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Marine Stephan

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Kwata

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The leatherback turtle population has declined by 95% in French Guiana – the time to act is now!

If you've been reading my climate reviews on We Don't Have Time for some time, you must know that I love turtles 🐢 You can therefore easily imagine how heartbroken I was when I read that in the last 20 years, the leatherback turtle population has collapsed by 95% in its main nesting site in French Guiana! The three species of turtles found in the French Guiana —green, olive ridley, and leatherback— are all on the IUCN Red List, facing the imminent threat of extinction.
The cause? Humans, and more specifically illegal fishing, poaching, and climate change.
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Nests are often destroyed and eggs are poached to be sold in some countries where their consumption is highly prized. As turtles grow up, another threat awaits them: illegal fishing activity. In 2012, illegal fishing in French Guianese waters was estimated to be twice that of legal fisheries, thereby negating all of the well-intentioned advances made by authorities to minimize fishery impacts on turtles. According to Vert, a report, due for publication in September 2024, should take stock of the situation, but no one is expecting good news... Several fishermen have even told Vert that, according to their observations, the plundering of French waters is “at least twice as great” as when the last study on the subject was carried out in 2012.
A Kwata volunteer examines an olive ridley turtle that has washed up on Les Salines beach, French Guiana, after becoming entangled in a net. Its legs are broken and its body lacerated by the nets. / Picture from Enzo Dubesset, Vert.
A Kwata volunteer examines an olive ridley turtle that has washed up on Les Salines beach, French Guiana, after becoming entangled in a net. Its legs are broken and its body lacerated by the nets. / Picture from Enzo Dubesset, Vert.

As if these challenges weren’t enough, climate change exacerbates the turtles' plight. Extreme heat waves kill embryos before they hatch, while rising sea levels erode nesting beaches, leaving turtles with dwindling space to lay their eggs.
This is a dire situation for turtles in French Guiana (and around the world), and we need to act now!
And this is what Kwata is doing! Kwata is an association specializing in the protection of sea turtles for 25 years. Through daily beach patrols, Kwata's dedicated volunteers rescue disoriented hatchlings, shield them from human-induced threats and guide them safely to the ocean. The organization also combats illegal fishing and poaching, advocates for stricter enforcement, and educates the public on the importance of turtle conservation.
In 2022, Kwata, with the support of the Amana nature reserve, decided to sanctuary part of the beach to set up a natural hatchery. Laetitia, one of Kwata's volunteers, explained how it works to Vert: “As soon as we see a spawning, we collect the eggs and place them in the hatchery. That way, they're sheltered and, when they emerge, we can check that the turtle is in good health and has returned to the ocean”.
The dedicated efforts of Kwata bring hope, but unfortunately, they are not enough.
The French government must set in even more and bring resources and a clear (and effective) action plan to protect the turtles and act on these threats! We Don't Have Time to wait.

Read about Kwata:
Accueil - Association Kwata

Accueil - Association Kwata

Association Kwata Association Kwata Association Kwata Association Kwata Association Kwata Association Kwata Les dernières actus Actu Faune de Guyane : encore des surprises !! C’est officiel, validé par la communauté scientifique, le très commun “tatou à neuf bandes” en Guyane … n’en est pas un ! Lire la suite Actu Résultats du concours photos –… Lire la suite »Accueil

https://kwata.net/



Read this great article by Vert (in French):
En Guyane, le combat pour sauver les dernières tortues marines

En Guyane, le combat pour sauver les dernières tortues marines

C’est la Luth finale. Dérèglement climatique, braconnage, prédation animale et surtout pêche illégale expliquent l’effondrement des populations de tortues marines sur la planète. La luth, la plus grosse tortue au monde, a quasiment disparu sur son site de ponte historique en Guyane. Reportage.

https://vert.eco/articles/en-guyane-le-combat-pour-sauver-les-dernieres-tortues-marines?mc_cid=8e7006ef08&mc_eid=8d8bcb0292



Extra resources:
Why Are French Guiana Leatherbacks Declining? — The State of the World's Sea Turtles | SWOT

Why Are French Guiana Leatherbacks Declining? — The State of the World's Sea Turtles | SWOT

Leatherback sea turtle populations have been declining in French Guiana since 2001. This article explores the reasons behind the decline.

https://www.seaturtlestatus.org/articles/why-are-french-guiana-leatherbacks-declining



Estimation de la pêche illégale étrangère en Guyane française

Estimation de la pêche illégale étrangère en Guyane française

https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00114/22522/




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