17 January 2006
Endangered Leatherback turtle an unusual find
Department of Conservation staff have taken samples to learn more about the biology of the rare and critically
endangered leatherback turtle washed up in Golden Bay last week.
Minister of Fisheries Jim Anderton said it was unusual to find leatherback turtles in Golden Bay. "Leatherbacks are
typically found in warmer temperatures than those in Golden Bay; however fishers have recently been observing more warm
water species in the area. It is possible this turtle came south due to the warm weather and water temperatures we have
been experiencing lately."
The turtle was discovered floating in the Challenger Scallop Company spat catching site in Golden Bay offshore of
Tarakohe Harbour. A staff member on board a Challenger vessel identified the turtle as a leatherback and promptly
informed the District Compliance Manager of the Ministry of Fisheries in accordance with the Wildlife Act. The turtle
drifted from the position in which it was first found to Wainui Bay.
"Leatherback turtles are a protected species under the Wildlife Act, and according to law members of the public are not
allowed to be in possession of them," Jim Anderton said.
It is not known whether the turtle became entangled in the spat catching equipment or drifted dead into the site.
However the Challenger Scallop Company are already working with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
(NIWA) to look at the future deployment of spat catching gear and developing a code of practice to ensure any risks to
turtles are minimised.
Note: The leatherback turtle is listed as critically endangered. It takes leatherbacks eight ? 15 years to reach
reproductive maturity.
Leatherbacks lay 50 ? 180 eggs per nest and incubation takes 50 ? 55 days. Hatchlings are very small and are vulnerable
to predators, both land and water based. Scientists estimate that only 1 in 1000 leatherback hatchlings survive to
adulthood.
The world population of the leatherback is estimated between 30,000 and 40,000. In 1980 there were over 115,000 adult
females but now there are less than 25,000 worldwide.
Source: http://www.seaturtles.org
ENDS