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Marine Turtle Newsletter 49:16, © 1990

Indonesian Hawksbill Turtle Ranching: A Pilot Project

Ismu Sutanto Suwelo
Forestry Training and Education Centre, Jalan Gunung Batu, P.O. Box 42, Bogor Indonesia

On 7 March 1989 an arrangement was signed in Jakarta for a joint programme between the Department of Forestry cq Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (PHPA) and the Nippon Turtle Shell Associated Federation (NTSAF) to launch a pilot hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) ranching project in Indonesia. This pilot ranching project will be carried out on Serangan Island, Bali, and a simultaneous turtle conservation management project will be concentrated on Belitung Island off South Sumatera. Belitung Island will also serve as a source for turtle eggs to be reared at the ranch.

An important aspect of protecting sea turtles is to obtain an economic benefit (on the basis of sustainable yield) that will ensure the long term survival of these species, avoid over-exploitation resulting from illegal hunting, and prevent further deterioration of important habitats. Unfortunately, the utilization of the green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill sea turtles, which are not fully protected by Indonesian law, seems to be increasing throughout the Indonesian archipelago. Therefore, every effort should be taken to prevent the extinction of these species. Ranching is one of several proposed programmes promoted to protect the turtles in Indonesia by eventually releasing hatchlings back into the sea. In addition, 15 areas for conserving sea turtles have currently been set aside. Another 20-25 sites are proposed to be declared as natural conservation areas, mainly for the hawksbill.

The NTSAF and the PHPA will cooperate in conducting field surveys, managing turtle nesting habitat, establishing the pilot project for ranching the hawksbill turtle and also set up a training course in sea turtle conservation and management. Sea turtle specialist groups in both countries, with the assistance of the IUCN Marine Turtle Specialist Group, will work together to design a strategy for conserving hawksbill turtles in the region. The conservation scheme will focus on two aspects: protection and wise utilization. We hope that the pilot project will provide data, information and experience which will be useful as inputs for the ranching proposal to be discussed at the next CITES conference.