Sea turtle

Friends of Nature, People and Forests (FNPF) is helping Atuh Beach villagers protect the critically endangered hawksbill turtle and the endangered green turtle. The two species return each year to nest on the beach, on Nusa Penida’s southeast coast.

Protected marine area

The Nusa Penida island group is a marine protected area, located between Bali and Lombok, on the Wallace Line. This is an evolutionary marker separating the main fauna species of Indo-Malaya and Australo-Papua. Nusa Penida is central to the species division, with the exception of the rebellious crab-eating macaque.

The islands, known for their coral reefs, are also home to manta rays and ocean sunfish. The giant-sized ocean sunfish, the world’s heaviest bony fish, also known as Mola Mola, is more commonly found along the Mediterranean, African and Californian coastlines. But it is also found in the waters around Nusa Penida. The giant manta, a vulnerable species with an elevated risk of extinction, can be found in the islands’ isolated coves, and small colonies can be seen from cliff tops.

Saving sea turtles

Thanks to funding from Seacology, we have set up a monitoring station at Atuh Beach. From here our team and volunteers run patrols during full-moon nesting cycles, particularly in June and July, the nesting high season.

Nusa Penida’s coastline is fringed by seaweed farms which have created a barrier to the beach, making it difficult for turtles to navigate to their annual nesting sites. Atuh Beach is one of the last remaining beaches sea turtles can still access.

Sea turtles usually return faithfully to the same nesting site each season after swimming for hundreds or even thousands of kilometres. Decreasing numbers and sightings may be the result of fishing along migratory sea routes.

While there is strong anecdotal evidence of turtles using this beach to nest in the past, there is no reliable scientific data on numbers or species. Monitoring will help provide this information and will also help protect natural nests from predators, such as monitor lizards, birds and crabs. If the turtles return here to nest this will help increase the number of hatchlings that survive. We will train community members so they can help with monitoring and beach protection.

Restoring the mangroves

We also have plans to restore Nusa Penida’s mangroves as part of our turtle conservation efforts. Mangroves feed organic matter, mainly in detritus form such as leaf litter, to the marine environment. This provides a highly nutritious food source for marine ecosystems. Mangroves also host nursery sites and shelters for many species.

Like all villages on Nusa Penida, Atuh Beach village passed traditional laws offering their protection to the birds of the islands. They have now extended this protection to sea turtles too.

FNPF has plenty of experience in turtle protection. In Kalimantan, on the island of Borneo, we mobilized a community to successfully protect a turtle nesting beach from predators.