Leatherback turtles in Sumatra: Integrating regulatory, genetic, and ecological data for conservation

Summary

Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) are among the world’s most threatened sea turtles. In Sumatra, as part of the Northeast Indian Ocean, basic information on the population, including their numbers, movements, structure, and protection, was still lacking. My PhD brings together three strands: a review of Indonesian laws (including Aceh’s customary Hukum Adat Laot), genetic analyses of nesting turtles, and 12 years of beach monitoring at Panga. In this project, we show that traces of DNA in seawater (eDNA) can identify leatherback haplotypes after nesting, offering a non-invasive way to monitor remote beaches. Genetic results indicate that Sumatra’s rookeries are distinct and conservation-significant, and long-term data reveal low but persistent nesting with strong seasonality. The work highlights practical options, recognising community-managed areas, refining Regional Management Units, and supporting local monitoring, to better protect leatherbacks in Indonesia and the Northeast Indian Ocean.