Community meeting on turtle conservation

An information meeting took place on Wednesday evening at the Vairao town hall in Taiarapu-Ouest, French Polynesia, as part of the Tia’i Honu conservation program organized by the association Te mana o te moana. The event aimed to train local residents to help protect sea turtles by identifying and reporting them safely.

Training for sea turtle observers

The goal of the meetings is to expand the network of trained observers for sea turtles by targeting individuals who frequently use the sea, such as divers, snorkelers, excursionists, fishermen, and rowers. The session detailed how to identify sea turtles without disturbing them, avoid collisions, and optimize their care in case of emergency.

Citizen science for turtle conservation

The Tia’i Honi network is a citizen science project aimed at gaining a better understanding of sea turtle populations in French Polynesia to improve conservation efforts. Photos taken from specific angles are collected via the application "WeSpotTurtles!": nearly 1,000 observations have been recorded since the initiative's launch.

Expert involvement in the meeting

Skyler Teriinoho and Youri Riethmuller, technicians from the Faa’a care and rehabilitation center, intervened in the meeting. They emphasized that the program is open to all who are willing to participate, with the aim of having contacts throughout French Polynesia to gather more information about turtles and to alert authorities in case of distressed turtles.

Identifying turtles in distress

The meeting also covered topics such as distinguishing green turtles from loggerhead turtles, the consequences of pollution, poaching, and collisions, and how to recognize a turtle in distress. Indicators of a turtle in difficulty include floating without diving, stranding, bleeding or broken shell, the presence of foreign bodies (hook, fishing line), and algae or shellfish on a thin turtle.

Local participation and environmental focus

Municipal officials, a representative from a swimming-rescue club, and four young women in the Community Activity Insertion Project (PIAC) within the tourism committee of Taiarapu-Ouest attended the meeting. Bernadette Wasna, president of the committee, noted that the approach aligns with environmental protection and sustainable tourism efforts. She mentioned concerns about the presence of brown algae on beaches and the need to avoid collisions with turtles and marine wildlife. She plans to relay the information to nautical service providers in the area.

Future events and outreach

Other meetings are planned in Tahiti, Moorea, and other islands in the coming weeks. The Science Festival in Rangiroa was also an opportunity for an intervention on this subject. More information can be found on the Facebook page and website of the Te mana o te moana association.