Nesting biology and conservation of the olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) in Brazil, 1991/1992 to 2002/2003

Published source details Da Silva A.C.C.D., De Castilhos J.C., Lopez G.G. & Barata P.C.R. (2007) Nesting biology and conservation of the olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) in Brazil, 1991/1992 to 2002/2003. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 87, 1047-1056.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Relocate nests/eggs to a hatchery: Sea turtles Action Link

Relocate nests/eggs to a hatchery: Sea turtles

A replicated, controlled study in 1991–2003 on eight sandy beach locations in Sergipe and Bahia, Brazil (Da Silva et al. 2007) found that relocating olive ridley turtle Lepidochelys olivacea eggs to a hatchery resulted in similar hatching success compared to nests left in situ in seven of 12 nesting seasons and lower hatching success in five of 12 seasons. In seven of 12 nesting seasons, hatching success was similar for nests in the hatchery (76–84%) and nests left in situ (76–85%). In five seasons hatching success was lower in on-beach hatcheries (73–80%) than in situ nests (81–85%; see original paper for details). Turtle nesting activity was monitored on eight stretches of beach (339 km total length) in 12 nesting seasons (September–March) from 1991/1992–2002/2003. Hired fishers surveyed the beaches every morning to locate, count and move nests at risk from a range of threats (including tidal inundation, predators, poaching, beach illumination or habitat alteration) to open beach hatcheries or other areas of beach. Nests not at risk were left in situ. Hatchery and in situ nests were excavated after emergence to determine clutch size and hatching success (hatchery: 160–969 olive ridley nests/year; in situ: 7–286 olive ridley nests/year).

(Summarised by: Katie Sainsbury)