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    1. What we do
      1. Marine Species

Turtles in the South Pacific

Download and print your own WWF turtle conservation posters in both English and Fijian!

Protecting a cultural icon

The Pacific region covers approximately 32 million km2 of ocean and is home to six of the seven species of marine turtles, of which five are found in Fiji.

These are species recognised as having strong cultural links with the peoples of the Pacific and feature in many of our myths, legends, songs and traditions. For many Pacific cultures, marine turtles were once a sacred food item reserved only for those of noble rank. Over time, marine turtles have been subjected to numerous threats as customary practices erode and their popularity in commercial markets increased.

WWF South Pacific recognises marine turtles are a sensitive issue due to them being intricately linked with culture. WWF South Pacific, therefore, employs three key strategies to engage with people at various levels in order to recover the sea turtle population in Fiji.


AWARENESS

In recognising ownership and presence at critical habitats, WWF South Pacific works with communities & partners to build and strengthen partnerships to systematically monitor and manage marine turtle populations and their critical habitats.
WWF South Pacific community awareness workshop

RESEARCH

It has long been recognised that knowledge gaps are a constraint to making good decisions. WWF South Pacific collaborates with partners to collect and collate information through biological and social surveys of identified sites. In implementing activities such as nesting beach surveys, satellite tracking of turtles, and market assessments, WWF South Pacific envisions that the information will be used to support behavioural and policy changes.
WWF staff attach a satellite tag to a Green turtle for research

POLICY

In recognising the need to create conditions that will allow these slow maturing animals to breed and feed successfully, WWF South Pacific supports the Department of Fisheries in the development and implementation of policies such as the Fiji Sea Turtle Recovery Plan and the Moratorium that are geared towards protecting turtles while in Fiji waters. WWF South Pacific also engages at the regional and international level in the development of policies and actions relevant to national priorities.

WWF South Pacific believes that the conservation of marine turtles and their key habitats will also address broader environmental challenges such as coastal erosion, marine pollution and coral reef degradation. WWF South Pacific places great emphasis in engaging local communities to recognize their invaluable traditional and local knowledge which complements Western science.

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