The Hawksbill Turtles of Qatar: World Turtle Day 2023

The Hawksbill Turtles of Qatar: World Turtle Day 2023

Qatar, a peninsula located in the heart of the Persian Gulf, stretches 160km from the Arabian peninsula coastline. The Gulf is characterized by two currents flowing along its northern and southern shores. These currents serve as migratory pathways for various species, carrying them from the Strait of Hormuz along the shores of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar, and eventually into the waters of the United Arab Emirates. As the current reaches Qatar, it deposits sand along the northeast coast, creating favorable feeding and nesting areas for sea turtles.

Qatar is home to at least four species of sea turtles: the Green Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, Olive Ridley Turtle, and Loggerhead Turtle. While Green Turtles are predominantly encountered at sea and are more abundant, it is the Hawksbill Turtles that nest on the beaches of Qatar. The presence of other turtle species is less common, with Leatherback Turtles being particularly rare.

Name: Hawksbill Turtle
Scientific name: Eretmochelys imbricata
Class: Reptilia
Family: Cheloniidae

Facts about Hawksbill turtles
Speed: 24 km/hr through water
Conservation status: Critically endangered
Diet: Omnivore

The hawksbill sea turtles, recognized as critically endangered, are known to aid the sustenance of healthy coral reefs and maintain the marine ecosystem. These turtles linger around the coastlines and prefer to live in tropical waters. They’re highly migratory and are spotted in Qatar during the early summer months for the turtle nesting season. While hawksbill turtles are spotted on various beaches in Qatar, the Fuwairit beach’s atmosphere and soft sand create the most perfect nesting hub.   

These amber-coloured shelled turtles arrive each year, with unfailing regularity, to nest on the region’s shores, creating a compelling spectacle of emerging hatchlings.

Hawksbill Turtles choose to nest along approximately 50 km of the northeastern coast, spanning from Umm Tais to Ras Laffan. They also frequent the sandy beaches of the eastern offshore islands. Fuwairit beach, known for its picturesque beauty, has gained popularity in the past decade due to its significance as a habitat for three different species of sea turtles, notably the captivating Hawksbill Turtle. These turtles are attracted to the rich marine resources found in the region's waters, making it a favored breeding ground. Each year, these amber-colored turtles faithfully return to the shores, creating a mesmerizing sight as hatchlings emerge from their nests.

Threats faced
Sea turtles in Qatar face several threats to their survival, including the loss of eggs and hatchlings due to poaching, as well as predation by foxes, cats, and birds. The destruction of nesting beaches caused by coastal development, reclamation, and sand removal resulting from climate change-induced coastal erosion is also a significant concern. Additionally, entanglement in fishing gear leading to drowning, pollution from oil spills and plastic ingestion impacting their ability to absorb nutrients, thermal pollution from desalination plants, and the hazards posed by marine traffic such as fatal collisions and propeller strikes pose further risks to these magnificent creatures.

Conservation Efforts
To safeguard sea turtles, Qatar has prioritized wildlife conservation efforts, particularly through the Turtle Conservation Project. This initiative conducts studies, monitors turtle movements, and implements preventive measures to protect nesting sites and incubate eggs in the warm sands. Hawksbill turtles typically lay around 60 to 200 eggs during the nesting season. These eggs are carefully deposited in a dug hole before the mother returns to the sea, covering them with sand. When necessary, eggs are transferred to safer nests and diligently protected until the hatchlings emerge.

Each spring, starting in April, the Qatar Ministry of Environment closes the beach to create a safe environment for female hawksbill turtles to lay their eggs without disturbance from predators. The nesting area is fenced and inaccessible to the public, as Fuwairit beach alone accounts for nearly 30% of all sea turtle nests in the country. However, a designated section of the beach remains open for visitors seeking sun and sand. During the later summer months, once the beach is reopened, visitors have the unique opportunity to witness the tiny hawksbill turtle hatchlings eagerly scurrying towards the water from their sandy nests.

The government of Qatar, through the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, is actively taking steps to enhance the protection of its marine resources, including sea turtles within its territorial waters. These magnificent creatures truly are a wonder to behold.

(info taken from Visit Qatar, InforMEA, IOSEA)