Press Releases

Three endangered green turtles nested at Sham Wan in 2003, AFCD says
Sunday, December 28, 2003

Three green turtles were found to have nested at Sham Wan, Lamma Island, during this year's June-to-October breeding season, according to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), which has been monitoring nesting activities for several years as part of its green turtle conservation programme.

"The turtles laid nine clutches of eggs, and some 900 eggs were found," said AFCD Wetland and Fauna Conservation Officer Mr Cheung Ka-shing. "All of the eggs were left to hatch naturally at Sham Wan.

"It took about two months for the baby turtles to hatch, with a hatching rate of 40 to 60%. Our nature wardens filmed a batch of baby turtles emerging from the sand and crawling towards the sea."

Green turtles are an endangered species. During the breeding season this year, one of the mother turtles spent more than two months in Hong Kong and nested seven times. AFCD staff attached a satellite transmitter to this turtle to track her movements after she landed at Sham Wan in late June.

This is the second time AFCD has used satellite tracking to monitor the migratory route of green turtles. The turtle in question left Sham Wan in early September and headed southwest along the coast of the South China Sea. After travelling about 900 kilometres, she reached the coastal waters off a small island between Hainan Island and Vietnam in late September.

"The satellite tracking studies indicate that some of the green turtles nesting at Sham Wan came from the coastal waters off Hainan Island. AFCD will continue the tracking programme to study the life history of the green turtles which nest in Hong Kong in order to help in the conservation of this endangered species," said Mr Cheung.

"Sea turtles are a migratory species. Every few years, the adults travel hundreds or even thousands of kilometres from their feeding grounds to their natal beaches to lay eggs. Therefore, international co-operation is crucial to the conservation work on sea turtles.

"AFCD will maintain contact with the Gangkou National Nature Reserve for Sea Turtles in Guangdong Province, and also communicate with other sea turtle researchers to achieve a better understanding of green turtle conservation work in other places," said Mr Cheung.

Mr Cheung urged the public to help protect green turtles. Vessels should avoid entering the sea inlet of Sham Wan during their June-to-October breeding season. They may also report any sightings or strandings of sea turtles to AFCD by calling 1823.