Marine Turtle Identification, Sightings, and Nesting Area Mapping in Batanes Province, the Philippines

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The Batanes archipelago – a province designated by the Philippine government as a protected area – possesses abundant marine resources and diverse ecosystems that serve as optimal habitats for marine turtles to forage, reproduce, and nest. Ivatans, the native inhabitants of Batanes who are also indigenous peoples, possess knowledge of the existence of marine turtles in their coastal waters; however, published reports are still unavailable. This study provides significant data on species identification, observations, and the distribution of nesting areas across the province. This study presents novel findings, revealing that green sea turtles Chelonia mydas and hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata thrive in the coastal waters of Batanes. A household survey using a semi-structured questionnaire (n = 90), 48 key informant interviews, and site monitoring were utilized as data collection methods and examined using descriptive data analysis. We randomly selected respondents from the household surveys from each municipality and pre-identified key informants based on their roles in each municipality (e.g. government officials, fisherfolk leaders). Likewise, 45% of the respondents claimed that they usually encounter marine turtles a few times a week, specifically during their fishing operations. The mapped nesting sites showed a wide range across the province; three were already established by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office. The data gathered, and findings of this study serve as a basis for local resource managers – particularly in implementing initiatives for sustainable management, conservation, and protection of marine turtle biodiversity in Batanes. Before developing conservation and management strategies, involving the community in decision-making is crucial to address potential concerns – significantly when a specific ethnic group such as the Ivatans on Batanes Island – is affected.