Nusa Dua Reef Foundation Oversees Hatching Of Sea Turtles

DENPASAR, Bali, May 23 (Antara) - The Nusa Dua Reef Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses on reef research, education, and conservation, is monitoring the nesting sites of sea turtles in the south of Bali Island. "Bali's southern beaches are indeed the nesting sites for sea turtles, especially the Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys Olivacea). The location stretches from Kuta until Nusa Dua," Pariama Hutasoit, a member of the Nusa Dua Reef Foundation, stated in Denpasar on Monday. Hutasoit said based on the foundation's data in 2016, the Nusa Dua area has 33 nests, while from the start of 2017 until May, seven nests are spread across some locations, such as five at Mengiat Beach, one in front of Hotel Clubmed, and one near Hotel Conrad. "With seven nests found until today, we expect more will be discovered there, judging by last year's figure of 33," he noted. The Nusa Dua Reef Foundation will later accompany the hotel managements around Nusa Dua. If they spot sea turtles on the beaches around them, Hutasoit is optimistic that they would protect them by putting up some signs and cages on each nest. "We advise the hotel managements to put name tags informing about the species, egg laying date, and forecast hatching date. Usually, the incubation period of the eggs of sea turtles is around 45-55 days. Hence, we can predict when they would hatch," he added. To maintain the population of sea turtles, it is hoped that each hotel would not keep or pet the offspring. After hatching, they should be released in three days. During every awareness campaign, Hutasoit said his team is already disbursing information on the technique to release them. "For the release, the hotel could involve the tourists, and each hotel could participate during that event, so it could become a tourism event," he noted. The Nusa Dua Reef Foundation would later conduct patrols every night, especially during the nesting season. If there are sea turtles around, they would be moved to Mengiat Beach managed by the Cooperation and Pokmaswas, or Community Group Supervisors. Although his team had conducted a relocation, they will not make artificial nests. "We are not advising this since we prefer it to happen naturally," he noted. As part of the conservation efforts in Nusa Dua, apart from protecting the reef ecosystem, the Nusa Dua Reef Foundation will continue to forge cooperation with tourism stakeholders, especially for the conservation of sea turtles. During this time, his team has continued to raise awareness in hotels and accompanied representatives when they found a nest. Moreover, the Marine and Fisheries Ministry, through the Beach and Ocean Resources Management Body at Denpasar, also held awareness and education programs.