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Gunungkidul develops turtle conservation beaches
The Gunungkidul Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Agency says it will designate several beaches in the regency as turtle-conservation areas in its effort to save various species of turtles nesting in coastal areas in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta
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T
he Gunungkidul Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Agency says it will designate several beaches in the regency as turtle-conservation areas in its effort to save various species of turtles nesting in coastal areas in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta.
'Several beaches will serve as both turtle-landing locations and special tourist areas,' Gunungkidul Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Agency head Agus Priyanto said on Sunday.
He said that as a first step, the agency, together with conservation consultants were surveying beaches that could serve as turtle-landing areas during egg-laying periods.
Of the 25 beaches surveyed, between six and 10 would be designated as conservation areas.
'We hope the turtles can land and lay eggs in the beach areas without being disrupted by human activities,' said Agus.
The five turtle species found on Gunungkidul beaches are green turtles, Hawksbill sea turtles, Olive ridley sea turtles, Loggerhead sea turtles and Flatback sea turtles.
Agus said conserving turtles would lead to the sustainability of the fish ecosystem because turtles had the habit of digesting sea grass and then purging. 'The turtles' vomit is a source of nutrition for baby fish,' said Agus, adding that sea turtles also consumed poisonous red algae deathly to baby fish.
The development of the Gunungkidul turtle conservation areas was set to be completed at the end of 2015, said Agus. (ebf)(++++)
