Kimi, a sea turtle's journey, and China's conservation efforts

Kimi, an adult female green sea turtle tagged with the number 34474, was released into the wild in Sanya, Hainan, by the China Fishery Law Enforcement on May 23, 2018.

Kimi, along with four other adult sea turtles, had satellite tracking devices attached to their shells. These trackers send signals every time the turtles surface for air, allowing researchers to map their migratory routes. This release, in celebration of World Turtle Day, marked a significant effort to protect marine life.

Tracking data showed that by mid-June, Kimi had reached the Qilianyu Archipelago of the Xisha Xuande Islands. By September, she had traveled to an area near the Huidong Sea Turtle National Nature Reserve in Guangdong. This area, known for its flat seabed and abundant food supply, is considered the "last remaining nesting ground" for sea turtles along China's long coastline.

However, intense light pollution, a common problem in economically developed coastal areas around the world, poses a significant challenge to nesting turtles. Kimi then headed back to the west instead of to the Penghu Islands, an area heavily impacted by frequent fishing.

Kimi's journey highlights the survival challenges faced by sea turtles migrating in these waters.

Sea turtles are not only one of the largest reptiles in the ocean but also one of the oldest species on Earth, having appeared during the age of dinosaurs. The overlap of their activity zones with human activities poses numerous threats to these ancient creatures.

Globally, sea turtles are losing vital nesting sites and habitats, and their food resources are declining. Factors such as illegal hunting, illegal trade in sea turtles, bycatch in fisheries, pollution and marine debris pose significant threats to their survival.

Moreover, climate change is profoundly altering the environment for sea turtles. Rising sea levels are reducing the amount of sandy beaches available for turtles to nest.

To address these systemic challenges in sea turtle conservation, the Chinese government issued a sea turtle conservation action plan (2019-2033) which provides a national policy framework for sea turtle conservation.

This plan sets out both short- and long-term goals for the next 15 years. It aims to gather basic information on wild sea turtle populations and captive stocks, establish standards for artificial breeding and rescue of sea turtles, enhance conservation and regulatory measures, and designate important sea turtle habitats or marine protected areas.

Kimi's story and the ongoing conservation efforts underscore the critical need to protect these ancient "mariners" and their habitats for future generations.