TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA, 海洋保育署) announced on Monday (Feb. 17) that Taiping Island (太平島) has become the nation's leader in sea turtle nesting, with over 100 mother turtles arriving to lay eggs. This milestone highlights the island's rich marine biodiversity and marks Taiwan's first systematic study of Taiping Island's turtle ecology.
From June to September 2024, OCA researchers and the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium (國立海洋生物博物館) documented 141 mother green sea turtles laying 221 nests on Taiping Island, approximately 1,600 kilometers from Taiwan's main island. Researchers estimate the annual egg production at 50,000, with a hatch rate of about 70%, potentially resulting in 35,000 hatchlings each year.
The study also revealed the presence of Taiwan's previously undocumented most petite nesting female, with a curved carapace length of just 84 centimeters. This suggests a significant influx of young mother turtles joining the nesting population on Taiping Island. Despite the promising numbers, the survival rate remains low, with only 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 hatchlings reaching adulthood. Researchers predict approximately 36 adult female turtles will return to nest in about 20 years.
The OCA plans to include future survey data in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Sea Turtle Specialist Group's annual regional report. This effort aims to enhance Taiwan's visibility in the international conservation community.
