanding the status of sea turtle populations in the Pacific Ocean. This knowledge will be incorporated into a risk extinction model for sea turtles in the Pacific, to be used at national and regional levels to develop effective management and conservation programmes to ensure that sea turtles continue to play their important ecological roles and continue to be part of local customs and traditions. The activity was funded by the SPREP-led By-catch and Integrated Ecosystem Management (BIEM) Initiative of the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) programme funded by the European Union and the Government of Sweden