Sea turtle nesting traces found on Yongxing Island in Sansha for the first time in years: local authorities

Traces of a sea turtle coming ashore to lay eggs were recently discovered on a beach near a community in Yongxing Island, Sansha City, South China's Hainan Province, marking the first such discovery on the island in years. 

Staff from the local marine protected area administration, along with turtle patrol members from Beidao, visited the site and identified the likely nesting location, according to a post on the city's official WeChat account on Friday.

Visible signs at the site included a large pit consistent with the size of a sea turtle and evidence of disturbed sand. Chen Shan, a veteran turtle patrol officer with over a decade of experience, was able to pinpoint the general nesting area based on these traces, the post said. 

"From the trail patterns, we can reasonably determine the location of the nest. After laying eggs, sea turtles typically cover the entire nest with sand. Judging by the condition of the tracks, the turtle likely came ashore about a week ago. At this time of year, it usually takes 40 to 50 days for the hatchlings to emerge," said Chen, as he patrolled the area and pointed at the nesting site. 

The Xisha Qundao, where Yongxing is located, are currently home to China's largest natural nesting ground for green sea turtles. As a national first-class protected species and a flagship animal for marine conservation, sea turtles play a vital role in maintaining ocean biodiversity. Thanks to years of conservation efforts, sightings of sea turtles in the waters around the Xisha Qundao have increased, said the post. 

So far this year, a total of 43 sea turtle nests have been recorded across the Xisha Qundao, with this being the first on Yongxing Island, according to the post.

"According to records, there hasn't been a turtle nesting on Yongxing Island for nearly 10 years. This recent event shows that the environment is improving. We'll mark the nest with a sign indicating the estimated date and assign it a number to remind passersby not to step on it. We'll also be increasing patrols on other islands and reefs," said Yu Yangfei, a staff member with the local marine protected area administration.