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Figure 1. Presence of turtle species across the three coastal regions and the six MMTWG research sites in Mozambique: A - Maputo Special Reserve, B - Inhaca Island, C - Macaneta, D - Sao Sebastiao Sanctuary, E - Bazaruto Archipelago, F - Primeras and Segundas Archipelago.
The first studies on marine turtles in Mozambique were published almost four decades ago (Hughes 1971, Tinley 1971). Over 20 years passed before marine turtles were the subject of further studies by Gove & Magane (1996), Gove et al. (2001) and Magane & João (2003), and significant gaps in our knowledge still remain. In an attempt to fill in these gaps, marine turtle research and conservation work is currently being undertaken in Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane, Nampula and Cabo Delgado. The Mozambique Marine Turtle Working Group (MMTWG) was created in April 2004 and began the first phase of a nationally coordinated turtle monitoring and tagging programme. The MMTWG is now coordinating six tagging and nest monitoring projects along the Mozambican coast and collects and processes data sheets from all these sites. Project sites include the Maputo Special Reserve, Inhaca Island, Macaneta, São Sebastião Sanctuary, Bazaruto Archipelago National Park and the Primeiras and Segundas Archipelago (Figure 1), all previously identified as nationally important marine turtle rookeries (Louro et al. 2006). Tagging of nesting marine turtles and monitoring of nests and subsequent hatchling emergences take place during different months of the year along the Mozambique coast, depending on the species. The titanium flipper tags used in this program carry the MO code and are marked for return to: Department of Biology. P.O. Box 257, Maputo Mozambique. More recently the MMTWG has begun to support the ongoing efforts of private tourist operators, local NGOs and the Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (UEM) and their already established turtle tagging programs.
Overview of marine turtle distribution, conservation and monitoring in Mozambique: A variety of habitat characterizes Mozambique’s coastline, including delta estuaries, sandy beaches, rocky shores, mangroves, islands and coral reefs. The coast can be divided in three sections, each with distinct, basic characteristics (Figure 1). The northern section of the coast extends for 770 km from the Rovuma River in the north to Pebane in the south (17°20’S). Numerous small islands with coralline habitat extend from the Quirimbas Archipelago to the Primeiras and Segundas Islands (Massinga & Hatton 1996; Schleyer et al. 1999). The most common nesting species in this section is the green turtle, but hawksbill, loggerhead and olive ridley turtles are also known to nest here (Figure 2). Nesting activity peaks from August to October in the Primeiras and Segundas Islands. Meanwhile, in the Quirimbas Archipelago, particularly in Quirimbas National Park, mating turtles have been observed in August and September and nesting takes place from January to April with the peak occurring in March (Costa 2007).
Figure 2. Presence of nesting turtles across the three coastal regions of Mozambique.
The MMTWG project in the Primeiras and Segundas Islands began in July 2005. The project aims to protect turtles and their nests, tag nesting females, demarcate turtle nesting sites, and prevent the use of illegal fishing gear associated with high rates of turtle bycatch. Twenty-four community rangers have been trained to identify and tag turtles and monitor nesting activity. These rangers have also established conservation awareness and outreach programs among the local communities in the islands in order to reduce turtle bycatch and egg poaching. There has already been a tangible change of attitude among local fishers demonstrated by their willingness to support the monitoring. Thus far they have brought in 111 turtles to be tagged and released as well as recapturing and recording 25 previously tagged turtles. Initial results indicate that this region may be an important feeding site for green and hawksbill turtles and that the nesting season in the northern section varies significantly from that in the central section described by Louro et al. (2006). Interestingly, among the 50 turtles captured in nets by local Mozambican fishers at Puga Puga Island was one green turtle captured in August 2006, which was originally tagged in 1994 on the Island of Mayotte in the Mozambique Channel (tag number MAY 6091). This animal was recaptured in Mayotte three months after it was tagged and had not been encountered again until it turned up in Mozambican waters 12 years later. Three of the turtles captured, tagged and released at Puga Puga were later discovered nesting on the island, indicating that the local artisanal fishery is interacting with adult females.
The central section of the coast stretches 950 km between Pebane (17°20’S) and Bazaruto Island (21°10’S) (Massinga & Hatton 1996) and has some coral reefs (Schleyer et al. 1999). However, twenty-four rivers discharge into the Indian Ocean along this section, each with an estuary supporting well-established mangrove stands. The coastal waters are shallow and the sediment loading from the rivers results in high turbidity levels (Schleyer et al. 1999). Loggerhead, green, leatherback, hawksbill and olive ridley turtles are known to occur along this section of coast. While nesting is mainly by loggerheads and occurs between October and February, green, hawksbill and leatherback turtles have been recorded nesting in the area (WWF 2005; Louro et al. 2006; Videira & Louro in prep.). The MMTWG has also been working with fishing communities in Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, where local fishermen reported the capture of 25 turtles (19 green, 3 hawksbill, 3 loggerhead) during the 2005/6 season. All these animals were tagged and 9 were later recaptured by local fishers (WWF 2005). While the foundation has been laid for ongoing work in Bazaruto, efforts have been constrained by time, funding limitations and availability of rangers.
The southern section stretches for 850 km from Bazaruto Island southwards to Ponta do Ouro (26° 50’S). This part of the coast is characterised by high parabolic dunes backed by coastal barrier lakes (Tello 1973), north-facing bights and extensive sandy beaches (Hatton 1995; Massinga & Hatton 1996). The dune systems attain heights of 120m, considered to be among the highest vegetated dunes in the world (Hatton 1995). This section of the coast is an important nesting area for loggerhead and leatherback turtles (Tello 1973; Gove & Magane 1996; Magane & João 2003; WWF 2004; Louro et al. 2006). While hawksbill nesting is limited to the northern section of the coast, studies in 2004 and 2005 revealed that this species also forages in the coastal waters off southern Mozambique (WWF 2005).
In October 2004, the MMTWG initiated a project in collaboration with the local community at the Maputo Special Reserve (MSR), an important nesting site for loggerhead and leatherback turtles (WWF 2004). Between October 2004 and March 2005, 34 turtles were observed along a 29km stretch of coast from the MSR to Ponta Chemucane. Twenty-seven of these (21 loggerhead, 1 hawksbill, 5 leatherback) were tagged with Mozambican tags and 7 nesting loggerhead females were observed with South African flipper tags providing further confirmation of a nesting population shared between the two countries. Rangers in the same area observed 239 nesting attempts, 83 of which were false crawls (62 by loggerhead turtles and 21 by leatherbacks) while 156 attempts resulted in nesting (109 loggerhead and 47 leatherbacks). During this period, more than 90 loggerhead nests successfully hatched. Rangers also hand captured and tagged one hawksbill turtle foraging in shallow water in the Reserve (José João, pers. observ.) indicating that hawksbills may occur along the entire coast of Mozambique.
In summary, while the northern coastal section provides important nesting and feeding habitats for green and hawksbill turtles, the southern section provides important nesting habitat for loggerhead and leatherback turtles. Priority should be given to continued surveying for the presence of marine turtle nesting in the most northern section, particularly in the Primeiras and Segundas Islands as the nesting seasonality appears to be different to that in the Quirimbas Archipelago, where studies are ongoing. As a result of the work carried out by the rangers, fishers and local community, there has been a substantial reduction of poaching of turtles and turtle eggs. Furthermore, the artisanal fishers operating in coastal provinces of Mozambique are becoming more involved with marine turtle conservation through active involvement in the turtle tagging and monitoring programme. Indeed, local fishers brought in 90% of turtles tagged by rangers, suggesting a change in the attitude of local fisherman that is significantly contributing to the success of the project. Ultimately, the marine turtle tagging and monitoring is enabling coastal communities, conservation agencies, NGOs, private sector partners and government agencies to become more informed and develop capacity to influence government decision-making regarding urgently needed marine turtle conservation in Mozambique.
COSTA, A. 2007. Status and Management of Marine Turtles in Quirimbas National park. 12pp. Report submitted to PNQ-MITUR, Maputo, Mozambique.
GOVE, D. & S. MAGANE. 1996. The status of sea turtle conservation in Mozambique. In: Humphrey S. L. & R.V. Salm (Eds). Status of sea turtle conservation in the western Indian Ocean. Regional Seas Reports and Studies, No.165. IUCN/UNEP, pp. 89-94.
GOVE, D., H. PACULE & M. GONÇALES. 2001. The impact of Sofala Bank (Central Mozambique) shallow water shrimp fishery on marine turtles and the effects of introducing TED (Turtle Excluder Device) on shrimp fishery. Report to the Eastern Africa Marine Eco-Region of WWF, Maputo. 23pp.
HUGHES, G. 1971. Preliminary report on the sea turtles and dugongs of Moçambique. Veterinária Moçambicana 4: 43-84.
LOURO, C.M.M, M.A.M. PEREIRA & A. COSTA. 2006. The Conservation Status of Marine Turtles in Mozambique. Report submitted to MICOA, Maputo. 45 pp.
MAGANE, S & J. JOÃO. 2003. Local community involvement in monitoring and protection of sea turtles, loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) in Maputo Special Reserve, Mozambique. In J.A. Seminoff (Comp.). Proceedings of the 22nd Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology & Conservation. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-SEFSC-503, pp. 100-101.
MASSINGA, A. & J. HATTON. 1996. Status of the coastal zone of Mozambique. In: C.G. Lundin & O. Lindén (Eds.). Proceedings of the National Workshop on Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Mozambique. World Bank & CIDA/SAREC, pp 7–68.
SCHLEYER, M.H., D. OBURA, H. MOTTA & M.J. RODRIGUES. 1999. A Preliminary Assessment of Coral Bleaching in Mozambique. Unpublished report for the South African Association for Marine Biological Research. 12pp.
TELLO, J.L. 1973. Reconhecimento ecológico da Reserva dos Elefantes do Maputo. Revista de Veterinária de Moçambique 6: 19 -76.
WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE (WWF). 2004. Marine Turtle Update. Recent News from WWF Africa & Madagascar. Gland, Switzerland.
WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE (WWF). 2005. Marine Turtle Conservation Activities in Mozambique. August 2004 to June 2005. Unpublished report, Maputo, Mozambique.