Turtle density around Mussau Island, Papua New Guinea: with notes on the practicality of in-water distance sampling

摘要: Despite sea turtles in Papua New Guinea being culturally important and heavily harvested, no in-country density estimates have been previously established. We provide the first of turtle from two locations around Mussau Island where consumption is banned due to religious beliefs. obtained using a low-cost, in-water distance sampling method. Our monitoring shows that island has high (almost exclusively Chelonia mydas). At Lolieng, site with steep reef drop off, we recorded mean 7.4 turtles ha−1 (s.d. = 2.6) at crest during low tide (across all occasions), which comparable sites globally. By comparison, much lower estimate 1.1 turtles ha−1 (s.d. = 0.4) Nae, an extensive, profile system. Additionally, our modelling tidal cycle essential covariate for assessing sampling. advocate needs invest long-term national scale track sustainability this cultural resource, cost method potentially could be used purpose albeit subject certain caveats.