This is the Great Fiji SHARK Count; why are we counting Turtles?

ALL sea turtles are considered Endangered or Critically Endangered all over the world. There are many organisations devoted to protecting turtles from overfishing and from people who dig up their nests and eat their eggs.

Most turtles cannot lay their own eggs until they are around 20 years old, (some species much older) and it is getting harder and harder for a turtle to live long enough to lay its own eggs, or for those eggs to hatch. Turtles are on the brink of extinction.

In Fiji, the law protects turtles and makes fishing for them without a permit illegal, and it is totally illegal to catch turtles even with a permit during their nesting season (November to February).

Turtles are tagged and nesting beaches recorded to gather more data to see whether these protective measures are working, but there is very little data about where they live and feed underwater.

When you are counting sharks, you are going to be looking for large animals swimming just off the reef and out in deep water. This is exactly where you are most likely to see turtles, so by recording them as well as sharks, we can give data to agencies working with turtle protection in Fiji.

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

TURTLES

Turtles

Common Name	Latin name
Hawksbill turtle	Eretmochelys imbricata
Green turtle	Chelonia mydas
Leatherback turtle	Dermochelys coriacea
Loggerhead turtle	Caretta caretta

Throughout the months of April and November every year, you have the opportunity to help celebrate and record Fiji’s amazing coral reef biodiversity, show you care about our world’s delicate coral reef systems, and have fun, by taking part in the FIJI-WIDE SHARK COUNT!

Easy to do, this is suitable for visitors and locals alike, whether you like to fish, snorkel, or SCUBA dive. We hope that tourists, school children, scientists and all people with an interest in the marine environment will take to the reefs with us to search for the Sharks of Fiji!

The Great Fiji Shark Count will be held across Fiji every April and November every year.

You can do a single count, or take part as many times as you like during that month, so that you cover different reefs. All data will be gratefully accepted!

So, see your resort, watersports operator or travel agent, get your Shark identification materials and dive into the beautiful blue waters of Fiji, to be a part of history!