COOPERATIVE SEA TURTLE RESEARCH PROGRAM
STRP HISTORICAL REVIEW
Since 1987, our students have been working with Mr. George Balazs, sea turtle biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service, to capture, measure, tag and study the threatened Hawaiian green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas). This work originally took place at Kiholo Bay, one of the prime habitats for juvenile and sub-adult green turtles on the leeward coast of Hawaii. While Kiholo is still a main focus of our research, we now have study sites along the entire coast from Honaunau in the south to Kawaihae in the North. Below is a map of the leeward coast of the Big Island showing our main study sites. ON the left is a short description of the characteristics of each site.
TAGGING SITES ON THE BIG ISLAND:
Kawaihae- juvenile and subadult feeding and resting habitat
Puako- fisheries management area- juvenile and subadult feeding and resting habitat
Mauna Lani- offshore resting area and inshore feeding - juvenile and subadult
Waikoloa- semi-enclosed lagoon near Dolphin Quest ponds.. resting area for juvenile and sub-adults. One Hawksbill tagged in lagoon
Kiholo- extensive feeding area and resting area. Lagoonal area very important resting area for juvenile and sub-adult green turtles. Four hawksbill turtles tagged in this lagoon.
Hualalai Resort- extensive feeding and resting area. Some Basking on the sand beaches and lava rocks.
Kaloko- Honokohau National Historic Site extensive forage grounds near shore for sub-adults and juvenile green turtles. Offshore resting habitat and cleaning stations
Kahalu'u Beach State Park- semi-enclosed bay with feeding shallows for green turtles
Honaunau- national historic site with small forage area near the park for juvenile and sub-adult green turtles
West Coast of Big Island
