Effects of human presence on hawksbill turtle nesting: Lessons learned from beach management

Abstract

The impact of human disturbance on wildlife behaviour has been widely reported. Often, these disturbances can disrupt crucial environmental cues vital for survival and reproduction. This study aimed to assess the impact of altering human presence on hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting beaches through closures and re-openings. By conducting nocturnal patrols, monitoring personnel quantified clutch counts on each nesting site. Different stretches of nesting coastline experienced various levels of public accessibility. Between 2009 and 2023 an increasing trend in overall nesting activity was observed. Restricted access nesting sites (136 ± 13 clutches km⁻¹) had over a 4-fold increase in clutch density compared to public beaches (33 ± 5 clutches km⁻¹). For example, clutch counts on Fuwairit were, on average, 1.7 times higher in the years after its closure to the public. In addition, ending camping seasons before the nesting period resulted in at least a doubling of nesting activity, compared to closures during and after the nesting season had commenced. The increase in nesting activity observed in recent years suggests potential success of conservation efforts, yet challenges remain in extrapolating this to robust population estimates due to considerable knowledge gaps on hawksbills nesting ecology in the region. However, significant short-term behavioural variation in nesting activity in response to human presence highlights the importance of managing anthropogenic pressures, with closures to public access showing positive impacts on nesting activity, albeit with nuances in timing. This study provides one of the few empirical comparisons of hawksbill nesting activity before and after beach closures to human access, offering valuable insight into the effectiveness of site-specific conservation interventions.