training workshop on marine turtle research and conservation · pdf filed. v. vu: opening...

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Training Workshop on Marine

Turtle Research and Conservation

24-28/7/2001

Vung Tau & Con Dao

D. V. Vu: Opening speech

Training Workshop on Marine Turtle Research and Conservation 123

OPENING SPEECH: TRAINING WORKSHOP ON MARINE TURTLE RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION IN VIETNAM

Vu Van Dai

Director, Fisheries Department, Ministry of Fisheries, Hanoi, Vietnam Dear Representatives of the People’s Committee of Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province and Vung Tau Town, Representatives of Branches and Offices related to Scientific Research, International Experts, and Colleagues, On behalf of MoFi, I would like to welcome all representatives, scientists and managers who are attending the Training Workshop on Marine Turtle Research and Conservation in Vietnam, organized in Ba Ria - Vung Tau. The east coast of Vietnam has a tropical, monsoon climate. Back from the coast there are two large deltas, one in the North and the other in the South. In the middle there is a narrow delta and an enormous mountain range runs parallel with the coast. For many decades our lives have been linked with the sea; and the coastal areas of Vietnam play an important role in our country’s political, economic, diplomatic and security sectors. Vietnam also presides over a huge area of ocean. Its seas encompass many natural ecosystems and play a very important role in our economy, and the livelihoods of many people. Vietnam is a country endowed with abundant and diverse ecosystems, and a high diversity of species and gene generated resources. In general, we call these things biodiversity. According to research studies, there are about 12,000 plant species, 275 species of mammal, 800 species of birds, 180 species of reptiles, and 5,500 species of insect present in our country. Additionally, Vietnam has great potential in fisheries, with about 2040 species of sea fish, 225 species of shrimp and more than 653 species of seaweed, 35 species of squid, 12 species of sea snake, 5 species of marine turtle and 170 species of sea birds. Therefore, the Vietnamese Government has been very interested in developing the fisheries sector. Moreover, we are all trying our best to develop the available natural resources in a sustainable manner. Marine turtles have been used as food in the past (fat and protein) and to make many products (from bone, skin, fat and turtle shells). Thousands of years ago, the trading value of marine turtles was discovered. Now, however, selling marine live marine turtles, turtle meat, fat of turtles and turtle shells is illegal. Recently, marine turtles have been used for non-consumptive purposes such as tourism, study, scientific research, and activities related to finding jobs, gaining information, and producing incomes. The value of marine turtles is not always easy to understand, but they cannot be replaced because of their role in marine ecosystems. This kind of reptile is a unique part of a complicated ecosystem; its life cycle is related to other marine products (including fish and mangrove forests) as well as service of ecosystem (example: coastal zone). Due to the fact that turtles migrate thousands of kilometres and take more than ten years to grow up, they are a symbol of marine and coastal environmental health at the global level and at the regional level. Apart from the material value of sea turtles, these marine species also have a cultural significance that we cannot easily put a value on. Each society has its own tradition of considering turtles as a symbol of belief and knowledge. In industrial society, this kind of reptile has a special function - with an attractive appearance and an intriguing life cycle that creates much curiosity, they are ideal for education and research purposes. For all these reasons, marine turtles have become a symbol of conservation locally, as well as at an international level. To protect these species and ensure the rehabilitation of their populations, large areas of the world have to be considered and managed effectively. In short, marine turtle conservation means marine and coastal area protection. It also requires that we should work

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hard and use strong enforcement to protect them and their natural environment - as it is the same world that human beings rely on. It should be highlighted that for sea turtles, and many other kinds of animals, it takes a lot of generations before population sizes can be restored after declines. Moreover, when they migrate, animals like sea turtles have to pass over the borders from this country to another. Therefore, we all share the responsibility to protect sea turtles, other animals, and their habitats as natural heritage. Dear colleagues, It is clear that our scientific achievements in biodiversity should have to link with other achievements of the country. The modest results that we have gained so far are a great improvement over the situation in past decades, and this success reflects the close, serious and untiring cooperation not only of scientists but also of supporting groups from government and international organisations. Recognizing the important role of biodiversity in economy and culture, Vietnam has been implementing some steps to protect natural resources for some decades now. Biodiversity conservation is a big challenge for Vietnam, and protecting natural ecosystems and the species that depend on them is not only a job for Vietnam; the rest of the world faces the same challenge. I do hope that the kind attention and encouragement of the Government in combination with the value support of international organisations in general (and of UNDP (CMS-UNEP), DANIDA, and IUCN in particular) will help those of us who are researchers, managers and policy makers in continuing to protect Vietnam’s natural resources in a sustainable way. And that they will assist us in planning and implementing the biodiversity development action plan for the long-term benefit of the country, as well as encouraging us to display our roles as part of the international community that aims to protect natural heritage. We wish the training workshop the best success, and our guests good health.

T. H. Nguyen: IUCN welcoming address


IUCN STATEMENT AND WELCOME

Nguyen Minh Thong Country Representative, IUCN Vietnam, Hanoi, Vietnam

It is my pleasure to be here today and to deliver a short statement on behalf of IUCN – The World Conservation Union at this important Training Workshop on Marine Turtle Research and Conservation in Vietnam. As you all know, Vietnam, a State Member of IUCN, ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in November 1994. This shows the strong interest and commitment of Vietnam to the cause of environmental protection and nature conservation. IUCN therefore, over the past years, has been in close co-operation with the Government of Vietnam, particularly the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology/ National Environment Agency (MOSTE/NEA), in a number of activities. Special focus has been on biodiversity conservation through, for example, our collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries/Research Institute of Marine Products (MOFI/RIMP) in the implementation of the Pilot Hon Mun Marine Protected Area. The National Training Workshop on Marine Turtle Research and Conservation in Vietnam will provide support to the implementation of the Convention on Migratory Species Memorandum of Understanding (CMS/MoU) on Marine Turtle Conservation and Management in the Indian Ocean/South-East Asia in Vietnam. This workshop will build on existing national marine turtle research programs to raise awareness of the CMS MoU in Vietnam, particularly amongst senior officials in the Ministry of Fisheries, the Forest Protection Department (terrestrial national parks), and the Provincial Governments. The workshop has been designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to the CMS MoU as well as an introduction to the technical skills (including field observations in Con Dao) required for officials to develop an understanding of conservation and management issues. Additionally, the workshop will identify key stakeholders for participation in the development of a National Marine Turtle Action Plan for Vietnam (under the MoU), and will assess an initial set of issues for incorporation into the National Action Plan. Furthermore, on recommendation of the CMS Secretariat and IUCN Asia, the workshop has provided for limited participation by representatives of Cambodia. The reasons for this are twofold: (1) the workshop will provide an opportunity to increase scientific exchange and cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia. This is of particular importance given the proximity of known marine turtles distributions to the Cambodia/Vietnam border. (2) Given the absence of a Cambodian national workshop, the present workshop will provide stimulus for Cambodian participation in the MoU. This training workshop will serve as a kick-off activity within the framework of the process to develop a draft National Action Plan for Marine Turtle Conservation and Management in Vietnam, and will support Vietnam’s involvement in the CMS and regional marine turtle conservation forums. The workshop has been developed jointly by the Ministry of Fisheries (Research Institute for Marine Products), the Convention on Migratory Species Secretariat, Dr Pilcher of the University of Malaysia in Sarawak, and the IUCN Vietnam Marine Program. I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of IUCN, to express sincere thanks all those who have contributed to the development the workshop, especially RIMP, Prof. Dr. Pham Thuoc and his staff the Ministry of Fisheries and others for their great support, international expert Dr. Nicholas Pilcher (University Malaysia Sarawak), Mr. Douglas Hykle (Deputy Executive Secretary of CMS - UNEP), marine turtle specialist Dr. Jeff Miller, and Dr. Chan Eng Heng. Our special appreciation goes also to the CMS - UNEP, the Danish International Development Agency (Danida), the US National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the US National Fish and

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Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), and the members of the IUCN SSC for their cooperation and generous provision of grants to this first national training workshop in Vietnam. Thank you, and I wish you all good health.

D. Hykle: CMS welcoming address


CMS WELCOMING ADDRESS

Douglas Hykle Deputy Executive Secretary

Convention on Migratory Species Director Vu Van Dai, Distinguished Speakers, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to be with you today on this, my third or fourth visit to Vietnam, but the first to this splendid southern coast. In February, I had the pleasure of visiting the Research Institute for Marine Products (RIMP) and the Ministry of Fisheries (MoFi), to become familiar with their work and to share information about the organisation that I represent, the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). I would like to begin my remarks by paying tribute to Prof. Pham Thuoc, who had the vision two or three years ago to organize a national training workshop in Vietnam, as well a the persistence to bring it to fruition with the support of the RIMP and MoFi. I would also like to acknowledge the IUCN-Vietnam office for all its work in helping to organize the meeting, and Dr Nicholas Pilcher of the University of Malaysia for his efforts to raise funds for the meeting. I would like to complement the eloquent explanation of Dr Vu Van Dai of the rational for this workshop. I was reminded of a similar meeting that CMS organized in Africa some years ago, where some newspaper journalists were present. I remember speaking to an assistant to one of the journalists, who found it very amusing that we had organized a conference on marine turtle conservation. He simply couldn’t understand why 50 people from various African countries had gathered to talk about an animal, which his compatriots consumed for food. It drove home to me the realization that we have to make a big effort to convince the general public of the rationale and importance of our work. Marine turtles are remarkable creatures, and we will certainly learn about their characteristics today and during the rest of the week. They are found throughout the world, and they are valued by different peoples and cultures for many purposes. They range from consumption for meat, eggs and shell to non-consumptive uses, such as helping to generate income for local communities through tourism. We know that turtles are declining in number in many parts of the world, some critically. Their highly migratory nature means that countries need to collaborate in order to achieve effective conservation. In Manila, last June, a first step was in this direction was made with the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding on regional collaboration among Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian countries. I am happy to announce that a representative of the Government of Vietnam will sign the MoU on this auspicious occasion, making Vietnam the ninth signatory to the MoU, which will take effect on 1 September 2001. In closing, I regret very much that I will not be in a position to join you in Con Dao later in the week, because of other pressing commitments in Bonn, but I am sure that the team of eminent experts who have been assembled here will do a fine job of leading the discussions. I look forward to working with you in the next days and I wish you well in your remaining deliberations.

N. Pilcher: General biology


GENERAL BIOLOGY OF MARINE TURTLES

Nicolas J. Pilcher Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia

History and General Biology Marine turtles have survived on earth for centuries. Mankind’s actions though, in particular in the 19th and 20th centuries, have brought many populations to the brink of extinction. Awakened in biologists’ minds by the late Archie Carr (Carr 1942; Carr & Giovannoli 1957; Carr et al. 1966; Carr 1967; Carr 1975; Carr & Stancyk 1975; Carr 1986a; Carr 1986b), sea turtles have come to symbolise conservation efforts in a marine context, and through a far reaching and migratory group of animals such as these, widespread international co-operation. Turtles probably appeared in the late Triassic ca. 200 million years ago (Pritchard 1997). When dinosaurs became extinct ca. 100 million years later, turtles survived through their adaptation to marine environments, and do so today, relatively unchanged. There are several key physiological features that are common to all sea turtle species and which set them apart from other Testudines, such as non-retractile limbs, extensively roofed skulls, limbs converted to paddle-like flippers, and salt glands to excrete excess salt. As is the case with other reptiles, the sex of hatchlings is dependent on temperature during incubation, particularly during the third and fourth weeks (Miller & Limpus 1981; Miller 1985). Today, there are seven or eight (depending on one’s point of view) extant species of sea turtles: the Leatherback Dermochelys coriacea (Family Dermochelydae), the Loggerhead Caretta caretta, the Hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata, the Olive ridley Lepidochelys olivacea, the Kemp’s ridley Lepidochelys kempi, the Green Chelonia mydas and the Flatback Natator depressus (all in the Family Cheloniidae). An eighth species, the black turtle Chelonia agassizii is currently the subject of debate among biologists, having first been described by Bocourt (1868) but later disputed by Bowen et al. (1993). The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) lists Chelonia mydas and Caretta caretta as Threatened and the remainder are listed as Endangered, save for Natator, whose status is as yet unknown.

Why Conserve Sea Turtles? Sea turtles have been used for as long as man can remember for food and other commodities. Their importance in trade dates back millennia, either for their shell, meat, oils or leather. Recently turtles have become important for non-consumptive uses such as tourism, education and research activities, employment and other gains. A less apparent, but irreplaceable value is as an ecological resource. Turtles are unique components of complex ecological systems, the viability of which is linked to exploitable products (such as fish and shells). Turtles have immeasurable value as cultural assets as well as being important indicators of coastal and marine environments. They are model flagships for both local and regional conservation, and by conserving turtles and their habitats vast marine areas have to be taken into consideration, protecting the complex, interconnected world on which human societies depend.

General Reproductive Biology In general, turtles migrate from distant feeding grounds to different nesting areas and once the males and females arrive, they mate during a period of 1 - 2 months. After mating, females take 2 - 4 weeks to emerge on the beach and lay the first clutch of eggs. After this, they may return 4

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- 8 more times to lay again in the same season. The actual nesting process can be described in seven basic steps: Emerging - when the turtles leave the ocean and crawl up the beach; Digging - when the large body pit is excavated using the front flippers; Chambering - when the egg chamber is excavated using the rear flippers; Laying - actual egg deposition; Filling - covering the nest with sand back to the original beach level; Returning - crawling back down the beach to the ocean; and Wandering - crawling over the beach between nesting attempts. Each nest contains around 100 eggs, which measure 4 - 5 cm and weigh 20-30 g. The eggs take ca. 60 days to incubate, and invariably hatch after dark, when the sand surface cools. The hatchlings excavate through the sand for two or three days before emerging, and weigh 20 - 25 g and measure 4 - 5 cm in length. Hatchlings crawl down the beach and head directly offshore using light, wave direction and the earth’s magnetic field for guidance. They swim for 1 - 2 days in what is known as a ‘swimming frenzy’ to get as far offshore as possible. After this, they generally float as part of the ocean’s plankton for several years until they migrate from oceanic waters onshore to shallow feeding areas. After five to ten years they may grow to juveniles 20 - 40 cm in length. They remain at their feeding grounds for 5 - 10 or more years until they reach sexual maturity, and undertake their first migration to the mating and nesting areas, whereupon the cycle is repeated (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1: Generalised life cycle of marine turtles (after Lanyon et al. 1989).

Individual adult female green turtles nest after 2 - 4 year intervals (remigration period), while adult males may remigrate after 1 - 2 years (Balazs 1983). Hatchlings are believed to have a survival probability of < 0.01, but the probability of turtle survival increases exponentially with size, where adults have the highest survival rate due to size and restricted number of predators (Crouse et al. 1987). Growth is fast (5 - 10 cm⋅yr-1) in hatchlings and juveniles (2 - 4 cm⋅yr-1) but very slow (0.2 cm⋅yr-1) or non-existent in adults (Bjorndal & Bolton 1988). Sea turtles do not tend to become reproductively mature until they reach at least 20 - 50 years of age (Frazer & Ehrhart 1985).



By understanding the reproductive output of a population we may draw inferences on its potential growth or decline. Although many reproductive characteristics vary from population to population, it is important to distinguish between evolutionary adaptations and poor nesting success. For example, adult populations across the globe vary in average size and weight, and the turtles in the Middle East region tend to be among the smallest on a global scale, with turtles from the Atlantic Ocean being generally larger. Within the Indo-Pacific region, the Arabian Gulf population was found to be at the lower end of the scale, while the Red Sea population was found to be at the upper end. Across regions, the Saudi Arabian turtles were smaller and lighter than turtles from the Atlantic Ocean region. It is believed that the long-term feeding history of turtles in the Arabian Gulf, with its associated environmental extremes, may have resulted in the lower overall body size. In contrast, the smaller number of turtles in the Red Sea competing for seagrass that is distributed along the extensive coast, and the lack of migrations in and out of the Red Sea, may be responsible for their larger body size. These physiological differences need not necessarily be an indication of health; they could be simple geographical variations within individual species. Critical Biological Adaptations The physiological design and biological adaptations of sea turtles have remained unchanged for millions of years. There are certain aspects of their natural history set them apart from most marine inhabitants that, when combined with modern-era technology and population pressures, may prove detrimental to their long-term survival. Migrations

A characteristic that has fascinated biologists through time is the marine turtle’s periodic migration to and from nesting and foraging sites, sometimes over vast distances. Chelonia mydas can sustain swimming speeds of 44 km·day-1 (Limpus et al. 1992) and have been recorded as migrating distances of up to 3410 km from Gielop (Micronesia) to Majuro (Marshall Islands) (Hirth & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1997). Adult females do not necessarily nest at the closest rookery to the feeding area, as noted with green and hawksbill populations along the Great Barrier Reef (Limpus et al. 1983). Through the results of tagging projects and extensive fieldwork throughout the Caribbean (see Carr 1986b), no turtle tagged in Tortuguero, Costa Rica, was found nesting elsewhere during 22 years of monitoring (Carr et al. 1978), suggesting those turtles nested only at the one site. Green turtles make “very deliberate journeys to specific geographical targets” with females showing high site fidelity after remigrations, generally of 2 - 4 years (Limpus et al. 1992). Carr et al. (1978) reported remigration cycles of 2 years (21 %), 3 years (49 %) and 4 years (18 %) for female greens in Tortuguero. Male green turtles possibly have shorter remigration periods (Limpus 1993), and Clifton (1983) described a one-year breeding cycle for the black turtle in Mexico (in Figueroa et al. 1992). Interestingly, many turtles nest only once in a lifetime (Carr et al. 1978), and are never recorded to remigrate to their nesting ground during subsequent years. With saturation field research projects around the globe, and given most tags last at least four or five years (Limpus 1992), it is doubtful this segment of the population would go unnoticed if they were to nest at other rookeries. Remigrant turtles have been found to nest more frequently in a season and lay more eggs than recruits (Carr et al. 1978), suggesting some sort of adaptive mechanism / learning process related to the first nesting experience. Whereas natural mortality may explain a significant proportion of turtles that nest only once, it is suggested that a ‘bad’ nesting experience, whereby an adult turtle is disturbed as she nests or attacked while at sea in the vicinity of the nesting beaches may also contribute to this phenomenon.

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Age at Maturity

Marine turtles are estimated to live long lives, even up to 100 years. They are known to reach sexual maturity only after 15 to 40 years, depending on species, presenting unique management requirements. Turtle hatchlings emerging today might only return to nest after 20 to 30 years, by which time few, if any, of our present scientists and managers will be following their progress. Additionally, their long absence from known feeding or foraging sites masks any changes to population sizes. For this reason, effects on long-term survival such as egg collection or adult harvesting might not be noted for a number of years, if at all (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2: In a simple hypothetical case, if 100% of turtles were harvested each year before laying eggs, there

would reach a point at which no further breeding females would be available. However, this would not become apparent for another 25 years (after Mortimer 1995).

Additionally, and more importantly, is that their long maturation period means that they face an ever-increasing number of mortality pressures during a long period of time, which prevents population restocking. Habitat Requirements and Degradation

Sea turtles need a number of different habitats to complete their natural life cycle. From when eggs are deposited on clean sandy beaches, to hatchling migrations through unpolluted waters, and shallow foraging sites such as seagrass beds, rocky reefs and coral reefs, to deep oceans teeming with life, turtles depend on habitats that circumscribe the tropics and even extend to far northern and southern latitudes. On small beaches there is a risk of density dependent nesting mortality as the population size grows exponentially (see Balazs 1980), where nests face higher risks of being disinterred by other nesting adults with high nesting densities. Lighting on beaches is hazardous to emerging hatchlings as the lights attract hatchlings away from the shoreline (Witherington & Bjorndal 1991), and in many developed coastal areas may be responsible for a large percentage of hatchling loss. In Florida, legislation exists that controls light use close to turtle beaches (Lutcavage et al. 1997), but this sort of regulation is not applied nor enforced in most turtle rookeries in other locations. Nesting habitats are threatened by the disappearance of beaches through sea level rise and erosion processes (Ackerman 1997), beach nourishment, armouring and sand mining, and through residential development (Lutcavage et al. 1997). On the open sea, turtles face the risk of fishery mortality (Poiner & Harris 1994), and a number of other threats, such as oil pollution. Hutchinson & Simmonds (1992) discuss the increased threats to turtles from oil as they migrate across vast expanses of ocean. At foraging sites, turtles are threatened by marine debris (Balazs 1985), destructive fishing practices such as blast and cyanide fishing (Bjorndal 1996; Pilcher & Oakley 1997), anchors and propellers, siltation and the use of bottom trawls in seagrass ecosystems (Bjorndal 1996).



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Balazs GH. 1983. Recovery records of adult green turtles observed or originally tagged at French frigate Shoals, northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Tech. Memo. NMFS-SWFC-36 NOAA, Honolulu.

Balazs GH. 1985. Impact of ocean debris on marine turtles: Entanglement and ingestion. In: Proceedings of a workshop on the fate and impact of marine debris. NOAA, NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFC-54, Honolulu, pp. 387.

Bjorndal KA. 1996. Foraging ecology and nutrition of sea turtles. In: Lutz PL & Musick JA, eds. The biology of the sea turtles. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp. 199-232.

Bjorndal KA & Bolton AB. 1988. Growth rates of immature green turtles, Chelonia mydas, on feeding grounds in the southern Bahamas. Copeia 1988: 555-564.

Bocourt MM. 1868. Description de quelques cheloniens nouveau appartenent a la faune mexicaine. Ann. Sci. Nat. Ser. 5: 121-122.

Bowen BW, Nelson WS & Avise JC. 1993. A Molecular Phylogeny for Marine Turtles - Trait Mapping, Rate Assessment, and Conservation Relevance. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 90: 5574-5577.

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Carr A. 1975. The Ascention Island green turtle colony. Copeia 1975 3: 547-545.

Carr A. 1986a. Rips, FADS, and little loggerheads. BioScience 36: 92-100.

Carr A. 1986b. The sea turtle: So excellent a fishe. University of Texas Press, Austin.

Carr A & Stancyk S. 1975. Observations on the ecology and survival outlook of the hawksbill turtle. Biological Conservation 8: 161-172.

Carr A, Hirth A & Ogren L. 1966. The ecology and migrations of sea turtles. 6. The hawksbill turtle in the Caribbean Sea. American Museum Novitiates 162: 1-46.

Carr A, Carr MH & Meylan AB. 1978. The ecology and migrations of sea turtles. 7. The west Caribbean Sea. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 162: 1-46.

Carr AE. 1942. Notes on sea turtles. New England Zoological Club 21: 1-16.

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Figueroa A, Alvarado J, Hernandez F, Rodriguez G & Robles J. 1992. Population recovery of the sea turtles of Michoacan, Mexico: An integrated conservation approach. WWF, USFWS, Mexico City.

Frazer NB & Ehrhart LM. 1985. Preliminary growth models for green, Chelonia mydas, and loggerhead, Caretta caretta, turtles in the wild. Copeia 1985: 73.

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Hirth HF & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1997. Synopsis of the biological data on the green turtle Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus 1758). Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Washington, D.C.

Hutchinson J & Simmonds M. 1992. Escalation of threats to marine turtles. Oryx 26: 95-102.

Lanyon JM, Limpus CJ & Marsh H. 1989. Dugongs and turtles: Graziers in the seagrass system. In: Larkum AD, McComb A & Shepherd SA, eds. Biology of Seagrasses, A treatise on the biology of seagrasses with special reference to the Australian region. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 610.

Limpus CJ. 1992. Estimation of tag loss in marine turtle research. Wildlife Research 19: 457-469.

Limpus CJ. 1993. The green turtle, Chelonia mydas, in Queensland: Breeding males in the southern Great Barrier Reef. Wildlife Research 20: 513-523.

Limpus CJ, Reed P & Miller JD. 1983. Islands and turtles: The influence of choice of nesting beach on sex ratio. In: Proceedings of the inaugural Great Barrier Reef conference. JCU Press, Townsville, pp. 397-402.

Limpus CJ, Miller JD, Parmenter CJ, Reimer D, McLachlan N & Webb R. 1992. Migration of green (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) turtles to and from eastern Australian rookeries. Wildlife Research 19: 347-358.

Lutcavage ME, Plotkin P, Witherington BE & Lutz PL. 1997. Human impacts on sea turtle survival. In: Lutz PL & Musick JA, eds. The biology of sea turtles. Boca Raton, pp. 387-410.

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Poiner I & Harris ANM. 1994. The incidental capture and mortality of sea turtles in Australia's northern prawn fishery. In: Proceedings of the Marine Turtle Conservation Workshop. Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra, pp. 115-123.

Pritchard PCH. 1997. Evolution, phylogeny, and current status. In: Lutz PL & Musick JA, eds. The biology of sea turtles. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp. 115-123.

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B. O’Callaghan: Threats to turtles


THREATS TO TURTLES

Bernard O’Callaghan Chief Technical Advisor, Hon Mun MPA Pilot Project for Vietnam.

Marine turtles are severely threatened. Globally the numbers of turtles are decreasing. This is causing great concern worldwide. Thus, the aim of this paper is to consider the main threats to marine turtles and to describe in some detail these threats. Introduction In a natural environment, there are a number of factors that have limited the total numbers of turtles. These include cyclones, predators and diseases. In the natural system these deaths are replaced by the annual breeding and reproduction patterns of the species. However, when recent human activities have caused a dramatic decrease in the total number of turtles through the deaths of many turtles. This is threatening the survival of many turtle populations primarily due to these human activities. These threats can be classified into three categories. They are:

• Nesting threats • Threats from human marine activities • Disease threats

These threats will be described and discussed in more detail below.

Nesting threats

All species of marine turtle lay eggs on sandy beaches. Eggs are deposited into holes dug on these beaches and the adult female turtles then return to the sea. However, while adult turtles are agile in the oceans, on land they move very slowly and are vulnerable. In addition, the young turtles are at the most susceptible stage of their lives as they move from the nest to the sea. An important point to note is that it is believed that marine turtles have an extremely high affinity for their nesting beaches, and therefore the loss or reduction of even a single nesting beach can have serious effects. Some of the key threats turtles face during their breeding and nesting are described below.

• Increased Human Presence Residential and tourist use of beaches can result in disturbance to nesting turtles. The most serious threat is cause by increased human presence on beaches, especially at night. This results in nesting females shifting their nesting sites, sometimes being forced to use less suitable beaches. Egg laying can be aborted or delayed.

• Recreational equipment The equipment associated with recreation use of beaches discourages nesting activity on beaches that have been used by turtles for millennia. The introduction of recreational equipment such as lounge chairs, umbrellas, small boats, and beach cycles reduces the usefulness of a beach for nesting, and can seriously damage or destroy any existing nests. In addition, female turtles can become trapped in this equipment.

• Beach replenishment Beach replenishment is where sand is added to the beach, often through offshore dredging. Also, heavy equipment on beaches can pack the sand, making it impossible for turtles to dig proper nests. This alters egg and hatchling survivorship.

• Beach armouring Beach armouring is the construction of infrastructure such as sea walls, rock walls, sandbag installations, groins and jetties. These practices in the short-term protect

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investments, but ultimately result in environmental damage and loss of a dry nesting beach.

• Beach erosion Erosion can be the result of human activities on the coastal environment. Erosion can result in the loss of nesting habitat. Erosion also prompts the development of beach armouring as described above.

• Changing beach temperature In turtles, the sexes of the young are determined by the sand temperature in which the eggs are incubated. Changes in beach temperature through the construction of high-rise buildings close to the shore can alter sex ratios by shading nesting beaches and creating a cooler incubation environment that will produce more male hatchlings

• Lighting and costal developments Lighting of streets, pathways and developments, e.g. houses and restaurants, can disorient marine turtle hatchlings and nesting females by altering natural lighting and topography horizons which are used as guidance mechanisms by turtles.

• Predators The opening up of coastal beaches, and the introduction of predatory species onto islands, is having a detrimental impact on young turtles. This unnatural predation, together with natural predation, has dramatically decreased the survival rate of newly hatched turtles.

• Poaching The eggs of sea turtles are considered by many people as highly desirable for a number of reasons. This results in the theft of turtle eggs and continues to be a serious problem everywhere turtles nest.

Threats from human marine activities

If young turtles are to survive their entry into the world, they must escape the threats described on the beach areas. They are increasingly threatened by the marine related activities of humans. With the exception of the leatherback, marine turtles live most of their lives in fairly shallow coastal waters, making them very vulnerable to our activities. The number of turtles killed by these activities is not accurately known, but the annual mortality is expected to be in the many thousands. A description of these threats is provided below.

• Commercial turtle fisheries The most serious marine environment threat to turtles is commercial fishing. In some parts of the world, turtles are still hunted, both for food and for their shells. In places where turtle hunting is banned, the incidental taking of turtles during other fishing operations remains a major threat.

• Bycatch in fishing activities Many commercial fishing activities catch turtles. Some examples include shrimp trawlers that trap and drown sea turtles. Gill nets also snare turtles, and frequently are not pulled soon enough to free the turtles before they drown. Although turtles can remain underwater for long periods, they need to breathe. In recent years, trawl fishers and scientists have developed and introduced Turtle Exclusion Devices (TEDs) in trawl nets to exclude turtles from the catch.

• Boat Strikes Many millions of boats operate through our oceans. Any vessel, including commercial ships, fishing vessels, and recreational craft can strike marine turtles. Turtles, especially

B. O’Callaghan: Threats to turtles


green turtles, are known to bask at the water's surface. Turtles may be struck when they are unaware of, or fail to avoid, an oncoming vessel, or when the driver of the vessel is not aware of, or cannot avoid, the animal. The increasing number of high-speed vessels operating increases the risk of such collisions. In Australia, on average, 14% of the marine turtles that strand on the Queensland coast show evidence of being struck by boats and/or propellers.

• Defence Activity Potential impacts arising from Defence activities include detonations of explosives, the use of live munitions and the use of active sonar and other acoustic devices. Shock waves from explosives can kill or injure marine turtles, or cause displacement of animals from areas.

• Pollution and Marine Debris The dumping of garbage is prohibited in many places, but increasing amounts of debris, such as plastic objects, enter the marine environment every year. The feeding strategies of turtles mean they associate with areas where oceanic debris concentrates. Some of this debris, such as discarded lines, can entangle marine turtles, while other kinds of debris, such as plastic bags, may be mistaken for food and ingested. Debris on nesting beaches can interfere with a turtle's ability to dig an egg chamber.

• Oil and gas exploration The exploitation of offshore oil and gas reserves leads to oil spills and the presence of tar in the water. Both of these pollutants have serious effects on marine turtles. Oil on the skin and shell of a marine turtle can affect respiration and salt gland functions, as well as the turtle's blood chemistry. The ingestion of tar pellets is also a major concern.

Disease

Although diseases kill turtles, identifying a specific disease can be difficult. Often carcasses of marine turtles wash ashore on beaches but are too decomposed for an accurate determination of the cause of death. There is particular concern about fibropapilloma (FP) tumours, these are lobe-shaped tumours that can infect all soft portions of a turtle's body. Tumours grow primarily on the skin, but they can also appear between scutes, in the mouth, on the eyes, and on internal organs. These tumours often increase in size and number until the turtle is seriously debilitated. Death is a common outcome. While there have been isolated reports of FP in turtles that date back as far as the 1930s, it was only in the early 80s that the disease began to reach epidemic proportions. For unknown reasons, FP began infecting green turtles in large numbers simultaneously in several geographically discrete areas, such as Hawaii, Florida, and Australia. By the mid-90s, the single greatest threat to the green turtle was FP. Conclusions The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the issues that are being faced by the dwindling populations of marine turtles. It aims to provide an introduction to the discussions that will be held over the next few days. References, sources and further reading Sources of further information on the threats to marine turtles are listed below:

• “Threats to marine turtles” – Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority: www.gbrmpa.com.au

• “Threats to marine turtles” – www.turtles.org

J. D. Miller: Identification of species


IDENTIFICATION OF MARINE TURTLES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Jeff D. Miller Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, PO Box 2066, Cairns, Queensland, Australia

There are five species of marine turtles found in the waters of Southeast Asia: the leatherback turtle, the green turtle, the loggerhead turtle, the hawksbill turtle, and the olive ridley turtle (Table 1). The species can be easily identified by counting the scales on the carapace (shell) and head, counting inframarginal scales (between the carapace and plastron), and examining them for pores, and counting the claws on the front flipper (see Pritchard & Mortimer 1999, for greater detail). Although turtle species can often be identified by simply looking at the size, shape and colour, these characteristics can be misleading. Hatchling, juvenile and adult turtles differ in size and shape. Moreover, coloration and pattern varies among individuals and populations. The essential characteristics necessary to identify marine turtles are illustrated in Fig. 1. Table 1. Classification of turtles occurring in Southeast Asian waters. Family Genus Species English Name Vietnamese

Name Dermochelyidae Dermochelys D. coriacea leatherback turtle Rùa Da Cheloniidae Chelonia C. mydas green turtle Vích Cheloniidae Caretta Car. caretta loggerhead turtle Quản Ðống Cheloniidae Eretmochelys E. imbricata hawksbill turtle Ðối Mối Thường Cheloniidae Lepidochelys L. olivacea olive ridley turtle Ðối Mối Dứa To use the key, examine the turtle and decide if the carapace is black with several white ridges running from the front to the back of the shell or not. If so, it is a leatherback turtle. If not, count the costal scales (shaded on the diagram). If there are 4 coastal scales, count the scales on the head (shaded on the diagram). If not, then it must have either 5 or 6 (or more) costal scales. If it has 5 costal scales, it is a loggerhead and, if it has 6 or more, it is an olive ridley turtle. To confirm the identification examine the inframarginal scales for the presence or absence of pores and count the number of claws on one front flipper (Table 2). Following this procedure in sequence allows the turtle to be identified regardless of its size or coloration. Using other characters or not following the sequence can lead to misidentification. For example, occasionally a turtle will have an odd number of scales and not be easily identified. These odd scales may or may not reach from the marginal scales to the vertebral scales. If a scale does not touch the four scales around it, do not count it. If the turtle presents a confusing pattern of characteristics, use Table 2 to evaluate the best fit of the most characters. Account for each of the characters listed in the table on the specimen, and be sure to photograph or draw the shell pattern as well as the pattern of the scales on the head. Hybridisation does occur, but only rarely. If you suspect that the turtle you have is a hybrid, collect a small piece of skin and place it in a labelled vial of plain salt for later DNA analysis.

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Fig. 1. The essential characteristics necessary to identify marine turtles. Pictorial key to the identification

of marine turtles in South–East Asia (modified from an original key by C. J. Limpus) (also see Table 2).

Table 2. Synopsis of the characteristics used to identify the marine turtles in Southeast Asia. (See also

Fig. 1)

GENUS HEAD CARAPACE FLIPPER PLASTRON Number of

Prefrontal Scales Number of

Coastal Scales Number of

Claws on Front Flipper

Number of Inframarginal

Scales Dermochelys None None, 5

longitudinal ridges None in adults None

Chelonia 2 4 1 4, without pores Caretta 4 (sometimes 5) 5 (rarely 6) 2 3, without pores Eretmochelys 4 4 2 4, without pores Lepidochelys 4 6 or more 1 4, with pores

References Pritchard PCH & Mortimer JA. 1999. Taxonomy, external morphology and species

identification. In: Eckert KL, Bjorndal KA, Abreu-Grobois FA & Donnelly M, eds. Research and management techniques for the conservation of sea turtles. IUCN Marine Turtle Specialist Group Publication No. 4., pp. 21-38.

J. D. Miller: General beach methods


GENERAL BEACH METHODS FOR STUDYING MARINE TURTLES

Jeff D. Miller Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Northern Region, PO Box 2066

Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia Introduction The following comments provide a brief outline to the general methods used by researchers around the world and are based on the IUCN SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group recommended methods (Eckert et al. 1999). These comments are meant to serve as a brief guide and a reminder, rather than a detailed protocol of research methods. There are three distinct phases to conducting a field study of the nesting biology of marine turtles: Preparation, Fieldwork, and Reporting. The ultimate goal of helping marine turtles to survive cannot be achieved unless each phase is completed: without proper preparation (setting of goals, selecting methods), the study never really begins; without field work (including training), the necessary data will not be gathered; without a report, the knowledge gained through the study will not be available to influence the decisions. Preparation

The first step in a research project is the identification the problem(s) or issue(s) to be addressed. The identification of issues must be based on experience and local information. Once identified these should be ranked from the most critical to the least and a search of the published literature to find out how others have addressed the issues and what methods were used. Based on the combined input of local experience and published information, a set of goals (both short term and long term) can be formulated. Only after the goals have been set can appropriate methods be selected. Fieldwork

Fieldwork is not simply going out and collecting data. The first step in fieldwork is training to ensure that each person is using the same the techniques in the same manner; this builds confidence in each person and helps build a team. Training is also important in ensuring safety of staff and the animals with which they are working. Following training, the actual fieldwork involves the logistical support of the field team as well as their safety. All of the support assists in obtaining the goals by providing a context in which the data are collected. All field data need to be checked in the field. This involves daily record keeping so that discrepancies can be identified and checked before the end of the field period. Sometime it is possible to enter the data into a computerised database in the field and sometimes this is accomplished after the fieldwork has finished. Reporting

Like the other two phases of beach work, reporting of the data is important and contains several steps. The field data must be computerised to support analysis, but before being analysed it must be checked for accuracy. The actual analysis of the data must be appropriate to the data; most data recorded during beach work can be displayed using histograms and scatterplots. In future years of the study, the data collected during each season may be compared across seasons using t-test (two seasons) and ANOVAs (multiple seasons), as well as to published information. The analysis of the data is not the end point; appropriate management actions need to be recommended so that managers have a basis for making decisions and committing funds for turtle conservation. This means that a written report is essential at the completion of the project. For projects that span several years, annual reports that keep the managers informed of the progress and findings are very important. It is the job of the researcher to organise and conduct

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scientific research that addresses the important management and biological issues impinging on the long-term survival of the turtles; it is also the job of the researcher to present the result to the managers in an understandable manner. Without both of these tasks being completed, the turtles are still at risk. General methods

The methods selected depend on the issues being addressed. If the primary need is to determine the distribution of nesting sites and the relative species distribution, aerial surveys may be the most cost effective means by which to provide the needed information. If this information is already known and the need is for more detailed information then an assessment of the biological characteristics of the turtles may be the most appropriate action. Assessment on the nesting beach might include tagging, measuring, and/or weighing of the females and their eggs. If the emphasis is on evaluating incubation and hatching success, then counting eggs at oviposition, putting a marker in the nest, and counting hatchlings would be relevant actions. Details of how to measure and weigh sea turtles, how to handle their eggs, and how to evaluate the contents of emerged nests, as well as many other ‘how to’ directions, can be found in the Marine Turtle Specialist Group research and management techniques manual (Eckert et al. 1999). References Eckert KL, Bjorndal KA, Abreu-Grobois FA & Donnelly M eds. 1999. Research and

management techniques for the conservation of sea turtles. IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group.

C. H. Liew & H. E. Chan: Tagging and database management


TAGGING, DATABASE MANAGEMENT AND MARINE TURTLE STATISTICS

Liew Hock Chark and Chan Eng Heng Sea Turtle Research Unit (SEATRU),University College of Science and Technology Malaysia

(KUSTEM), 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia Introduction This presentation will explain the importance of tagging programs, tagging methods, and tag recoveries. The type of information derived from tagging data is presented, along with how missed turtles and tag losses affect conclusions derived from tagging data. Data to be collected in a tagging program and how this data is to be stored and managed is explained. An outline of the biological information and population statistics that can be collated from a long term tagging program is given. Finally, the collection of marine turtle statistics is dealt with, in accordance with the regional program coordinated by the Marine Fishery Resources Development and Management Department (MFRDMD) of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC). Three references, Liew & Chan (in press), Nasir et al. (1999) and Eckert et al. (1999), have been used in the preparation of this presentation. Tagging and monitoring sea turtle populations Why tag the turtles?

The basic purpose is to recognize individuals or cohorts within a population. When individuals are recognized, we can monitor them through the nesting season and keep track of them on a long-term basis. From the information gathered each time the tagged turtles are encountered, we can obtain information on reproductive biology and behaviour, population estimates, mortality rates and strandings, movements, migration and residency, and on growth and age. Obviously, the accuracy of the data gathered is dependant upon how well the tags are retained on the turtles, how frequently they are lost, the number of tags applied to each turtle, subsequent encounters with individual turtles, and tag recoveries. Tag retention is related to the type and quality of tags used, the position where the tag is applied, and the skill and procedure of tag application. Other factors like the species and size of the turtle, turtle behaviour, and even the marine environment can affect tag retention rates. Tags

Turtle biologists have used a variety of methods to tag turtles. Carving, notching or painting of the carapace has been a convenient way to tag terrestrial and freshwater turtles. Living tags that involve tissue grafts have also been successfully attempted. Many tagging programs, however, use metal alloy tags that are available commercially. The two most popular metal tags currently used are titanium and inconel tags, available from the following suppliers:

Titanium Tags Stockbrands Company, Mt. Hawthorn, Australia. Fax: 619-444-0619

Inconel 625 style 681c National Band and Tag Company, Newport, Kentucky, USA. Fax: 001-606-261-8247

Some researchers have tried wire and PIT (Passive Integrated Transponders) tags which are implanted under the skin or in the muscle of the turtle. These tags have been reported to show good retention rates over long periods of time. In telemetric studies, turtles are tagged using

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radio and/or ultrasonic pingers, and satellite PTTs (Platform Transmitter Terminals). Radio and ultrasonic pingers are used for short-term studies, usually over one inter-nesting period. The turtles are followed in a boat in which receivers are mounted. The inter-nesting habitats and behaviour of the turtles can be elucidated through such studies. PTTs transmit signals that are received by satellites. Satellite tracking is now used extensively to study the long-range migratory pathways of marine turtles. Tagging procedures using metal alloy tags

A variety of tag positions have been tried on different species of sea turtles. For hard-shelled turtles, the position with the best tag retention rates is the proximal location at the posterior edge of the front flippers, either before, or over the first large scale (Fig. 1). Some people prefer to tag the turtle in the hind flipper, proximal and adjacent to the first large scale. Usually, turtles are tagged immediately after completion of egg laying, when the hind flippers are being used to cover the egg chamber, a process that takes between 5 to 8 minutes. The front flippers remain still at this stage of the nesting process and hence allow easy application of the tag. A pair of applicators is used and tags have to be checked to ensure that they have been properly clinched; otherwise they have to be removed and re-applied.

Fig. 1. Titanium flipper tag Tag recovery

The value of any turtle tagging program lies is in the recovery of tag information. There are three means of encounter with a tagged turtle: Intentional capture/encounter by a researcher Accidental or intentional capture/encounter by fishermen Chance encounter by the public The quality of information gathered from a tagged turtle depends on effort expended in maximizing beach patrolling (every hour) and covering all possible nesting beaches. If turtles are missed turtles and tags are lost, it will result in low estimates of number of nestings per turtle, Low egg production per turtle, incorrect inter-nesting interval data, and old turtles being misreported as new, all bias estimates of mortality and nesting frequencies. Information collected in a tagging program includes the tag number, tag type, species and size of turtle (curved carapace length (CCL), curved carapace width (CCW), weight, etc.), nest number, number of eggs, nest location, beach, GPS position, date and time of nesting, turtle condition

C. H. Liew & H. E. Chan: Tagging and database management


(health, growth found on turtle) and name of the researcher. Appropriate forms can be prepared for use in the field. Storage of tagging data

All tagging data must be carefully stored for long term archiving and retrieval. As the data accumulated can be voluminous, computerised storage and analysis is necessary. Duplicate sets of data are to be stored separately for security. As regional databases last longer than individual tagging projects, there should be an attempt to develop a regional center for data storage and archival. Clear guidelines on ownership as well as agreements on publications and data access should be clearly spelt out when collaborating in data sharing and storage. Some biological and population statistics obtained from tagging data

The goal of a tagging program should be to answer the following questions: • How many times do turtles nest in a season? • How many days before they nest again? • Does the same turtle nest every year? • When will the turtle nest again? • Will they nest at other beaches? • How accurate is the data? • How bad is the tag loss? • Which tag performs better – titanium or inconel • How fast do they grow?

Marine turtle statistics Apart from tagging data, basic statistics can also be collected on marine turtles. MFRDMD of SEAFDEC in Malaysia is coordinating a regional program on the collection of basic marine turtle population statistics in Southeast Asia. Ten separate forms have been prepared and distributed to participating countries in the region. The statistics to be collected are summarised below:

• Turtle nesting sites by species • Annual landings, nestings and egg production by species, nesting site and month • No. of in-situ and artificial hatcheries • Annual egg production, egg incubation, and hatchling production by species, month

and nesting site. • Monthly records of mortality

References Eckert KL, Bjorndal KA, Abreu-Grobois FA & Donnelly M eds. 1999. Research and

management techniques for the conservation of sea turtles. IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group.

Liew HC & Chan EH. in press. Assessment of the population of green turtles nesting at Redang Island, Malaysia, through long-term tagging analysis. In: Proceedings of the 20th Annual Sea Turtle Symposium, 29 Feb.- 4 March, 2000, Orlando, Florida, USA.

Nasir MTM, Karim AKA & Ramli MN. 1999. Report of the SEAFDEC – ASEAN Regional Workshop on Sea Turtle Conservation and Management, 26-28 July 1999, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. SEAFDEC MFRDMD/RM/6.

A. X. Le: Sea turtle conservation in Con Dao


SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH IN CON DAO ISLANDS

Le Xuan Ai Director of Con Dao National Park, Vietnam

Background Con Dao islands belong to Ba Ria Vung Tau Province and are 97 nautical miles from Vung Tau and 83km from the mouth of the Hau River (Mekong) in South Vietnam. In 1984, Con Dao was designated as a Nature Reserve by the Prime Minister. It encompassed 6,043 ha of forest on 14 offshore islands, along with 4 km of sea buffer corridor surrounding the islands. In 1993, Con Dao changed status to become a National park with a new area of 5,998 ha of forest, 14,00 ha of marine biodiversity conservation zone, and 20,5000 ha of sea buffer zone. Thus, Con Dao National Park is one of only two national parks in Vietnam that exist to protect both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Sea turtle conservation and research in CDNP With a coastline of 150km, Con Dao islands have 14 sea turtle nesting grounds with a total length of 3,514 m. Green turtles and hawksbills are two marine turtle species that have been found in Con Dao. Hawksbills are very rare, and only three nests have been recorded in the last five years. Green turtles, however, are annual visitors to Con Dao’s waters and beaches and many turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. In addition, according to reports by local fishermen, Con Dao’s waters appear to be a feeding ground and destination for the turtle species Caretta caretta and Dermochelys coriacea. Sea turtle management and conservation have been performed since the late 1980’s. It is emphasised that the sea turtle conservation project under the cooperation between Con Dao National Park and WWF is an important initiative for marine biodiversity in Vietnam. Con Dao’s waters are rich and abundant containing three marine ecosystems (coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests) and rare mammals (dugong, dolphins, and blue whales). The natural resources in Con Dao have been estimated to be of great value for not only Vietnam but also the world. Con Dao National Park is considered to be at the head of national sea turtle conservation and management.

The Con Dao sea turtle conservation and management program includes:

• Monitoring of natural turtle nesting activities • Rescuing turtles form natural disasters • Tagging program (research and monitoring) • Turtle conservation training course • Public awareness raising activities (locals, visitors, migratory fishermen)

These five components are carried out annually with WWF’s support, the cooperation of forestry staff, and local young people. Con Dao National Park has set up five turtle rescue stations at four islands where nesting turtle grounds are common (Table 1). Other nesting areas are controlled with regular patrol by the Park’s forestry staff. Among this data, there are only three hawksbill individuals and two nests. This shows that this species may be facing local extinction as well as being vulnerable worldwide.

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Table 1. Information about Con Dao sea turtles from the five rescue stations.

Year # Nesting turtles Egg nesting Hatchlings 1995 295 905 28,594 1996 117 395 24,587 1997 255 805 47,202 1998 217 666 41,316 1999 283 988 70,037 2000 242 585 43,316

TOTAL 1,409 4,308 255,070 Other research information

• Nestings seasons: Sea turtles in Con Dao come ashore to lay their eggs throughout the year. The optimum months are from June to September.

• Incubation time: 50-65 days • Survival rate of hatchlings in artificial hatcheries over the last two years has been over

80%. • 685 mother turtle individuals have been tagged since the conservation project began. • Thanks to the turtle tagging program and communication with other conservation

organisations by email we know that turtles from Con Dao have migrated as far as the Bay of Thailand (Sihanoukville, Cambodia – 650 km from Con Dao Islands).

• Thanks to the cooperation of the Marine Turtle Research Program of the National Marine Fisheries Service in Honolulu, Hawaii, we have attached two satellite transmitters to two female green turtles in order to track the migratory movements of Con Dao sea turtles.

Cooperation activities During recent years, Con Dao National Park has combined with many research agencies within national and international organisations in Vietnam for marine biodiversity conservation in general and sea turtle rescue in particular. The Institute of Oceanography in Nha Trang and Haiphong has supported the Park in investigating and estimating, carrying out research, and making marine reports. These provide the foundation for the Park to plan marine ecosystem conservation strategies. Help from foreign embassies in Vietnam (United Kingdom, USA, and Denmark) has supported other conservation activities and projects in Con Dao. Of the international non-government organisations in Vietnam, WWF Indochina Programme has had a long-term relationship with the Park: giving funds for sea turtle conservation as well as training staff within Vietnam and sending Con Dao staff on international training courses and study tours. In turn, staff from Con Dao have recently carried out a training course for staff in a Nature Reserve in Binh Thuan Province for sea turtle conservation. I want to take this opportunity to thank the scientific institutions and international organisations for your support and cooperation. I hope that in the future Con Dao National Park will continue to receive support to further our success in biodiversity conservation.

P. Tran: Nui Chua community conservation


REPORT ON THE PARTICIPATION OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE CONSERVATION OF SEA TURTLES AT NUI CHUA NATURAL CONSERVATION AREA (NINH

THUAN PROVINCE) BY THE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR NATURAL CONSERVATION, INDOCHINA PROGRAM AND NINH THUAN PROVINCE’S

AGENCY OF ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Tran Phong Director of the Agency of Environment, Science and Technology, Ninh Thuan Province

The sea turtle is a creature that has an important ecological significance and is one of the few reptiles that live in the sea. Sea turtles are a component of the coastline and offshore ecology in tropical and subtropical areas. However, due to a number of negative impacts on this creature caused by human activities, such as capture, collection of turtle eggs, and negative impacts on nesting areas, sea turtle numbers have been reduced very seriously and they are now listed as endangered species. In Vietnam, sea turtles can only be found in few places, mainly around offshore islands where they are less influenced by human activities. Ninh Thuan is one of the few shores in Vietnam where sea turtles still come and lay eggs. To protect rare populations of sea turtles remaining on this seashore, WWF Japan has sponsored the Project: "Conservation of sea turtles at Nui Chua Natural Conservation Area, Ninh Hai Municipal, Ninh Thuan Province" proposed by the Sea and Seashore Program under Indochina WWF. The project has been running since September 2000, conducted by the Indochina Program in coordination with Ninh Thuan Province’s Agency of Environment and Science Technology and the Nui Chua Natural Conservation Area. The project has been designed and implemented on a community basis. The overall aim of the project is "to stimulate and mobilize the community participation in the conservation and protection of sea turtles". Project objectives: To conserve the rare and remaining populations of sea turtles in the waters of Vietnam To raise public awareness of the conservation of marine biological diversity and sea turtles To educate and stimulate local communities to participate in the conservation of sea turtles. To enhance the local officers capacity in terms of the conservation of the marine

environment and sea turtles. To strengthen and perfect regulations and relevant laws in this aspect.

Project’s main activities The project operations include: information collection at the locality, determination of specific targets for the activities, implementation of activities with the local community's participation, examination and assessment of the activities' results, reporting and making plans for the next stages of the project. The main activities of the project will include: General assessment on the project's activities and success After nine months of implementation and with the active participation of the local inhabitants, the project has achieved the following encouraging results:

• The surveys have collected as much valuable information as possible about; the species of sea turtles at the locality, their distribution, and their ecological characteristics, as well as causes for the reduction of sea turtle population. This has laid the foundation for building plans of project activities.

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• The project's activities have deeply influenced and changed the perception and attitude of the local inhabitants and officers to sea turtles conservation, biological diversity and the need to exploit marine resources.

• There were about 30 turtles that safely came to lay eggs at the nesting area and returned to the sea.

• More than 1000 eggs have been rescued, and nests along the frequently populated 2-km coastline were secured.

• The high spirits of the volunteers, especially the serious participation of Mr Nuoi, who had once earned his living by catching and collecting turtle eggs, have positively influenced the surrounding communities and fishermen.

• Local officers of the Ninh Thuan Agency of Environment, Science and Technology and the Nui Chua Natural Conservation Area, volunteer groups, and local representatives have been enlightened with better knowledge and skills regarding the conservation of sea turtles and their environment.

• New relationships have been set up between the WWF and Ninh Thuan Province including the Provincial People's Committee, Agency of Agriculture and Rural Development, Agency of Environment, Science and Technology, Agency of Fisheries, Communal People's Committee, the Nui Chua Conservation Area, the Con Dao National Park, and the Nha Trang Oceanography Institution.

• The project’s initial objectives have achieved encouraging results.

Training on environmental assesment with (PEA) participation

Training on communication skills and biological diversity

Training on the skill of conservation of sea turtles

To determine nesting grounds and production seasons

Trading activities involving sea turtles

Socio-economic situations

Enhanced understanding of the perceptions of the local inhabitants of

biological diversity and sea turtle conservation

Determine important nesting grounds to set up protection unit

Two protection units have been set up and the volunteer group of eight

members has also been formed

100% of sea turtles that come to the nesting ground are well protected

Supervise the nesting and producing of sea turtles

Training OutputsActivities

Community surveyTo determine species, distribution, and ecological

particularities of sea turtles

Relationship between community and sea turtles

Socio-economic overview

Communication on the conservation of biological diversification and sea turtles

Subject: inhabitant at project siteImplementation: officers that participated in the training in coordination with officers of Nui Chua

Conservation Area

Surveys on nesting beaches

Selecting the priorities to initially implement the protection of hatchling turtles

Set up protection units and volunteer groups to protect sea turtless

Protection of sea turtles during the nesting season

Fig. 1. Project activities and outcomes.

H. E. Chan: Conservation and research status


STATUS OF MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Chan Eng Heng

Sea Turtle Research Unit (SEATRU), University College of Science and Technology Malaysia, (KUSTEM), 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia

Introduction This presentation will provide information on the marine turtle species found in Southeast Asia and the areas where major nesting populations occur. Their conservation status will be reviewed country by country, except for Vietnam (since a separate presentation is provided), and Laos and Singapore where no turtles occur. Regional collaboration, including bilateral agreements pertaining to marine turtle conservation, will be highlighted. Research in the following areas is discussed; tagging and monitoring programs, hatchery-related research, temperature and hatchling sex-ratio studies, satellite, radio and ultrasonic tracking studies, population genetics, TED trials and applications, and collaborative and proposed research. Most of the information provided here is extracted from Nasir et al (1999). Marine turtle species found in Southeast Asia and major nesting populations

Six species of sea turtles are found in Southeast Asia, i.e. leatherback, green, hawksbill, olive ridley, loggerhead and flatback turtles. Leatherback turtle: There is only one nesting population of importance in the region, i.e. at

Bird’s Head Peninsula, Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Here, between 3,000 – 5,000 nests are known to be deposited per year. The once renowned population in Rantau Abang, Terengganu, Malaysia has declined from 10,000 nests per year in the 1950’s, to less than 20 nests per year in recent years.

Green turtle: This is the most widely distributed species, with important populations occurring in Indonesia (10,000-20,000 nests per year), Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak Turtle Islands combined: up to 10,000 nests per year and Peninsular Malaysia: 2,000 – 3,000 nests per year). In the Philippines, the Tawi-Tawi Turtle Islands receive about 10,000-20,000 nests per year. Myanmar has reported about 500 nests per year, while in Thailand 200-300 nests are deposited yearly.

Hawksbill turtle: The only important remaining populations occur in Malaysia and Indonesia. In Malaysia, about 400-600 nests are deposited per year in the Sabah Turtle Islands, while in Peninsular Malaysia, between 200-300 nests are produced per year in Melaka. Nestings in Indonesia are higher, with a total of 1,000-2,000 nests per year.

Olive ridley turtle: This species is quite depleted in Southeast Asia, with probably only Myanmar recording nestings exceeding 300 per year. In other countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei, less than 50 nests are deposited per year.

Loggerhead turtle: The only significant nesting population is of about 100 nests per year and occurs in Myanmar.

Flatback turtle: This species does not nest in S.E. Asia, but feeding grounds occur in Indonesia. Conservation status

Myanmar

Conservation work on marine turtles in Myanmar is carried out by the Department of Fisheries. This involves mainly egg incubation in natural nests and in hatcheries. As recently as 1999, hatchlings were raised for 15-30 days before release. This practice should be re-assessed. Public

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educational programs have also been initiated here. Myanmar Marine Fisheries Law has provisions for the protection of sea turtles, and their habitats and nesting beaches. Additionally, major nesting beaches have been declared game sanctuaries. Waters within three miles of the coastline are also protected. Thailand

Important feeding grounds such as seagrass beds and coral reefs are protected by law in Thailand, and harmful fishing gear (such as pushnets and trawls) are prohibited. Nesting beaches are protected, with all eggs transferred to hatcheries for incubation. In some locations, hatchlings are raised for a short period before release. Educational programs are also in place. Here, there is the popular practice of mass releasing of hatchlings by the public. This practice needs to be controlled and reassessed. In Thailand, many provisions have been made to protect sea turtles. The commercial harvest, sale and consumption of sea turtle meat, eggs and other products is now banned. Cambodia

Very low nesting activity occurs in Cambodia, less than 50 nests per year have been recorded. Currently, sea turtles and eggs are exploited by the rural poor. There is a need to develop conservation programs for marine turtles here. Currently, there is no existing national legislation for the protection and conservation of sea turtles, but plans are in place to develop laws and regulations for the protection of sea turtles, and to initiate public awareness campaigns. Malaysia

Malaysia has a long history of sea turtle conservation programs, dating back to the 1970’s Efforts are focused mainly on protection of turtle eggs. Sabah and Sarawak currently protect close to 100% of the eggs deposited while in Peninsular Malaysia only less than 50% of the eggs deposited are protected. While major nesting sites are protected, some of them (in Peninsular Malaysia) are still leased to local inhabitants for commercial egg collection. Several agencies are involved in public educational programs. Several states have enactments specifically for the management and protection of sea turtles. Uniform legislation for sea turtle protection is currently being developed at the federal level for adoption by the various states of the country. Indonesia

All six species of sea turtles are listed as endangered in Indonesia and are protected by law. Government Regulation (PP) No. 7/1999 together with Act No.5/1990 prohibits utilization of both live and dead turtles or their parts. However, commercial egg collection is legal, and controlled by law. Law enforcement is reported to be ineffective and turtles continue to be captured and killed in many parts of the country. The level of egg protection is not known, although in a few locations (e.g. Kepulauan Seribu) there is a small head-starting program). Brunei

Currently there is no law to prohibit egg collection and exploitation in Brunei, although the Wildlife Protection Act prohibits the hunting, killing or capture of sea turtles. Hatcheries have been established and local egg collectors are encouraged to surrender eggs for incubation. A national committee, headed by the Director of Fisheries, has been formed to carry out turtle conservation, research and educational projects. Philippines

Eight islands have been declared turtle sanctuaries by DENR (Dept. Environment and Natural Resources), but currently, only Baguan Island, one of six Philippine Turtle Islands is actively protected. Commercial egg harvest is allowed on the remaining five islands, where as much as 70% of the eggs are marketed. On other remote islands, turtles are still exploited not just for



their eggs, but for their meat as well. DENR is monitoring and confiscating sea turtles being marketed, but it is difficult for them to be effective in remote areas. An information and education campaign (IEC) is being carried out jointly by a few agencies. Regional cooperation

Currently, two instruments are in place to forge regional cooperation in the conservation of sea turtles in Southeast Asia:

1. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on ASEAN Sea Turtle Conservation and Protection which was signed by ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry on 12 September 1997.

2. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia – covered earlier.

It is necessary for the parties concerned to implement the action plans defined. Bilateral programs are also in place to conserve sea turtles. The Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA) in the Sulu Sea, established in 1996, is jointly managed by Sabah (Malaysia) and the Philippines. TIPHA consists of nine turtle islands, with six located in Philippine waters and three in Sabah waters. Similar arrangements can be made between neighbouring countries, especially if they share the same stock of turtles. Research status Research status will be reviewed under the sub-headings of tagging and monitoring; hatchery-related research; temperature and hatchling sex-ratio studies; captive rearing and growth studies; satellite tracking studies; radio and ultrasonic tracking studies; population genetics studies; TED trials and application and proposed research Tagging, monitoring, and compilation of statistics

Long-term tagging programs have been carried out in several locations, e.g. in the Sabah Turtle Islands (since early 1970’s) and at Redang Island, Peninsular Malaysia (since 1993). The Marine Fishery Resources Development and Management Department (MFRDMD) of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) based in Terengganu, Malaysia, is coordinating a regional program on marine turtle tagging and statistics in Southeast Asia. Several training workshops have been conducted and tags (Inconel, type 681) have been distributed to participating countries (Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei, Myanmar). Countries of the region are required to submit turtle statistics to MFRDMD, which will in turn compile them. Basic biological data derived from tagging research on the nesting green turtles of Chagar Hutang Beach, Pulau Redang, and Peninsular Malaysia (Liew & Chan in press) are given below: Total number of nests deposited per year: 400 – 600 Number of nesting female turtles monitored per year: 50 – 139 Inter-seasonal nesting frequency (average): 3 - 5 years Number of nests per individual per season: 1- 12 (range), 5 – 6 (mean) Internesting interval (days): 9 – 12 (range), 10 (mean) No. of eggs per nest: 30 – 160 (range), 99 (mean) Hatchery-related research

In principal, this work should be carried out by anyone involved in artificial incubation of turtle eggs in hatcheries in order to improve hatchery techniques. Currently, the MFRDMD is collaborating with Australian Earthwatch volunteers to develop criteria to assess nest success

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and hatchling quality from artificial hatcheries. A study conducted by Chan et al. (1985) revealed that leatherback eggs can tolerate rough handling only up to 4-5 hours after oviposition. Beyond this threshold, careful handling to prevent rolling, bumping, rotation and disorientation of vertical axis will enhance hatch rates. As a management measure, eggs should be replanted in hatcheries within three hours of oviposition Temperature and hatchling sex-ratio studies

These studies are important especially when eggs relocated to hatcheries. Temperature regimes in hatcheries should reflect temperatures in natural nests to ensure production of both male and female hatchlings. Studies carried out in Malaysia (Sabah Turtle Islands, Sarawak Turtle Islands, Redang Island and Rantau Abang), the Philippines Turtle Islands and Thailand have generally indicated that open air beach hatcheries produce 100% female hatchlings, styrofoam box incubation in the shade produce 100% male hatchlings while in-situ nests produced about 80% female hatchlings and 20% male hatchlings (Chan & Liew 1995; Palaniappan 1997; Tiwol 1997; Chai 1999). Captive rearing and growth studies

These studies have been carried out in Thailand and Indonesia since head-starting is being practiced as a conservation measure in these locations. Hatchlings are raised from several weeks to a few months on the assumption that that survival chances for the head-started hatchlings will be enhanced. These programs, however, need to be reassessed. Individual growth in captivity may be more rapid than in the wild, but mortality rates are high under captive conditions. In Malaysia, the Sea Turtle Research Unit (SEATRU) of KUSTEM is currently raising a few green turtles to three years or more before release. Turtles achieve a size ready for settling to bottom habitats before release and therefore circumvent the pelagic phase of their life cycle. SEATRU is collaborating with University of Kyoto, Japan to satellite track a six-year old to be released in September 2001. More of such tracking studies are being planned. Satellite tracking studies

Such studies determine migratory pathways and feeding grounds of nesting populations and have been conducted in a few locations in Southeast Asia. The earliest study was conducted by Liew et al. (1995) in Redang, Malaysia. Then came a study by Bali et al. (In press) in the Sarawak Turtle Islands. Currently, Japanese scientists are collaborating with Thai and Malaysian counterparts to tracks green turtles in the South China and Andaman Seas. Collaboration has also been extended to Indonesia where three hawksbills have been tracked. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Honolulu Laboratory is also working with Southeast Asian counterparts to track the migrations of hawksbill turtles in the region. Radio and ultrasonic tracking studies

Movement patterns of sea turtles during the internesting periods can be determined by radio and ultrasonic tracking studies. The range of internesting habitats can then be defined and thereafter assessed to determine protection measures required during the nesting seasons. The green turtles which nest in Redang Island, Malaysia have been tracked by Liew et al. (1995) and found to have quite a limited range in their internesting movements. Hatchlings can also be tracked using miniature transmitters (Liew & Chan 1995). Population genetics studies

Population genetic studies help to define breeding stocks of sea turtles. Genetic studies are currently carried out by MFRDMD with a local university in Malaysia. Japanese scientists are also collaborating with Thai scientists to study local population structures. An M.Sc. student in Malaysia has analysed population genetics of green and hawksbill turtles nesting in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak using microsatellite DNA (Joseph 2000). This student’s findings



reveal distinct populations in Sabah, Sarawak, west coast Peninsular Malaysia and east coast Peninsular Malaysia. TED trials and application

This is carried out by the Training Department (TD) and MFRDMD of SEAFDEC in Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam. Thailand has enacted a law to mandate use of TEDs in shrimp trawls where 3,000 units of TEDs were locally manufactured for the 3000 licensed shrimp trawlers in the country. In other countries of the region, there is no legislation to mandate use of TEDs yet, but trials have been generally considered to be successful. In addition to TED trials, there is a serious need to assess the rate of capture of sea turtles in fish and shrimp trawls and other fishing gear in the region. Proposed research

ASEAN countries have presented 5-year plans in the SEAFDEC-ASEAN Regional Workshop on Sea Turtle Conservation and Management held in 1999. These plans are summarized below: Thailand: Temperature and sex-ratio studies, population assessment and management,

population genetics, satellite tracking research. Philippines: Population studies (tagging and monitoring), hatchery management, habitat

surveys, genetic studies. Myanmar: Relevant research to upgrade knowledge of conservation status. Indonesia: Relevant research to improve conservation status of olive ridley, green and

leatherback populations in specific areas. Cambodia: Determination of population status, identification of critical nesting beaches and

threats, biological and ecological studies. Brunei: Nesting beach surveys, hatchery development and management, public awareness

program proposed to educate the public and get public support and involvement in conservation of sea turtles.

Malaysia: Lead country for the ASEAN-SEAFDEC project on conservation and management of sea turtles in the Southeast Asian countries. Compile information on status of research, conservation and management of sea turtles in the ASEAN region, establish mechanism for regional collaboration and coordinate regional tagging program and compilation of turtle statistics.

Currently, there is a Collaborative Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program between Japanese, Malaysian and Thai researchers (SEASTAR2000). This program aims to; determine migratory pathways of green turtles in the South China and Andaman Seas using satellite telemetry, conduct temperature and sex ratio studies, perform population genetics studies, and estimate sea turtle by-catch in trawl fisheries. Other proposed activities

Additional research activities have also been proposed, as follows: • Establishment of national and regional stranding network to determine the extent of

turtle mortalities. • Assessment of incidental catch of sea turtles all types of fishing gear used locally. • Develop on-board observer / volunteer programs to record and document turtle

mortalities in fishing gear. • Develop ways to mitigate incidental captures of turtles in fishing gear. • Market surveys to determine current rates of exploitation.

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Acknowledgements I would like to thank Dr. Nicolas Pilcher, Workshop Coordinator and Dr. Vien Truong, Director of the Vietnamese Research Institute of Marine Products for inviting me to participate in the workshop, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd. Mahyuddin bin Mohd. Dahan, Rector of the University College of Science and Technology Malaysia (KUSTEM) permission to attend the workshop, and Dr. Pham Thuoc and Ms. Hilary Chiew for assistance in arranging for my visa to Vietnam. References Chai SS. 1999. A comparison of hatch success and sex ratios of green turtle (Chelonia mydas)

eggs incubated under in-situ conditions and in hatcheries at Pulau Talang-Talang Kecil, Sarawak. Unpublished Final Year Project Report, B. Sc. (Marine Science).

Chan EH & Liew HC. 1995. Incubation temperatures and sex-ratios in the Malaysian leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea. Biological Conservation 74: 169-174.

Chan EH, Salleh HU & and Liew HC. 1985. Effects of handling on hatchability of eggs of the leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea (L.). Pertanika 8: 265-271.

Joseph J. 2000. Studies on the population genetics of green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) turtles in Malaysia using DNA microsatellites. Unpublished M.Sc. Faculty of Science and Technology, Kolej Universiti Terengganu, Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Liew HC & Chan EH. 1995. Radio-tracking leatherback hatchlings during their swimming frenzy . In Richardson JI & Thelma TH, eds. Proceedings of the twelfth annual workshop on sea turtle biology and conservation: NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-361.

Liew HC & Chan EH. in press. Assessment of the population of green turtles nesting at Redang Island, Malaysia, through long-term tagging analysis. In: Proceedings of the 20th Annual Sea Turtle Symposium, 29 Feb.- 4 March, 2000, Orlando, Florida, USA.

Liew HC, Chan EH, Papi F & Luschi P. 1995. Long distance migration of green turtles from Redang Island, Malaysia: The need for regional cooperation in sea turtle conservation. International Congress of Chelonian Conservation. Gonfaron, France.

Nasir MTM, Karim AKA & Ramli MN. 1999. Report of the SEAFDEC – ASEAN Regional Workshop on Sea Turtle Conservation and Management, 26-28 July 1999, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. SEAFDEC MFRDMD/RM/6.

Palaniappan P. 1997. Temperature profiling and sex ratios of green turtle hatchlings (Chelonia mydas) of Chagar Hutang Beach in Pulau Redang, Terengganu, Malaysia. Unpublished M.Sc. Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia Terengganu.

Tiwol CM. 1997. Sex ratio of hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and green (Chelonia mydas) turtle hatchlings incubated under different conditions in Pulau Gulisaan, Sabah. Unpublished Final Year Project Report, B. Sc. (Marine Science). Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia Terengganu.

T. Pham: Status of research etc. in Vietnam


STATUS OF RESEARCH, CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SEA TURTLE RESOURCES IN VIETNAMESE WATERS

Pham Thuoc

Senior Researcher, Research, Conservation & Management of Marine Turtles Project, Research Institute of Marine Products, Haiphong, Vietnam

Summary Species of sea turtles constitute a special ancient component of the world’s biodiversity. Their ancestors were terrestrial animals existing on Earth about 110 million years ago. The five species of sea turtles that have been identified in Vietnam are as follows: Green turtle – Chelonia mydas Hawksbill turtle – Eretmochelys imbricata Loggerhead turtle – Caretta caretta Olive ridley turtle – Lepidochelys olivacea Leatherback turtle – Dermochelys coriacea These turtles are also called other names by different local localities, such as “Ba Tam”, “Ong Khe”, or “Du”. Sea turtles share several common characteristics; the four limbs metamorphose into flippers with flat-boned toes and fingers. Sea turtles eat plants, sea grass, jellyfish, invertebrate creatures and fishes. Although living in the water, sea turtles are lung-breathing species. They reach sexual maturity between the ages of 15-50 years old, depending on the species and its geographical location. During the breeding season, sea turtles usually migrate individually. Female sea turtles will crawl onto beaches, choose a position where the water cannot reach and dig a nest hole of 45-50 cm deep in which to lay eggs. After laying 70-150 eggs (ping-pong ball-like in shape), the mother sea turtle will fill her nest with a thick layer of sand to maintain the temperature and deter predators. Then she returns to the sea. Eggs will be covered for 55-60 days before the first hatchlings emerge. On coming out of their nest the hatchlings head for the sea, attracted by the light over the horizon. Once young sea turtles reach the water, they start to swim perpendicularly to waves, once past the waves they swim in the currents in search of food. When they mature, they will migrate back to their place of birth to give birth to new generations. This migration journey can be up to three thousand kilometres long. Among the 2000 animals in need of protection listed in the Red Book of the IUCN, are four sea turtle species found in Vietnam that are currently listed as endangered species. Of these, the hawksbill turtle is listed as critically endangered worldwide. Measures of conservation and management of sea turtles are urgently required for Vietnam, and need to be based on the biological characteristics and statistics drawn from research on sea turtle populations. However, so far, few thorough research projects have been done on the biology, ecology, and distribution of sea turtles in Vietnam. In Vietnam, sea turtles are caught for meat, green turtles’ nests are harvested for eggs, and hawksbill turtle shells are used to make handicrafts. All these actions diminish this resource and are driving sea turtles to extinction. Today, the leatherback is extremely rare and green turtles are now usually only found near islands or less populated areas in Vietnam where they are considered as precious and rare animal species that are a precious heritage of the sea which must be protected. Sea turtles migrate large distances and are distributed widely, with populations occurring in the seas of Southeast Asia and in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In general, populations of sea turtles have become seriously diminished. Therefore, regional co-operation in research and the conservation of sea turtles is important, and contributes to protection of the world’s biodiversity.

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Introduction In Vietnam, not much research has been done on sea turtles. A few studies on the regional fauna (mostly by foreigners) have mentioned species of sea turtles living in Vietnamese waters. The book “Les Tortues de l’Indochine”, written by Rene Bourret (1941), described the species of sea turtles in Indochina. Dao Van Tien (1976) and Nguyen Khac Huong (1978) classified sea turtles by species, their distribution, economic values, harvesting seasons and the methods used to catch them. Later, some other authors described the biological characteristics and conservation of sea turtles in Vietnam. The Red Data Book of Vietnam (2000) has identified four species of sea turtles that need to be protected in this country. In Vietnam, and many other countries in the world, sea turtles are considered to have high economic value, but to also form a precious marine heritage that need to be protected. Due to excessive exploitation and usage, sea turtle populations have drastically decreased and certain species are now in danger of extinction. Addressing this situation, many countries are responding positively to this crisis through strategies involving increased research and conservation of sea turtles. Countries in general, and those in the Southeast Asian and Pacific regions in particular, have been attaching a very important role to the use of research and careful management in the conservation of sea turtles. This situation is demonstrated by the following examples from several countries: Malaysia: The plan for the protection of sea turtles has been implemented since 1932 in an eastern state of the Malaysian Peninsula. Since 1932, a series of similar regulations for the protection of precious sea reptiles have been established. However, these efforts have failed to halt the rapid decrease of the four local species of sea. Sri Lanka: Five out of the seven species of sea turtles that exist in the world nest on Sri Lankan sea beaches. Despite of the fact that the government of Sri Lanka has enforced various regulations protecting of sea turtles since 1972, Sri Lankan fisherman are still catching sea turtles for meat, eggs and shells. The Turtle Conservation Project in Sri Lanka has estimated that without a good conservation plan, the valuable resource of sea turtles in Sri Lanka will be quickly reduced and finally extinct within several decades. Pakistan: The protection of sea turtles in Pakistan has been conducted since 1979 along the Karachi coast. It was publicly announced that all species of sea turtles would be put under the protection by the ordinance on the protection of marine resources promulgated in 1972. Among the seven species of sea turtles discovered in the world, two were found to have chosen Pakistani beaches for nesting. These are the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). These species have decreased seriously for the last 20 years in Pakistan due to local over-exploitation for commercial sale, private consumption purposes, and from being eaten by wild dogs. Being aware of the preciousness of these turtles, the Department of Wildlife, in cooperation with the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of the Nature) and WWF (World Wildlife Fund), has conducted a demonstration project for the protection and research of sea turtles since 1980. As part of this project, sea turtles, together with their eggs and hatchlings, have been protected from illegal hunters and other enemies. Eggs are collected from the natural environment and hatched in expanses of sand surrounded by plastic fences. Resulting hatchlings are released to the sea. Over 400,000 young turtles have been protected and released into the sea so far. Careful scientific data is collected on the number of eggs laid, the number of young turtles hatched, the time of hatching, the number of females tagged, which females are recaught, the frequency of nesting, and other useful information. Turtle reproduction cycles are carefully considered in an effort to help produce healthy, vigorous hatchlings that will have a good chance of survival in the natural environment. Bangladesh: The waters of Bangladesh extend over 720 kilometres. There are five species of sea turtles in this region, the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and



leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). These turtles build nests and lay eggs mainly in the Eastern beaches of Bangladesh. Western beaches between mangrove forests are another important nesting area for sea turtles. The principal threats to sea turtles and their nesting beaches are fishing vessels, fishermen and the disappearance of nesting areas. Local communities are unaware of the need for worldwide protection of the important species of sea turtles. They catch sea turtles for entertainment, collect turtle eggs for economic benefit, and use fishing instruments that do not have an escape mechanism for sea turtles. Given the drastic reduction of the sea turtle populations in Bangladesh in recent years, some NGOs have undertaken small research program that ensure some sea turtles are able to lay eggs, and also providing protected incubation and raising of hatchlings. These activities have proved successful and effective conservation programs in Bangladesh. India: Located in the East of the Indian Peninsula, India is rich in natural resources. The local reptile fauna is very diverse, including 110 species in 21 families. India has four sea turtle species in two families, the Chelonidae and Dermochelyidae. Continuous research over the last two decades (1976-1999) by the National Department of Forestry and Wildlife has shown that there are three important nesting areas for the precious olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) in Orissa. These are located on the sand expanses of the estuaries of the Dhamra, Devi and Rushikulia rivers. In addition, more dispersed nesting occurs in other regions. The expanses of sand in Gahirmatha (the Dhamra estuary) are considered to form one of the biggest nesting beaches for olive ridley turtles in the region. Vietnam: In the Plan of Development for the period 1998-2003, the Ministry of Fisheries of Vietnam assigned the Research Institute of Fisheries a research program entitled “Investigation of sea turtle resources in Vietnamese waters: defining measures to protect and develop the resource”. Since 1998, this research program has organized study tours along the Vietnamese coasts, collaborated with the Con Dao National Park (Ba Ria-Vung Tau) in researching the ecosystem requirements of breeding turtles, facilitating natural hatching of nests, rescuing injured or entangled sea turtles, and establishing tagging programs to study migration and growth. The results of these investigations are summarised in this report. Given the relative lack of data and information on the biology and population dynamics of sea turtles in Vietnam, this report certainly has some limitations. We hope to receive opinions from various scientists to assist us in amending and completing this research project in the coming years. Research methodology On-the-spot data collection followed these methods: Interview localities were chosen based on the recommendations of the local Fisheries agencies and fishermen. Interviews with fishing vessels’ managers and fisherman were conducted with pre-prepared forms. Marine tours were organised to investigate environmental factors and the status of sea turtle populations. Fishing vessels were travelled on to study the incidence of accidental turtle catches by fish and shrimp drift-nets. The information collected through surveys was analysed using conventional statistical methods. Data were collected from the following studies

• Studies of environmental characteristics relevant to sea turtles along Vietnamese coastal regions from Mong Cai to Ha Tien.

• Tagging research on the migration of sea turtles. • Studies of the ecology of egg-laying areas of sea turtles. • Surveys on the nesting activities of sea turtles, mainly green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in

Con Dao. • Activities to secure sea turtles at the National Park of Con Dao from 1995 to 2000.

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Results from studies on environmental factors

1. Natural geographical and meteorological characteristics

Geographical location and topography

Vietnam is located at the southern end of the Southeast Asian Peninsula. It shares borders in the North with China, and in the West with Laos, Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand. South China Sea and the Philippines lie to the East and South. Vietnam has a long and winding coast of 3260 kilometres, extending from the estuary of Ca Long (Quang Ninh) to Ha Tien (Kien Giang) in three directions: (1) Northeast-Southwest Direction: from Quang Ninh to Thanh Hoa, and from Dinh Cape to the

Ca Mau Cape. (2) Northwest-Southeast Direction: from Nghe An to Quang Nam. (3) North-South Direction: from Ba Lang An to Dinh Cape and from Ca Mau Cape to Ha Tien. Behind the sea and at the two extremes of the country are the large Bac Bo and Nam Bo plains, in the South is the narrow Trung Bo plains and the Truong Son mountain range running parallel with the coast. In certain places, the mountains extend to the sea creating bays and straits. These in turn form natural seaports that are very conducive to maritime transport activities. Vietnam houses a dense network of rivers and streams. On average, there is one estuary every 25 kilometres. These estuaries facilitate connection and navigation for humans among different regions of the country. Every year the network of rivers and streams carries a huge amount of continental water and alluvium to the sea. This has an immense impact on the sea-meteorological conditions of the coastal regions, especially during rainy and flood seasons. Along the coast there are more than 3.000 islands, large and small, and submarine islands too. Together these form various archipelagos such as Co To, Bai Tu Long, Bach Long Vi, Cat Ba, Long Chau, Hoang Sa, Truong Sa and An Thoi. Subsequently, Vietnams lengthy coast has a complex topography. Among these, some are rather large and rich in natural resources, for example Phu Quy, Con Son, Tho Chu, and Phu Quoc. The topography of the Vietnamese sea platform is not simple. The sea platform varies in depth with a shallow gulf at each end (the Bac Bo and Thailand gulfs). In the southeast, the platform has a slight slope from 30-50 meters deep, located 40-50 nautical miles from the coastline. In the middle lies the Centre platform which is sloped with a contour at 50-200 metres deep 10 nautical miles from the coast at the nearest point, and thousands meters deep at 50 nautical miles from the coast. These geographical and topographical characteristics make the oceanography of the Vietnamese coast quite different to that in surrounding regions.

Sea meteorology

Vietnam has extensive territorial waters, occupying a vast majority of the South China Sea, and extending southward to near the equator, and northward to the temperate zone. To the North and West, Vietnamese territorial waters are contiguous with the large Asian continent. To the South and East, it is connected to the Indian Ocean through the Malacca Strait, the Java Sea, Flores Sea, the Panda Sea of Indonesia, and is also connected to the world’s largest ocean, the Pacific Ocean. Subsequently, Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate influenced annually by Northeast and Southwest monsoons. However, because of the location and the topography of the country, the Vietnamese coastal climate has tropical, humid, and hot oceanic characteristics caused by Southwest monsoon, as well as tropical, hot, and dry continental characteristics. Indeed, the climate is sometimes is similar to that in the temperate zone thanks to the influence of the Northern climate system. The above characteristics are reflected in the following meteorological system.



The Northeast Monsoon Season: From November to March, the northern half of the country (above 16 degrees latitude) is influenced by the Northeast Monsoon. This monsoon brings in cold air from the North making the air temperature drop to the lowest level compared to other national regions. The average temperature during this season varies from 14-21oC, but from time to time may go below 10oC. The highest temperature is 20-26oC and the lowest temperature occurs in January and is around 16oC. Sometimes the temperature in Quang Ninh drops down to 5oC. The temperature in the North is usually lower than that of the South. From Da Nang to Khanh Hoa, the temperature during this season is often higher than the temperature from Thua Thien Hue to the North. The average air temperature in this region is from 23-26o C, the lowest temperature is from 13-23oC and usually occurs in January. Occasionally, the lowest level might be 11oC. The highest air temperature is from 26-37oC. Sometimes it may reach 40oC. From Ninh Thuan to Kien Giang the temperature is highest comparing to the other regions. There is almost no winter season in this region, with the average air temperature varies from 24-27oC. In January, the lowest air temperature is 22-23oC, but occasionally drops to 15oC. The highest air temperature is from 28-32oC, but sometimes reaches 37-38oC. The Southwest Monsoon Season: From May to September, the air temperature in the Vietnamese territorial waters changes depending on the influence of the Southwest monsoon. This monsoon brings in hot and humid weather from the oceans and equatorial areas. In addition, our territorial waters are impacted by the dry and hot climate of the Asian continent coming from Northeast. These factors increase the Vietnamese air temperature during these months. 16 degrees latitude, the average air temperature fluctuates from 25- 29oC. The highest temperature is from 29-39oC and occurs from May to July. The absolute highest temperature is 42oC. The lowest temperature is from 21-26oC. From Da Nang to Khanh Hoa, the average air temperature fluctuates from 28-29oC, the highest temperature is from 30-33oC, the absolute highest temperature is 40oC, the lowest temperature is 24-26oC and the absolute lowest temperature is 19-20oC. Particularly from Ninh Thuan to Kien Giang, the average air temperature is the lowest compared to the other two regions, fluctuating from 26-27oC, the highest temperature is 29-32oC, the absolute highest temperature is 37-38oC, and the lowest temperature is from 24-25oC, the absolute lowest temperature is 17-21oC. In general, the air temperature during the Southwest Monsoon season north of 16 degrees is 1-2o C higher than that in the South. 2. Plankton Phytoplankton The distribution of phytoplankton in Vietnamese territorial waters shows that in regions near the coastline where the temperature and salinity of the water is adequate for the development of marine flora, the number of marine plants is higher than that of the regions farther from the coast. In terms of quantity, the distribution of phytoplankton varies across regions within the Vietnamese territorial waters. The most productive regions can be found in the southwest, with an average level of 5.285 million plant cells per cubic metre (cell/m3). In these regions, the highest concentration attains from 65 to 98.1 million cell/m3. The second most productive region is the territorial waters near the Tonkin (Bac Bo) Gulf, which average 1.8-2.67 million cells per m3. Third most productive are the southeast waters, with 1.253 million cells/m3. Of all regions sampled, the central waters are the least productive, with only 0.24 million cells/m3. In the Tonkin Gulf, on the peak abundance of phytoplankton is in January and October. Plants that are typical of the Vietnamese estuary zone are Ditylum sol, Hemiaulus indicus, Chaetoceros affinis, and Skeletonema costatum. Those that are representative of waters farther from the coast are Coscinodiscus excentricus, Chaetoceros atlenticus, and Skeletonemama.

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Zooplankton

According to statistics recorded from 1959 to 1999, the Tonkin Gulf enjoys the highest concentration of zooplankton in terms of average quantity (Marine Region A-84.06 mg/m3). This is followed by the southwestern waters (Marine Region D-73.79 mg/m3), and then the central waters (Marine Region B-47.60 mg/m3). The lowest concentration of living marine creatures is found with southeastern waters (Marine Region C-36.66 mg/m3). See Table 1 for details. In general, the highest concentration of zooplankton in Vietnamese territorial waters occurs in near-coastal waters. Table 1: Average quantity (mg/m3) of zooplankton in Vietnamese territorial waters during different

periods.

Periods Seawater

1959-1986 1986-1999 Average

Tonkin Gulf (Region A) 75.29 92.83 84.06 Central Seawater (Region B) 31.07 64.13 47.60 Southeastern Seawater (Region C) 21.14 52.18 36.66 Southwestern Seawater (Region D) 64.28 83.30 73.79 The average density of the whole Vietnamese sea waters

47.95 73.11 60.53

Source: Nguyen Tien Canh, 1999. Seabed fauna (zoobenthos)

In Vietnam the creatures living on the seabed have characteristics of the tropical fauna systems of the West-Indian-Pacific region, and is relatively diverse. Approximately 6,000 big seabed faunal species have been identified. Among these, molluscs are the most abundant, followed by crustaceans, polychaetes, coelenterates, cnidarians and echinoderms (Theo Nguyen Van Chung and Dao Van Ho, 1995). Many species are of high economic value, serving as food for shrimps, and particularly for lobsters, crabs and fishes. The average densities of marine fauna across the regional waters of Vietnam are presented in Table 2. The highest average density is found in southwest waters (Region D-8.78 g/m2). The second highest density is found in the Tonkin Gulf (Region A-7.99 g/m2), the third most in southeast waters (Region C-4.64 g/m2), and the lowest in central waters (Region B-2.83 g/m2). Table 2: Mean biomass of zoobenthos in Vietnamese territorial waters (1959-1998).

Seawater region Density g/m2 individuals/m2 Tonkin Gulf (Region A) 7.99 103 Central sea water (Region B) 2.83 52 Southeast sea water (Region C) 4.64 193 Southwest sea water (Region D) 8.78 162 Average quantity of fauna in Vietnamese waters 6.06 128

Source: Nguyen Tien Canh, 1999. 3. Seagrass ecosystem Marine meadows have significant importance in terms of ecology and resources, and provide breeding and residential habitats for many marine creatures. Sea grass is fully adapted to the submarine environment. To date, 15 species of seagrass have been identified in Vietnamese waters (Nguyen Van Tien, 1999). These species are Halophila beccarii, H minor, H. ovalis, H.



decipiens, Thalassia hemprichii, Enhalus acoroides (Fam. Hydrocharitaceae), Ruppia maritima, Halodule pinifolia, H. uninervis, Syringodium izoetifolium, Cymodocea rotundata, C. serrulate, Thalassodendron ciliatum, (Fam. Cymodoceaceae), Zostera marina, Z. japonica (Fam. Zosteraceae). The number of species of seagrass in Vietnamese waters appears to increase along a latitudinal gradient; there are nine species in the north and twelve in the south. Studies have shown that the number of species of sea creatures living in waters that contain seagrass meadows is 1.5-2.0 times higher than that for waters without seagrass meadows. Additionally, the average biomass of sea creatures is from 2.8 to 6.1 times higher in areas with seagrass meadows. Many species of high economic value have been identified in these grass meadows, for example oysters (Meterix meterix), shellfish (Glaucomya chinensis), crabs (Scylla serrata), holothurians (Hollothuria spp), shrimps and other fishes (Nguyen Van Tien, 1999). 4. Coral reefs Coral reefs are common in warm seawaters, at a depth of 4 to 40 metres and near coastline where the temperature is around 16oC in the North and 20oC in the South. Coral tends to develop into three basic forms of reef: fringing reefs along coastlines, barrier reefs facing the coastline, and circle reefs (atolls) in gulfs, near coastlines or surrounding islands (especially rocky islands). Vietnamese coastal waters have been identified as containing 309 species from 77 genera and 19 families. Most species are from the following three families: Acropodidae (85 species), Faviidae (60 species) and Poritidae (37 species) (Theo Nguyen Huy Yet, 1993). 5. Sea turtle resources Species

There are two families of sea turtle in the world. These are Chelonidae and the Dermochelyidae. The chelonid turtles have hard carapaces and are divided in six species. The leatherback turtle is the only extant dermochelid turtle and does not have a hard carapace. The six most common species of sea turtles are the green turtle (Chelonian mydas), the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) (see Table 3). Sea turtles originate from an ancient terrestrial reptile. Through evolutionary processes, their legs were transformed into “swimming legs”, i.e. flippers. True to their terrestrial history, female sea turtles return to the land to lay their eggs on beaches. When hatchlings set out from their nests, the light from the horizon will attract them and direct them to the sea. Once in the sea, these young turtles will swim perpendicular to waves until they reach the high sea. In general, young turtles migrate to the high sea and live there until they become juveniles. After this they settle in a feeding area where they feed and grow until they reach maturity. These feeding areas might be located several thousand kilometres from their place of birth. Female turtles swim this distance again on their way back to the beaches where they were born in order to lay their eggs. During these migrations, sea turtles often cross national borders. A sea turtle might build its nest on a beach of one country, but spend most of its adult life in the territorial waters of another country. Some periods of their lives are spent on the high sea outside any country’s exclusive economic zone. Sea turtles are well-known long-distance migratory species for the following reasons: • Hatching turtles migrate from their nesting beaches to the high sea. • Sea turtles spend most of their life from immaturity to adulthood in feeding grounds. • Mature sea turtles will migrate back from their feeding residences to their traditional nesting

areas to copulate and lay eggs.

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Table 3. List of all sea turtle species in the world Names in English Scientific Names Names in

Vietnamese Distribution Status*

Chelonidae Green turtle Chelonia mydas Vich All tropical and

temperate zones in the world

Endangered

Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta Qu¶n §ång All tropical and temperate zones in the

world

Endangered

Hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata

Doi moi All tropical and temperate zones in the

world

Critically Endangered

Olive ridley turtle Lepidochelys olivacea

§åi måi døa (§ó) All tropical zones in the world

Endangered

Flatback turtle Natator depressus Water zones near coast of Australian continent, Papua New Guinea and

Indonesia

Endangered

Kemp’s ridley turtle

Lepidochelys kempii

Atlantic Ocean Endangered

Leatherback turtle Dermochelyidae Dermochelys coriacea

Rïa Da All tropical, temperate and frigid zones in the

world

Critically Endangered

*Global status - from the IUCN red list of threatened species. Vietnamese system of classification of sea turtles

Sea turtles are marine reptiles. Two families of sea turtle have been identified in Vietnam, the Chelonidae and the Dermochelyidae. The chelonid turtles have a hard carapace and four species are found in Vietnam. There is only on species of dermochelid turtle in the world, the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea). This species has been recorded in Vietnam. According to published studies conducted by Nguyen Khac Huong in 1978 and 1994, the Ministry of Fisheries in 1996, and surveys and studies included in the report “Investigation of sea turtle resources in Vietnamese waters: defining measures to protect and develop the resource” conducted from 1998-2001, five species of sea turtles have been identified in Vietnamese waters (See Tables 4 and 5). Table 4. Species of sea turtles (Group Testudines) in Vietnam’s waters Order Names in Vietnamese Scientific Names Names in English Other Vietnamese

Names 1 Hä: VÝch

Chi: §åi måi Loµi: §åi måi th−êng

Chelonidae Eretmochelys

imbricata (LinnÐ, 1766)

Hawksbill turtle

2 Chi: VÝch Loµi VÝch

Chelonia mydas (LinnÐ, 1758)

Green turtle -VÝch -Tr¸ng

3 Loµi: Qu¶n §ång Caretta caretta (LinnÐ, 1909)

Loggerhead turtle - Qu¶n §ång - Rïa ®Çu to

4 §åi måi døa Lepidochelys olivacea (Eschscholtz, 1829)

Olive ridley turtle - §ó

5 Hä: Rïa Da Chi: Rïa Da Loµi: Rïa Da

Dermochelyidae Dermochelys coriacea

(LinnÐ, 1766)

Leatherback turtle -Bµ Tam (in Southern VN) -¤ngKhÕ (in Central VN)



Table 5: Some biological features of five species of sea turtles found in Vietnamese waters.

Before 1998 Between 1998 -1999

Nesting season

No of nests/year (Group)

No of eggs in each nest

(piece)

Depth of nest (cm)

Incubtn time

(days)

Names

Length (cm)

Weight (kg)

Length (cm)

Weight (kg)

1. §åi måi E.

imbricata

+++ 70-95

+++ 40-50

+

+ month

2-6

+++ 30-70

+++ 70-140

+++ 40-50

+++ 45

2. VÝch: C. mydas

+ 90,0 -135,0 +++

100,0

+++ 150

++ 94,57

+ 38-53

+ month

2-8

+++ 1500-5000

+++ 80-150

+++ 50-60

+++ 50

3. Qu¶n §ång

C. caretta

+ 90,0 -135,00

38-53 +++ month

2-6

4. §åi måi døa L.

olivacea

+ month

2-5

+++ 170-200

5. Rïa Da D.

coriacea

+++ male 114

female 139, 50 (Lmax: 240,0)

+++ 500

+++ month

2-5

Source: + Results of research at 14 sites in Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Da Nang from 1-9/8/1998. ++ Results from observing whelping action of Chelonia mydas at four sites in Con Dao from 2-11/9/1999 +++ Ministry of Fisheries (1996, p523-528). Characteristics of the five species of sea turtles found in Vietnamese waters

Summarising surveys conducted from 1998-2001, results of investigations on the egg-laying activities of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in four natural nesting sites in Con Dao (Ba Ria-Vung Tau) from 2-9 November 1999, and the 1996 publication of the Ministry of Fisheries “Vietnamese Aquaculture Stocks” report, the characteristics of the five species of sea turtles in Vietnamese waters are as follows: Green turtles (Chelonia mydas): Beside their scientific name these sea turtles in Con Dao are also called “green” turtles because the colour of their carapace. However, sometimes green turtles are dark or light black in colour. Given the limited studies on the migration and reproductive biology of green turtles in Vietnam, we have only a small amount of information on their biology. For example, a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) was tagged by the Japanese (JPN 9363) and released at the beach of Okinawa on July 8, 1996. The green turtle then measured 68.5 centimetres in length and weighed 40.15 kilos. On November 6, 2000, this green turtle was found at Sa Huynh (Quang Ngai) measuring 71 cm in length and weighing 50 kilos. Therefore the growth rate of this green turtle is approximately 2.125 kg/year. Nevertheless, this is only a single case. We need, therefore, to conduct further studies in order to draw concrete conclusions on average growth rates and migratory paths. Green turtles are often fairly big, with an average

166

length of 1-2 metres and an average weight of 38-53 kilos (results of studies in 1998). Sometimes they might weight 150 kilos (publication “Vietnamese Aquaculture Stocks”, Ministry of Fisheries, 1996). In the waters of Con Dao, female green turtles usually measure from 54-121 centimetres and weight 113-182 kilos. Female green turtles often lay eggs between February and September, and each individual might lay up to 100-140 eggs per nesting. Green turtle eggs usually have a round shape, and are around 3 centimetres in diameter. Results of investigations on natural nesting sites of green turtles in Con Dao (2-9/11/1999) showed 653 nests were laid from the beginning of the nesting season to 11 of September 1999. On the other hand, according to the publication “Vietnamese Aquaculture Stocks” by the Ministry of Fisheries (1996), Vietnamese green turtles create from 2500-5000 nests every year, and there are 80-150 eggs in each nest. These nests are 50-60 centimetres in depth, and hatching time is often 55-60 days. Marine plants are the main food sources for green turtles. Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata): Hawksbill turtles can be easily identified because their carapace is formed with horn in a brownish-black colour with stripes and dots in a light colour. Their scales are overlapped like tiles. Hawksbill turtles have an average length of less than 1 metre, and their jaw is a hawk-like beak. Hawksbill turtles are small in size compared to other species of turtles. According to the publication “Vietnamese Fishing Sources” by the Ministry of Fisheries (1996), hawksbill turtles (E. imbricata) have an average length of 70-95 centimetres and average weight of 40-50 kilos (See Table 5). Hawksbill turtles in Con Dao weigh from 36-64 kilos. They lay eggs from February to June, and lay approximately 70-130 eggs each time. Their nests are often from 40-50 centimetres in depth and the incubation time is usually from 55-60 days. Hawksbill turtles eat sponge, soft coral, fishes, crabs, shrimps, seaweeds and seagrasses. Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta): Loggerhead turtles have a similar size to hawksbill turtles. The results of investigations in 1998 showed that the average weight of loggerheads was from 39-53 kilos. Loggerhead turtles lay eggs from February to June. Olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea): The olive ridley is the smallest species compared to other types of sea turtle, with an average length of 70 cm and dark green colour. They eat crabs, shrimps and other kinds of small mollusc. Olive ridley turtles live near the shore and are found along the coastline from Quang Ninh to Kien Giang provinces. Olive ridleys lay eggs between March and June, with 70-200 eggs in each clutch. The number of eggs per clutch is 100. The average egg diameter is 4 cm (according to Ministry of Fisheries 1996) (Table 5). Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea): Leatherback turtles are easy to recognize. They are covered with a leathery skin that has seven raised stripes along the carapace. Leatherbacks have the largest size among the five species of sea turtles found in Vietnamese waters. The average length of male leatherback turtles (observed) is 114 cm while that of females is 139 cm. The longest leatherback turtle recorded was 240 cm, and weighed 500 kg (Ministry of Fisheries 1996, pages 523-528). The leatherback turtle eats jellyfish and other sea creatures. The main breeding season is from May to August when they lay from 60 to 100 eggs on average. The diameter of an egg is from 5 to 6.5 cm. The leatherback turtle lives far away from shore so it is hard to find. The specimen found in Hai Phong waters is now in the Museum of the Sea Product Research Institute, Ministry of Fisheries (Table 5). It should be emphasized that leatherback turtles, loggerhead turtles and olive ridley turtles are seen in the Con Dao waters but they are not seen nesting and laying eggs in this region (Nguyen 1999). Most of the five species of sea turtles in Vietnamese waters lay eggs from February to August (Table 5). In general, there has been very little research on the biological characteristics of the five sea breeds of turtles in our waters, especially on the olive ridley, leatherback, and loggerhead turtles. Therefore, more research should be conducted in order to provide sound



scientific foundations for our suggestions on actions to protect these sea turtles. If we compare the average length of the three species of turtle collected in 1998 in waters near Khanh Hoa coast to that observed for them in previous years, we see a rather big difference in their average length (Table 6). There is an urgent need for effective ways to protect the precious turtle resources in our provinces. Table 6: Comparison of average length of three species of sea turtles collected in 1998 and before 1998 in

the coastal sea zone in Khanh Hoa.

Average length (cm) Names Before 1998 In 1998

Comparative rate (times)

1. Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata)

+ 17.5 - 30.0 ++ 70.0 - 95.0

+ 6.3 - 10.2

0.34-0.36 0.09-0.11

2. Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)

+ 90.0 - 135.0 + 35.0 - 57.5 0.39-0.43

3. Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)

++ 100.0 + 90.0 - 135.0

+ 35.0 - 57.5 0.35-0.38 0.39-0.43

Source: + Results of 1998 research in the sea near the Khanh Hoa coast. ++ (Ministry of Fisheries 1996) Distribution

Geographical distribution (Table 7): Statistics from the research projects in Quang Ninh-Hai Phong and 27 places in Thanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Da Nang Khanh Hoa in 1998 and in Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa), Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Ca Mau and Kien Giang in 2000 show that the geographical distribution of the five turtle species found in our waters are as follows. Green turtles were seen in 23 out of 27 research locations. Additionally, they were also seen in Quan Lan (Quang Ninh). Hawksbill turtles were seen in 15 places; loggerhead turtles in six places, and leatherback turtles in five places (they were formerly seen in Hai Phong). Quantitative distribution: From Table 7, it can be seen that across the 27 research locations of Thanh Hoa, Quang Nam Da Nang, Khanh Hoa in 1998 and in Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa), Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Ca Mau and Kien Giang in 2000, all five species of sea turtle were seen but green turtles and loggerhead turtles were seen in the highest numbers. This was particularly true for the central areas. Although hawksbill turtles were widespread, they were low in number. Finally, the lowest numbers recorded were for olive ridley and leatherback turtles.

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Table 7: Distribution of five species of sea turtles at 27 sites in the provinces of Thanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ca Mau and Kien Giang during 1998-2000. At the 27 investigation sites, the hawksbill turtles were caught at 17 sites, loggerhead turtles at 15 sites, Olive ridleys at six sites, and leatherback turtles at five sites

Sites Hawksbill turtle

(Eretmochelys imbricata)

Green turtle (Chelonia

mydas)

Olive ridley turtle

(Lepidochelys olivacea)

Loggerhead turtle

(Caretta caretta)

Leatherback turtle

(Dermochelys coriacea)

Thanh Hoa 1.Nga Son 2. Hau Loc 3. Hoang Hoa 4. Sam Son 5. Quang Xuong 6. Tinh Gia

- + - - - +

- -

++ ++ ++ ++

- - - - - +

- - - - - -

+ + - - + _

Quang Nam-Da Nang 7. Thuan Phuoc 8. Thanh Loc Dan 9. Tho Quang 10. An Hai 11. Hien Dong 12. Cam An, Hoi An 13. Tam Thanh, Tam Ky

+ - + - + - -

+++ ++

+++ -

+++ ++ ++

- - - - - - -

+++ ++

+++ ++

+++ ++ -

- - - - - - -

Khanh Hoa 14. Vinh Truong 15. Cu Lao 16. Ba Ngoi 17. Vinh Long 18. Ba Lang Vinh Hai 19. Ninh Ich Ninh Hai 20. Thach That Ba Ngoi 21. Nha Trang and other sites

(Doan Van Dau, personal comment, 2000)

+ + + + - + + +

++

+++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ ++

- - - - - - - +

+++ ++ ++

+++ +++ +++ +++

+

- - - - - - - +

Ba Ria-Vung Tau 22. Phuoc Hai, Phuoc Tinh, sea

zone near coast of Ba Ria Vung Tau (Doan Van Dau, personal comment, 2000)

23. Sea zone of Con Dao (Doan Van Dau, personal comment, 2000)

+

+

+

+

+

-

-

+

-

+

Ca Mau 24. Hon Tre, Hon Khoai (Doan

Van Dau, personal comment, 2000)

-

+

-

-

-

Kien Giang 25. Phu Quoc Island (Doan Van

Dau, personal comment, 2000)

26. Tho Chu island (Doan Van Dau, personal comment, 2000)

27. Sea zone near coast

+

+

+

-

+

+

+

+

+

- -

-

-

-

-

TOTAL 17 23 6 15 5



Catching areas and exploiting season

Exploitation areas: Statistics from research between 1998 and 2000 show that sea turtles exploitation areas were found in most of the coastal areas from Quang Ninh to Kien Giang and islands such as Paracel, Spratly, Tho Chu, and Phu Quoc. Of these areas, the waters in Cam An commune (Quang Nam-Da Nang) and in Hon Gam-Ba Lang reefs (Khanh Hoa) are the areas where the most turtles are caught. Numbers ranged from dozens (Cam An) to thousands (Hon Gam-Ba Lang reefs) of turtles and hundreds of nests every year. There are many offshore fishing boats sailing in and out of the Con Dao waters for food supplies, ice and water. They also fish with lights and other fishing instruments that dampen sea environmental characteristics. The incidence of turtles intermingled with fish in hauls of fish has decreased the number of turtles in the Con Dao waters. Destructive fishing techniques are still in place. For example, using explosives to fish garrupa. Fishing with high-intensity lights has attracted young turtles along with their predators, causing increased mortality rates. Catching season: Investigations (Table 7) show that fishermen catch turtles in their nesting season, i.e. from February to August, and especially between February and March. Catching instruments: The specialized instruments for catching turtles are sickles and via scuba diving with equipment or without equipment. There are also some additional instruments, such as nets. 6. Recommendations for protection of sea turtles Since the protection of sea turtles has yet to be given due attention, inappropriate exploitation of this creature has alarmingly decreased the abundance of this precious turtle resource. Some species of turtles are facing extinction. Fishers are now only able catching small turtles for making handicrafts, especially hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata). It is now hard to catch fully-grown turtles (Table 5). Based on this situation, we would like to make some recommendations for protection and restoration of turtles in the Vietnamese waters as follows:

• Establish, apart from the existing national zoological garden, some additional protection and rescue zones for the turtles of Vietnamese waters. For example, similar to the program aimed at restoring this precious resource in Con Dao National Park.

• Establish no-catch zones: this would include all the nesting and hatching sites along the coastline and around islands of localities from Quang Ninh to Kien Giang.

• Forbid capture of all five species of turtles found in Vietnamese waters. • Forbid catching of turtles all year round (January 1 to December 31)

In summary, forbid catching of sea turtles at all times and in all locations within Vietnamese waters. 7. Cooperation possibilities for protection of turtle resources in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean - points for discussions Common properties

As mentioned above, sea turtles are descendants of prehistoric inland reptiles. During the course of evolution, they develop flippers in response to the ocean environment. Female turtles go ashore to lay eggs. In general, young turtles can move with the ocean water flows and end up thousands of kilometres away from their hatching sites. In their new locations they grow until they are mature adults. Female turtles return to the beach where they were hatched and lay eggs. The life cycle can be summarized as follows:

170

• Young turtles move from their hatching sites into the ocean • Turtles grow and live in the ocean and then at feeding grounds • Fully-grown female turtles migrate from their feeding ground to their hatching site for

mating and nesting. During that migration, sea turtles can cross a nation’s borders. A turtle can nest in the territory of one country, but live most of its life in the waters of another. Therefore, sea turtles are creatures with long migration routes. There should be international cooperation for the protection of them. The necessity to protect sea turtles

Sea turtles need high survival rates per annum at all life stages. Increased death rates in a period of the lifecycle can affect the population. This sensitivity results from some biological characteristics of sea turtles, such as slow maturation rates, non-annual reproduction, and the fact that temperature determines the number of male and female turtles in a nest. Like other migrating species, sea turtles may be hurt or their safety threatened along the migrating route, in the course of reproduction, in their feeding areas, and in the ocean. These threats are mainly as follows:

• Loss of habitat, especially because of the social and economic development in near-shore areas, and impact from upstream dam construction along rivers. Collection of sea turtle eggs, young and adults for the purpose of trade.

• Accidental catching of sea turtles in hauls of fish. • Predation of turtle eggs by animals from local and other areas. • Decreasing water quality. • Disturbance by ships and fishing activities. • Debris at the sea • Fishing by light in areas near where sea turtles lay their eggs.

There is a need for actions to eliminate these threats at the local, national, regional and international level. It is important to act in all areas at the same time and continuously. Three main actions needed to protect sea turtles and the profits from them are (1) maintain the habitats of sea turtles, (2) reduce the mortality rate to a sustainable level, and (3) enhance the survival rate. Local and national actions are necessary to effectively protect sea turtles. Local activities consist of controlling harmful external factors affecting the nesting places of sea turtles, including the amount of light from human sources near these places. National actions include the establishment of management mechanisms, effective implementation of rules, formulation of national plan actions, and development and realization of strategies to reduce sea turtles catch during fishing activities etc. Regional cooperation is also necessary for all activities carried out at national and local levels. The movement of turtles across thousands of kilometres, and their trespassing through multiple nations exclusive economic zones, means they are threatened by various dangers along the route. Investigating the population genetic structuring of turtles at regional level, through collection of tissue samples for genetic analysis, will help show the threats to populations and help show where turtles travel to. In order to effectively protect sea turtles in a single country, every country should act in the same way. Regional cooperation is an instrument for creating favourable conditions for effective protection of turtles. Regional activities include exchange of experience, techniques and knowledge among nations.



Some details to be determined: • General protection of sea turtles • Separate threats to turtles • Most practical approaches to reduce threats. • Additional implementation of threat-reducing measures

To create favourable conditions for the restoration of sea turtle populations, young turtles should be available to supplement the turtle population. The more turtles that nest, the better. Young turtles should be release to the sea. Turtle farms should be established and managed in a scientific way. The number of sea turtles caught by fishing should be reduced, important habitats should be protected, and monitoring programs should be set up at nesting beaches. These measures can only become effective if the communities living along the coast are educated about the importance of protection of the ecosystems in which they dwell.

• Help countries develop national programs for monitoring and reducing the threats to sea turtles, and for protecting of the habitats turtles (for example, nesting sites or feeding areas).

• Train and educate local communities. • Continue to cooperate, research and monitor the status of turtles, the sustainability of

use of the sea turtle resource, the main threats to turtles, and measures to reduce threats. • Standardize data collection methods across countries and facilitate document exchange

among countries. • Disseminate information to the world community. • Cooperate with international organisations.

It should be noted that a series of strategies have been established for the protection of turtles at national or regional levels. However, in general, those strategies have not been adopted and realized in some countries. What is necessary for the protection of sea turtles is for countries to draw up and approve policies, principles and regulations for activities impacting on turtles at local, regional or national levels. Points for discussion

It is essential to investigate the synchronization among countries in the region on the following points:

• The resource of sea turtles is in decline and protection of them is badly needed. It is essential to prevent further population reductions, and to trigger restoration and monitoring of sea turtles. Local, regional and national activities should be in place.

• Assistance for these actions is needed, and several countries need external assistance to carry out actions (note that the assistance source may be obtained from organisations such as CMS/IUCN, GEF, UNEP and UNDP). Regional cooperation is necessary to carry out regional actions and to provide guidelines for national and local actions.

Major elements for regional cooperation: Objectives of regional cooperation:

• Commitment to undertake actions at local, national and regional levels aimed at preventing sea turtles from extinction, and restoring and supervising the sea turtle resource.

• Coordination in seeking funds; developing regulations, technical criteria and policies; and organising the implementation of protective measures vis-a-vis the sea turtle resource.

172

Necessary actions to protect sea turtle resources:

• Provision of aid for developing countries to develop, implement and assess national strategies for the protection of sea turtles.

• The carrying out of a common project in the region. Key elements for a plan of effective regional cooperation:

• Involve all countries. • Raise global awareness about the plan • National commitment to implement the plan. • Administration bodies must join with funding organisations to implement agreed

actions. • Identification of different national situations and flexibility in national approaches for

protection of sea turtle resources. • Provide regular assessment and revision of strategies or agreements.

Possible approaches or framework for the regional plan:

• Under existing agreements • Agreement on each issue or memorandum. • Building network or core activities.

Conclusions 1. Situated in a tropical climate with a humid monsoon, Vietnam has a long coastline and many

mouths of great rivers. The variety of meteorological, hydrographical and biological elements depends on flows of atmosphere in the two directions of North-East and South-West. Bac Bo Bay is greatly influenced by the North-East monsoon, and the belt of land from 17o latitude to Nam Bo is influenced by the South-West monsoon.

2. Sea turtle fauna in Vietnam’s waters relate to a tropical complex. While doing research, five species of sea turtles have been identified. These species are Eretmochelys imbricata, Chelonia mydas, Caretta caretta, Lepidochelys olivacea and Dermochelys coriacea. Among these, Chelonia mydas has been observed most frequently.

3. Beside existing national parks, it is necessary to build more protective and rescue zones for sea turtles in Vietnam’s waters.

4. No catch zones: natural reproduction and growth areas along the coast and in the sea zone around islands from Quang Ninh to Kien Giang.

5. Protected species (catching and collecting forbidden): all species of sea turtles found in Vietnam’s waters.

6. Sea turtles in the world in general, and in Vietnam in particular, are important resources, but exploitation of these benefits is carried out in an irrational manner and in ways that may cause their extinction. Thus, much importance should be given to measures protecting the benefits of turtles and enhancing environmental conditions within the ecosystem in coastal sea zones. It is recommended that it should be forbidden to exploit sea turtles in any way. Additionally, it should also be forbidden to catch turtles year-round (from 1/1 to 31/12).

References Bourret R. 1941. Les Tortes de l'Indochine. Institute Oceanographique de la Indochine. Station

Maritime de Cauda (Nha Trang). Publication 38. Dao TV. 1976. ??



Eckert KL, Bjorndal KA, Abreu-Grobois FA & Donnelly M eds. 1999. Research and management techniques for the conservation of sea turtles. IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group.

Ministry of Fisheries V. 1996. Vietnamese Fishing Sources. Nguyen DT. 1999. Marine turtle status report in Con Dao National Park: Period 1995-1998.

WWF Indochina Programme. Nguyen HK. 1978. Some sea turtles in the southern sea areas of Viet Nam. Proceedings of

Marine Research 1: 275-287. NguyÔn TiÕn C¶nh, NguyÔn C«ng R−¬ng, TrÇn L−u Khanh & nnk (1997), §iÒu kiÖn tù nhiªn vµ

m«i tr−êng ë vïng biÓn ViÖt Nam.

H. T. T. Bui: National Action Plan


DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL MARINE TURTLE ACTION PLAN FOR VIETNAM

Bui Thi Thu Hien Marine Program Officer, IUCN Vietnam, Hanoi, Vietnam

Global status of marine turtles Marine turtles have an ancient history dating back to the Jurassic period when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Their existence was not under serious threat until about the middle of this century when commercial exploitation and loss of habitats made unbearable inroads into their continued survival, plunging the numbers of turtle populations to alarming figures. The decline in turtle populations is progressing and several species are now facing extinction. Today seven species of marine turtles are recognised. They are the green turtle (Chelonia mydas); loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta); flatback turtle (Natator depressus); hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata); leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea); olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea); and Kemp’s ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempi). All, except the flatback, are regarded as globally threatened by the World Conservation Union - IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. All marine turtles are listed in Appendix I of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), and all species, except the flatback, are included in Appendices I and II of CMS (Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals). Most marine turtles are found in the sub-tropical and tropical seas of the world. Once found in thriving populations, these turtles are now seriously threatened due to incidental and accidental capture in fisheries; loss of nesting, foraging and resting habitats; over-exploitation; and recently, pollution of the seas. Some glaring examples of depletion of marine turtle populations from around the world are given below:

• Gulf of Mexico, Kemp’s ridley turtles: More than 60,000 in 1947 to less than 2,000 in 1992.

• Pacific Mexico, olive ridley turtles: 79,900 in 1983 to less than 1000 in 1992. • Ecuador, olive ridley turtles: 300,000 in 1981 to only a few thousand in 1992. • Terengganu, Malaysia: Leatherback turtles: 4000 in 1980 to less that 1000 in

1992.. • Sri Lanka: Numbers unknown, but populations of green, olive ridley, leatherback,

loggerhead and hawksbill turtles are declining. (Source: BBC Wildlife Magazine, December 1992). Present status of marine turtles in Vietnam Five species of marine turtle believed to occur within Vietnamese waters. These include: the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), green turtle (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), and olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). The recently published 2000 IUCN Red list of Threatened animals classified four of these species as endangered, with the hawksbill turtle listed as critically endangered at the global level. However, specific studies of marine turtle have not been carried out and statistics on population sizes and conservation statuses are not available. A large number of unidentified marine turtles are reported to have been seen around the Con Dao islands.

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Within Vietnam, the responsibility for marine turtle conservation and research is broadly allocated among four government agencies. The agencies and their principle duties are:

1. Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (MOSTE)/National Environment Agency (NEA): responsible for developing environmental policy, including the National Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) and Vietnam’s participation in the Convention on Biodiversity Conservation (CBD);

2. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)/Forest Protection Department (FPD): responsible for managing the National Terrestrial Protected Area system that includes several turtle rookeries, implementing and enforcing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and domestic wildlife enforcement;

3. Ministry of Fisheries (MOFI)/Research Institute for Marine Products (RIMP): responsible for marine species research and management, fisheries, marine protected areas; and,

4. National Institute of Oceanography: responsible for undertaking oceanographic research, including that pertaining to marine turtle biology.

Despite the number of agencies whose responsibilities include marine turtles, very little is actually known about these species in Vietnam. Moreover, as the species have not generally been considered as conservation priorities within Vietnam, their harvest and trade has received very little attention by relevant wildlife enforcement agencies. Whilst Vietnam is a signatory to the CMS MoU on Indian Ocean and SE Asian Marine Turtle Conservation and Management, and despite its importance as a range state for many migratory bird species and marine turtles, it is not yet a signatory to the Bonn Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). In light of the global threats facing marine turtles and the lack of management for the species in Vietnam, the IUCN Marine Turtle Specialist Group (MTSG), the Secretariat of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the IUCN MTSG and IUCN offices in Asia, WWF Indochina, and TRAFFIC Southeast Asia - Vietnam are currently co-operating in the development of a regional marine turtle conservation program. This process will included the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Marine Turtle Conservation in the Indian Ocean/South East Asian Region (the MoU) under the CMS. A key objective of this collaboration is to raise national awareness about the regional work of the CMS Secretariat on migratory waterbirds and turtles (amongst others) and to encourage Vietnam in becoming a party to the convention ratification. These actions would provide a clear basis for international co-operation in the management of migratory species, as well as a strengthening of domestic species and habitat management regimes. The need for a National Marine Turtle Conservation Action Plan In order to make significant headway in Vietnam’s marine turtle conservation it is vital that a comprehensive, concerted, and integrated effort is undertaken at a national level. The development of a National Action Plan for marine turtle conservation is thus appropriate, as it will draw upon the expertise, resources and commitment of all stakeholders at large and also assist in the process of encouraging co-ordination and co-operation among the various sectors involved in the management of marine turtles. The main objective of this workshop is to bring together key stakeholders to reach a consensus on the main issues that need to be addressed and thereby develop a framework for action (i.e. by working in groups over the next two days). Working Group sessions will be held to address the following six proposed priority themes: (1) In situ Conservation; (2) Hatchery Management; (3) Research and Monitoring; (4) Public Awareness and Education; (5) Law Enforcement; and (6)

H. T. T. Bui: National Action Plan


Regional Co-operation (refer to the Sri–Lanka National Marine Turtle Conservation Action Plan Document). The aim of this workshop is to ensure that each of the proposed six priority themes and their related issues will be reviewed and evaluated as closely as possible. Based on the outcome of the first national workshop, a draft Action Plan for marine turtle conservation will be prepared with the technical assistance of IUCN. The National Marine Turtle Conservation Action Plan should deal with the priority themes under six main strategies:

In situ Conservation: The application of in situ methods of conservation has been widely

recognised by the scientific community as the most effective and least damaging way to conserve these animals, given the limited knowledge of marine turtle ecology.

Hatchery Management: Protecting existing hatcheries and the setting up of new hatcheries for marine turtles. In order to optimise the benefits of hatchery management, it has become imperative to modify hatchery techniques as far as possible so that they exert minimum negative impact on their conservation role. Therefore, the development and implementation of a standardised, scientifically validated, and legally enforceable set of guidelines is foremost priority. The presently illegal status of hatcheries and the harmful effects of their practices should be clarified and rectified as a priority. Concerted action for monitoring and regulation of hatcheries is urgently needed.

Research and Monitoring: Strategic research and monitoring programmes play an important role in the effective design and implementation of conservation management programme. Little is known about the ecological and scientific aspects of marine turtle in Vietnam. Therefore there is an urgent need to focus on this area of research in the future. Inadequate infrastructure and availability of trained personnel, equipment and current scientific literature, are major obstacles to comprehensive or long-term research and monitoring programmes.

Public Awareness and Education: Environmental education has long been recognised as a valuable tool in achieving conservation. Through raising awareness on conservation issues and increasing understanding of biodiversity’s value amongst key stakeholders, attitudes towards conservation can change, helping to ensure the success of conservation initiatives and reducing government expenditures that would otherwise be spent on compliance. Attention must be focussed on promoting collaborative public and education programme between NGOs and the state sectors.

Law Enforcement: The capacity for effective enforcement of the existing legal provisions is hampered by a significant shortage of personnel trained to provide expert evidence, detect violations and prosecute offenders. Insufficient manpower and other resources also undermine prompt detection of offences.

Regional Co-operation: Marine turtles are migratory species that generally inhabit the waters of more than one country. Their feeding and nesting areas tend to be situated in widely divergent areas, including a number of different habitats. Considering the population dynamics, habitat requirements, and life cycle of marine turtles, it is of the utmost importance to address conservation issues in a regional, rather than country specific, context, in order that breeding populations can be protected across a major part of their range.

The action plan will assess existing legislation and policy and identify the conservation status of, and threats to, marine turtle species in Vietnam. The draft action plan will provide a suggested institutional framework and program of activities for the conservation and management of marine turtles. The action plan will be put to key Government Ministries for endorsement.

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Development of a Draft National Action Plan for Marine Turtle Conservation and Management A project team drawn from participants in the workshop will develop a draft marine turtle action plan for Vietnam. This action plan will include and assessment of the current conservation status of marine turtles in Vietnam, important habitat, threats to species, and opportunities for remedial action. On completion of the draft the action plan will be presented to the Government of Vietnam for endorsement. The action plan will identify priority conservation actions, including projects suitable for funding by the Government and the international community. Preparation steps for the Draft National Action Plan Marine Turtle Conservation & Management Workshop, July 2001: Discussion of action plan and identification of key issues for consideration. Technical workshops: Drawing on earlier training workshop to discuss the content of a National Action Plan for Marine Turtle Conservation: Participants to include national and provincial department, scientists, decision-makers, NGOs etc. Drafts of the Action Plan to be circulated among the project team initially and later circulated more widely. Final workshop: Present draft Action Plan to MOFI/DOFI, MARD/FPD, MOSTE/NEA and others to discuss the findings. Publication and distribution of draft Action Plan. Preparation of Conservation Status Report Preparation of a conservation status report will require summarisation of existing activities, including reports commissioned from Research Institute of Marine Products (RIMP), FPD, Institute of Oceanography, other research institutes, and provincial governments. Consultancies to assess legislation and policy framework and additional field surveys will be proposed and undertaken as required. The report will also incorporate results of international work in Vietnam and more general research in Southeast Asia, as pertinent to Vietnam.

T. Pham et al.: Training workshop report


TRAINING WORKSHOP ON MARINE TURTLE RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION IN VIET NAM

Pham Thuoc1, Bui Thi Thu Hien2, Nicolas J. Pilcher3 and Douglas Hykle4

1Research Institute of Marine Products, 170 Le Lai, Haiphong, Vietnam 2IUCN Vietnam, 13 Tran Hung Dao, Hanoi, Vietnam

3Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, University Malaysia Sarawak 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia ([email protected])

4UNEP/CMS Secretariat, United Nations Premises in Bonn, Martin Luther King Street 8, D-53175 Bonn, Germany

A training workshop on the biology and conservation of marine turtles was held in Vung Tao city and on the Con Dao National Park islands in southern Viet Nam between July 23 and 28, 2001. The workshop was attended by 37 participants from different Provincial Governments, Government Agencies and from several NGOs. In addition, three delegates from Cambodia were invited to participate in the workshop, to strengthen regional training initiatives previously established under the ASEAN Marine Turtle MoU and through the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre (SEAFDEC). The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Fisheries Vietnam, IUCN Vietnam, the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. Funding support for the workshop was provided through the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the Danish International Aid programme (DANIDA), the Ocean Conservancy, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), and National Marine Fisheries Service of the United States of America. The project aimed to train research and conservation workers and government officials in general turtle biology, conservation needs, and management methods through a two-phase training workshop. The first phase targeted researchers and conservation personnel in both theory and hands-on training, while the second phase targeted government officials concerning legislation, international agreements and existing Memoranda of Understanding. The objective of the technical and policy training/capacity workshop was to strengthen and upgrade the capacity and capability for research education and conservation of marine turtles in Vietnamese waters, to improve access to current knowledge and experience, and to increase institutional cooperation between national partners and international development organisations involved in research and conservation of marine turtles. In the long-run, equipping the Vietnamese people with the knowledge and tools with which to conserve turtles benefits not simply turtles in Vietnam, but throughout their migratory range, which is known to extend out to the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Presentations by IUCN Species Survival Commission Marine Turtle Specialist Group (MTSG) members Chan Eng Heng, Jeff Miller and Nicolas Pilcher provided participants with background information on ‘General Biology of Marine Turtles’, ‘Taxonomy and Species Identification’, ‘Status of Marine Turtle Research and Conservation in Southeast Asia’, ‘General Beach Survey Techniques’ and on ‘Tagging, Marine Turtle Statistics and Database Management’. Additional presentations on ‘Research, Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles in Viet Nam’ and on the ‘Status on Marine Turtle Research and Conservation in Con Dao islands’ by Vietnamese experts and further presentations on ‘Threats to Marine Turtles’ and ‘Development of a Marine Turtle Conservation Action Plan’ by IUCN Vietnam and a presentation on the ‘Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species’ by CMS completed the theoretical component of the workshop. Subsequent to the theoretical aspects covered in Vung Tao city, participants proceeded via a fourteen-hour overnight ferry crossing to Con Dao National Park, home to Viet Nam’s most

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successful marine turtle conservation programme. Here, delegates were treated to an introduction to the Park and its activities by its Director, Dr. Le Xuan Ai; followed by discussion on the development of a National Action plan for the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles in Viet Nam. An excursion by boat was then arranged to the nesting beaches on Bay Canh island, where participants were introduced to basic beach surveys, measuring and tagging of adult turtles, egg and hatchling study techniques, and to general discussions on methodologies and the philosophy of turtle conservation. Over the course of the workshop meetings were also held with Provincial Leaders and representatives of the local Fishery Associations to discuss the potential impact / acceptance of conservation strategies among locals. It was acknowledged that turtles are a fairly frequent by-catch in their nets, but at the same time that turtles occupied an important cultural legacy among coastal people, and that fishermen would assist where possible conservation activities. One of the largest threats to turtles was the curio trade: whole, stuffed turtles and tortoiseshell products are available throughout the country, and represent a significant trading resource. MTSG members counted over 130 stuffed carapaces and identified at least six stalls selling tortoiseshell products in one morning in Vung Tao. Tortoiseshell products were also on sale in major hotels and at the Ho Chi Minh airport. One of the main activities by the group over the last two days was the development of the first components of a National Action Plan for the conservation of marine turtles and their habitats in Viet Nam (Table 1). This was carried out as group discussions following the basic outline of the Conservation and Management Plan of the recently concluded Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South East Asia (IOSEA MoU). A welcome benefit to the workshop was the official signing on behalf of the Vietnamese Government of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South East Asia (IOSEA MOU), which was recently concluded in Manila (June 2001). Viet Nam became the ninth signatory to the MoU, and the signing of this important international instrument further strengthens Viet Nam’s commitment to a broader regional approach to marine turtle conservation. It is acknowledged that this is the first step in what will be a protracted effort to conserve Marine turtles in Viet Nam. At the same time however, this first step has sown the seeds of a Nation Action Plan, has prepared local scientists for beach monitoring and data collection activities, and has enabled upper level managers to better understand the biological constraints within which marine turtle conservation may be achieved. It is hoped that the continued support of international funding agencies and the Marine Turtle Specialist Group of IUCN will result in the long-term legislative and physical protection and conservation of marine turtles in Viet Nam. A long-term project is currently being developed by IUCN Vietnam with input from MTSG members from Southeast Asia that will address Vietnam’s commitments to existing Memoranda of Understanding (IOSEA and ASEAN), as a signatory of CITES, and which will provide the baseline information on which to base legislation, and enhance enforcement of national laws and policies with regard to the conservation of marine turtles and their habitats.



Table 1. Draft Notes for Vietnam’s marine turtle action plan OBJECTIVE 1. REDUCE DIRECT AND INDIRECT CAUSES OF MARINE TURTLE MORTALITY

Programme Issues Specific to Vietnam

1.1 Identify and document the threats to marine turtle

populations and their habitats

• Some participants indicated there was no traditional harvest of turtles, and that they were caught mainly as bycatch in fisheries.

• There is incidental capture in trawls and drift nets and the long-line fishery in Central Viet Nam

• Some fishermen catch turtles using triangular nets during particular seasons (only in villages where turtles are common, such as in central Viet Nam)

• There is no fishery law • Fishermen are more concerned with fishing / economics than turtle bycatch

/ conservation • Turtles only caught with non baited hooks in long-line industry • In certain provinces people collect eggs for food • Turtle eggs are also consumed for medicine • In Kien Giang hawksbills are raised in captivity • In Ninh Thuan people from other provinces collect turtles for their shells • In Khanh Hoa a village (Ba lang) is involved in turtle capture • Military collect turtles for food • Eggs and young collected in Phu Quoc and Tho Chu islands • Turtles threatened through use of cyanide and explosives for fishing in some

provinces. • Nesting beach area decline through tourism and beach development in

central Viet Nam • Bright lights on beaches • Sea walls • Trading of stuffed sea turtles and shell products • Plastic bags thrown to the sea • Chemicals and lights may deter nesting or affect turtles in central Vietnam

where beaches are used for shrimp cultivation • Natural weather patterns

1.2 Determine and apply best practice approaches

to minimising those threats to marine turtle

populations and their habitats

• MoFi should develop fishery regulations that protect turtles • Must prohibit cyanide or explosive fishing • Trawlers fishers should use TEDs, particularly in South Vietnam • MoFi should have detailed regulations on differing fishing methods • Develop a national tourism plan addressing beach use • Maybe reduce length of nets (although fishermen may not agree, as may not

be economically profitable) 1.3 Implement

programmes to correct adverse economic

incentives that threaten marine turtle populations

• Direct livelihood based on turtles is not applicable to Viet Nam • Live turtles are usually released, dead turtles are consumed • Turtles are valuable (spiritual) animals in Viet Nam folklore • Need to address sales by tourism shops

1.4 Reduce to the greatest extent practicable the incidental capture and

mortality of marine turtles in the course of fishing

activities

• Control the type of fishing gear which catch turtles – such as the double trawl (two boats, one net) and long-lines without bait (particularly on the east coast of Phu Quoc)

1.5 Prohibit the direct harvest (capture or killing) of, and domestic trade in, marine turtles, their eggs,

parts or products.

• There should be fisheries laws and enforcement • Turtles should be considered under fishery laws as they live in the sea • There is a historic ordinance on the protection of marine resources which

includes marine turtles • A report is needed from Traffic Indochina on turtle trade because turtle

products are not under Fisheries Department control. However, in (Forestry)

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Decree 18 there is no listing of marine turtles so there is no legal recourse when inspecting markets.

• The Fishery Ordinance was drafted ten years ago, and has undergone several revisions. Currently sea turtles are protected under Decree 48 with regard to trading of sea turtles (including a 50,000 – 100,000 dong / kg fine for turtle capture and confiscation of all products)

• Any ordinance should list all five species of turtles in Vietnamese waters 1.6 Develop nesting beach management programmes

to maximize hatchling recruitment

• There is a need to identify more nesting beaches for protection • There is a recently developed a National Park in Phu Quoc, but it does not

include the good nesting beaches to the south, maybe this should be proposed as a protected area

• Viet Nam should have more protected areas, and consider not only geography but also on what species occur and in what numbers

• In the Co To islands there are many green and hawksbill turtles nesting, and it should be proposed as a Protected Area, as there are many fishing activities that affect turtles and their habitats

• Beach cleaning programmes are not common. There is a lot of driftwood and old nets, floats, and other debris on beaches

OBJECTIVE 2. PROTECT, CONSERVE AND REHABILITATE MARINE TURTLE HABITATS

Programme Activities Specific to Vietnam

2.1 Establish necessary measures to protect and conserve marine turtle

habitats

• Establish an MPA network along the Viet Nam coastline • Carry out more studies on turtle biology, especially studies to identify

feeding grounds, developmental habitats and internesting habitats • Develop a legal framework for habitat protection • The process of legal framework development in Viet Nam is slow, and

marine turtles might be lost. Districts, provinces, etc should act now to protect turtles.

• Immediately conduct a rapid assessment using scientists and local people to get a better understanding of the marine turtle situation

• Determine the benefits of turtle conservation: policy-makers want economic benefits but scientists want to protect the marine environment

• Prohibit the buying and selling marine turtle products • Establish a legal framework controlling trade and protecting marine turtles

2.2 Rehabilitate degraded marine turtle habitats

• Over the last few years marine resources have been reduced in Nha Trang – the basic problem is that a legal framework within which to protect marine resources is still needed

• Noise pollution is a factor to consider in Nha Trang • A report on the level of pollution on beaches is needed. • There is a need to conserve more than just beaches. Viet Nam should strive

to protect all habitats used by turtles

OBJECTIVE 3. IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING OF MARINE TURTLE ECOLOGY AND

POPULATIONS THROUGH RESEARCH, MONITORING AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE


3.1 Conduct studies on marine turtles and their habitats targeted to their

conservation and management

• There is a need for further studies on turtles to obtain knowledge of populations and their habitats and the distribution of species in Vietnamese waters

• Detailed research has been carried out in Con Dao, this should be extended throughout the country.

• Scientific research should be conducted by competent scientists so that accurate data is used in decision-making

• There is a need to learn more about migratory habits of Viet Nam’s turtles and conduct genetic studies on Viet Nam’s populations

• There might be sufficient research on turtle biology, but there is a need to know more about their habitats to be able to focus conservation activities



• There is a need for market research on turtle (products) trade • A priority should be temperature research and how to protect turtle eggs

3.2 Conduct collaborative research and monitoring

• Viet Nam should set up a national collaboration programme and promote communication among institutes throughout the country (e.g. to eliminate duplication of efforts).

• Duplication of efforts might not be a key issue as there is a bid / tender research system that directs / divides research activities among institutes

• Establish information bridges among institutes, provincial governments, and local people, scientists, etc

3.3 Analyse data to support mitigation of

threats and to assess and improve conservation

politics

• To date there is only scattered information from research. • Document and computerise all information and data on marine turtles in

Viet Nam • Develop an information network – will need a database manager, and

finance to support the network (possibly through IUCN) 3.4 Exchange information • To date there is limited regional collaboration with neighbouring countries

• Put the information currently available in Viet Nam into writing so that it can be shared among institutes and departments

• Share information among institutes • Develop web pages to share information • Provide have access to on-line data for those who have interest in protecting

marine turtles • Share information through radio and newspapers • No copyright on materials produced by each institute • Hold periodic marine turtle conferences for Vietnamese people • Participants at each workshop should prepare documents beforehand to

share at the meetings • Establish information directories, regarding how many turtles lay eggs each

year, where institutes get information from, etc, and then decide who has access to these resources

• Set up a management board with a periodic newsletter. • Set up conferences and workshops rather than distribute publications, as the

these are useful forums for sharing information • Develop a mechanism to enable tag reports from lowest levels to highest

levels

OBJECTIVE 4. INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE THREATS TO MARINE TURTLES

AND THEIR HABITATS, AND ENHANCE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN CONSERVATION

ACTIVITIES


4.1 Establish public education, awareness and information programmes

• Educate people on the importance of turtles • Legislation should state clearly what species are to be protected and what

benefits this will provide the people • Establish education programmes for high school and secondary school

students which stress the importance of marine turtles and how to protect them

• Establish a network for enhancing public awareness (a propaganda network) • Classify objectives of a propaganda network, which should be aimed at

particular bodies such as research institutes, government bodies (in particular the highest level authorities in each area), and local people

• Information materials should be simple and clear so that all levels of society can understand them

• Establish a team of propaganda volunteers to spread the information and knowledge throughout the country

• Research institutes and government bodies should not stress why (biologically) turtles need protecting, but should concentrate more on legal issues

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• IUCN and/or RIMP should write a book on turtle biology with interesting text and beautiful pictures.

• Develop data rooms at each institution in which information on turtles is displayed

4.2 Develop alternative livelihood opportunities for local communities to encourage their active

participation in conservation efforts

• Fishermen might not be keen to assist with tag return programmes unless there is a substantial reward

• There is a need for funding to set up meetings with local people • Establish a fund to support local (poor) people, particularly where

conditions are more harsh, and people are poorer • Projects should focus on local people first so that they understand the

benefits of conserving marine turtles • Once there is a programme to conserve marine turtles the local people must

be involved in the programme • Reduce / erase poverty and hunger • Possibly make turtles taboo (develop a superstition) among local villagers

(e.g. leatherback is not touched by villagers as they believe they bring bad luck)

• Promote ecotourism activities. • Establish a legal framework that people must follow. • Develop a system of trade licenses without which people cannot sell marine

products – particularly turtle products 4.3 Promote public

participation • Follow examples set by previous programmes to reward people for the best

environmental drawings and films to promote environmental awareness • Get volunteers to protect sea turtles. • Print beautiful pictures of turtles to raise funds and to transfer knowledge in

Viet Nam and throughout the world. • Declare a Vietnamese ‘Day of the Turtle’ • Have a competition on making models of turtles as opposed to selling the

real carapaces • It will be difficult to set up a team of volunteers as the salaries are low, and

they need a common interest on protecting sea turtles • There is an existing programme that set up classes for volunteers, and

several of these people (who receive and allowance of about 200,000 dong) went on to work on conservation projects, and are proud of their involvement on the conservation of marine turtles. The project has friendly discussions with government officials and through these interest is raised in turtle conservation at higher levels

OBJECTIVE 5. ENHANCE NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION


5.1 Collaborate with other countries to regulate and

share information on trade, to combat illegal

trade, and to cooperate in enforcement activities

relating to marine turtle products

• Firstly address provincial level cooperation, in particular among coastal provinces

• Promote cooperation with institutions in national programmes. • Promote conservation activities among regional countries such as the

ASEAN countries and those with which turtle populations are shared. • Develop an umbrella programme in which each member has its national

project (such as those carried out under ICLARM, which has 8 national projects that feed into a regional programme).

• It is important to stress cooperation among local, national and regional institutions/groups.

• Collaborating in research with neighbouring countries which share turtle populations

• Regional programmes should be promoted by international specialists, who should be invited to be the ‘sparkplugs’ to develop the regional project collaboration

• In 1997 the Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development signed an agreement with the USA regarding the use of TEDs and import/export of shrimp



• Cooperate with other countries and regions on levels of turtle depletion to ascertain current status

• Ensure there is a fair share of funds for the Vietnamese component of any project.

• Funds support should also come from NGOs and other institutions • Develop basic research projects first before being involved in bigger

programmes • The country and its people should be committed to conservation of marine

turtles. 5.2 Assist other countries to develop and implement national, sub-regional and regional action plans for

the conservation and management of marine

turtles and their habitats

• Not addressed

5.3 Enhance mechanisms for cooperation and

promote information exchange

• Develop a relationship between government and scientists so government can develop suitable legal framework.

• Develop cooperation between scientists, fishermen and legislators • Share experiences in turtle conservation throughout the country • Establish a network of information regarding conserving marine turtles

5.4 Build capacity to strengthen conservation

measures

• Continue training young and competent scientists • Train local people so they can help conserve sea turtles • There is a lack of modern equipment and capacity, such as for genetic

studies • There is a need for different sources of funding from local, national and

regional levels to support capacity building 5.5 Strengthen and

improve enforcement of conservation legislation

• Determine which government bodies are responsible for which activities, then enhance the capacity to promote conservation activities

• Hold several meetings each year on marine turtle conservation • There is a need for both human and equipment resources to strengthen

departments involved in protecting marine turtles • There is a need to inform the public on the legal status of turtles and their

habitats • Government ordinances and other regulations involved in protecting turtles

have very low fines, and these should be increased to discourage people from collecting turtles and their eggs, and from producing products from turtles

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LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Mr. Vu Van Dai Director, Fisheries Department

Ministry of Fisheries 10 Nguyen Cong Hoan Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Dr. Vu Van Trieu Deputy Director, International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Fisheries 10 Nguyen Cong Hoan Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Ms. Dinh Thi Thanh Huyen International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Fisheries 10 Nguyen Cong Hoan Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Mr. Pham Van Tho Science and Technology Department Ministry of Fisheries 10 Nguyen Cong Hoan Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Nghi Science and Technology Department, Ministry of Fisheries 10 Nguyen Cong Hoan Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Mr. Nguyen Duy Hong Science and Technology Department Ministry of Fisheries 10 Nguyen Cong Hoan Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hung Research Institute for Aquaculture No. 2 2A Thuy Van, Vung Tau City, Vietnam

Dr. Doan Van Dau Research Institute for Aquaculture No 2 2A Thuy Van, Vung Tau City, Vietnam

Mr. Dinh Tan Thien Scientist, Research Institute for Aquaculture No 3 33 Dang Tat, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Van Khuong Director, Research Institute of Marine Products, 170 Le Lai, Haiphong, Vietnam

Dr. Chu Tien Vinh Deputy Director, Research Institute of Marine Products, 170 Le Lai, Haiphong, Vietnam

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thuoc Senior Researcher, Research Institute of Marine Products, Research, Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles Project 170 Le Lai, Haiphong, Vietnam

Mr. Dao Van Tu Scientist, Research Institute of Marine Products, 170 Le Lai, Haiphong, Vietnam

Mr. Dinh Thanh Dat Scientist, Research Institute of Marine Products, 170 Le Lai, Haiphong, Vietnam

Mr. Le Doan Dung Scientist, Research Institute of Marine Products, 170 Le Lai, Haiphong, Vietnam

Mr. Dinh Hong Thanh Institute of Oceanography 01 Cau Da, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trong Phan Institute of Oceanography 01 Cau Da, Nha Trang City,

List of participants


Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam Mr. Nguyen Trong An Scientist, Haiphong Institute of Oceanology

246 Da Nang Street, Haiphong, Vietnam

Mr. Nguyen Quang Truong Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), Hoang Quoc Viet Street, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam

Ms. Le Thanh Binh Nature Conservation Division of Environment Agency MOSTE, 116 Yet Kieu, Hanoi, Vietnam

Mr. Ngo Truong Thi Director, Information Center & Tourist Management of Con Dao District. 6 Le Duan, Con Dao District, Ba Ria –Vung Tau Province

Mr. Pham Ngoc Tuan Aquatic Products Resources Protection Sub-Department, Kien Giang Province. No 9 Huynh Tinh Cua, Vinh Thanh Van, Rach Gia Town, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam

Mr. Huynh Trung Be Head, Aquatic Products Resources Protection Sub-Department, Ca Mau Province, 68 Phan Boi Chau, 7 Street, Ca Mau Town, Ca Mau Province, Vietnam

Mr. Lam Hong Khanh Head, Aquatic Products Resources Protection Sub-Department, Bac Lieu Province,. 8 Street, Bac Lieu Town, Bac Lieu Province, Vietnam

Mr. Tran Phong Director, Science & Technology & Environment Department, Ninh Thuan Province, Trung Tam Street, Phan Rang Town, Ninh Thuan Province, Vietnam

Mr. Vu Quoc Dung Aquatic Products Resources Protection Sub-Department, Khanh Hoa Province, 42 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Nha Trang Town, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hao Head, Aquatic Products Resources Protection Sub-Department, Haiphong City, 24 Vo Thi Sau, Ngo Quyen District, Haiphong City, Vietnam

Mr. Nguyen Van Trung Aquatic Products Resources Protection Sub-Department, Quang Ninh Province, Coc 8, Hong Ha Street, Ha Long Town, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam

Mr. Le Xuan Ai Director, Con Dao National Park. 29 Vo Thi Sau Street,Con Dao District, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, Vietnam

Mr. Tran Hung Tam Aquatic Products Resources Protection Sub-Department, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, 21 Le Loi, 4 Street, Vung Tau City, Vietnam

Mrs. Tran Minh Hien WWF Indochina 53 Tran Phu, Hanoi, Vietnam

Mrs. Steph Cox Environmental Publications Assistant 29 Vo Thi Sau, Con Dao District, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, Vietnam

Mr. Nick Cox Conservation Projects Advisor 29 Vo Thi Sau, Con Dao District, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, Vietnam

Mr. Bernard O' Callangan CTA Hon Mun MPA Project, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam

188

Nguyen Thi Kieu Trang Financial Coordinator IUCN Vietnam 13 Tran Hung Dao, Hanoi, Vietnam

Mr. Nguyen Minh Thong Country Representative IUCN Vietnam 13 Tran Hung Dao, Hanoi, Vietnam

Ms. Bui Thi Thu Hien Marine Program Officer IUCN Vietnam 13 Tran Hung Dao, Hanoi, Vietnam

Mr. Ing Try Marine Fisheries Biologist and Ecologist Department of Fisheries, # 186 Norodom Blvd P.O. Box 582, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Mr. Kim Sour Marine Fisheries Biologist and Ecologist Department of Fisheries, # 186 Norodom Blvd P.O. Box 582, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Mr. Heng Sotharith Fisheries Biologist Department of Fisheries, # 186 Norodom Blvd P.O. Box 582, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Mr. Douglas Hykle Deputy Executive Secretary. UNEP/CMS Secretariat United Nations Premises in Bonn Martin Luther King Street 8, D-53175 Bonn, Germany

Dr. Nicolas J. Pilcher Research Fellow, Shell Chair in Environmental Studies Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation University Malaysia Sarawak 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia

Dr. Chan, Eng Heng Sea Turtle Research Unit (SEATRU), Faculty of Science and Technology, University College of Science and Technology, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia

Dr. Jeff Miller Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service Northern Region, PO Box 2066 Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia

189

First National Round Table Meeting on Marine Turtles

12/12/2001

Hanoi

© Photo courtesy of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science

T. V. Vu: Meeting agenda and objectives

First National Round Table Meeting on Marine Turtles 191

FIRST NATIONAL ROUND TABLE MEETING ON MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT IN VIETNAM

Vu Van Trieu

International Co-oporation Department / Ministry of Fisheries, Hanoi, Vietnam Introduction Today the International Cooperation Department of Ministry of Fisheries, in co-operation with IUCN - The World Conservation Union, has organized the first National Round Table Meeting on Marine Turtle Conservation in Vietnam. This Meeting follows the recent signing by Vietnam of the Indian Ocean South East Asia Memorandum of Understanding (IOSEA MoU) and the Technical Workshop on Biology and Conservation Marine Turtle held in Vung Tau and Con Dao in July 2001. Marine turtles are highly migratory, and require suitable developmental habitats throughout their range and at each stage of their life cycle. Nesting turtles require clean beaches free from human encroachment, foraging turtles require healthy coral reefs, seagrass beds and even the deep sea, and hatchlings and juveniles require unpolluted open oceans free from debris and fishery pressures. Being migratory with no regard to political boundaries, turtles are a shared resource among coastal nations - both within small confined seas and across vast ocean expanses. In order to carry out research and monitoring, and to implement conservation measures on the ground and at a legislative level, capacity building is needed to ensure any and all actions are in the best interests of marine turtles and in keeping with their biology. Therefore, on behalf of the Ministry of Fisheries and IUCN – The World Conservation Union, we appreciated your attending this Meeting. This Meeting aims to introduce the Memorandum of Understanding on ASEAN Sea Turtle Conservation and Protection signed by Vietnam on 1997, IOSEA MOU and its Conservation Management Plan (CMP), which was signed in July 2001 by MOFI. Viet Nam became the ninth signatory to the IOSEA MoU, and the signing of this important international instrument further strengthens Viet Nam’s commitment to a broader regional approach to marine turtle conservation. This Meeting will also identify possible policy conflicts between conservation and development objectives as they relate to marine turtles in Viet Nam, and examine policy and legislative frameworks for marine turtle conservation in other countries and their applicability to Viet Nam's context. This workshop will strengthen capacity for policy makers within national and provincial agencies who have responsibilities for marine turtle issues. This meeting will also serve as one of step for the preparation of the National Action Plan for Marine Turtle Conservation in Vietnam, improve communication amongst collaborators – encouraging the sharing lesson learned and will improve our ability to evaluate our collective impact in the country. The commitment shown by your organisation to the National Action Plan for Marine Turtle Conservation in Vietnam will help to ensure that the workshop and resulting strategies are effective. Chair and Organizer Ministry of Fisheries Co-organizer IUCN – The World Conservation Union Location Horizon Hotel, 40 Cat Linh, Hanoi

Participants: Representatives from relevant departments of: - Ministry of Fisheries and Research Institutes - Ministry of Science Technology and Environment - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development - Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Danish International Development Agency (Danida) - Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) - Other interested national and international organisation working in Vietnam such as CRES,

IEBR ECO-ECO, WWF Indochina, TRAFFIC, IMA - Case study from Ninh Thuan Province and Con Dao National Park Table 1. Round table agenda.

Time Speaker Theme 8.00 – 8.30 Tea/Coffee and registration 8.30– 8.45 Dr. Nguyen Viet Thang, Vice

minister - Ministry of Fishery Opening Remark

8.45 – 9.00 Dr. Vu Van Trieu, Deputy Director

International Cooperation Department, MOFI

Agenda and Objectives of the Meeting

9.00 – 9.30 Prof. Dr. Pham Thuoc RIMP

Overview of the Marine Turtle and marine turtle conservation status in Vietnam;

Overview of IOSEA MoU - commitments and responsibilities and the result of the

Training Workshop on July 2001 9.30 – 9.45 Mr. Nguyen Minh Thong,

Country Representative, IUCN, Vietnam

Need an National Action Plan for Marine Turtle Conservation

9.45. – 10.00 Tea/Coffee Break 10.00 – 10.15 Julie Thomson

Indochina Programme Representative

The role of FPD in protecting the nesting beach for marine turtle and CITES

10.15 – 10.45 Dr. Nicholas Pilcher Institute of Biodiversity and

Environmental Conservation, University Malaysia Sarawak

(to be confirmed)

Regional policy/legislative approaches to marine conservation and management;

Marine Turtle Conservation Management Plan

10.45 – 11.00 Mr. Nguyen Van Chau Director

Fisheries Resources Protection Department, MoFi

Ordinance on the conservation and management of marine resources, relating to

marine turtle

11.00 – 11.15 Mr. Le Xuan Ai Director, Con Dao National

Park

Case study1 : Marine Turtle Conservation in Con Dao

11.15 –11.30 Mr. Tran Phong Director of DoSTE Ninh Thuan

Case study 2: Marine Turtle Conservation in Ninh Thuan

Community base management 11.30 – 12..20 Discussion 12.20 – 12.30 Close meeting Dr. Vu Van Trieu ICD/MOFI

Facilitators: Bui Thi Thu Hien (IUCN Vietnam), Ms. Dinh Thi Thanh Huyen (ICD/MOFI)

T. M. Nguyen: The need for a National Action Plan


THE NEED FOR A NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT IN VIETNAM

Nguyen Minh Thong

Country Representative, IUCN Vietnam, Hanoi, Vietnam Vietnam, a State Member of IUCN, ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in November 1994. This shows strong interest and commitment of Vietnam to the cause of environmental protection and nature conservation. A training workshop on the biology and conservation of marine turtles was held in Vung Tau city and on the Con Dao islands National Park in southern Vietnam between July 23 and 28, 2001. The workshop was organised by Vietnam Ministry of Fisheries, The World Conservation Union - IUCN Vietnam, the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and University Malaysia Sarawak. Funding support for the workshop was provided through the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), the Ocean Conservancy (OC), the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the United States of America. A significant event was also organised during the workshop - the official signing by the Vietnamese Government of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South East Asia (IOSEA MOU). Vietnam became the ninth signatory to the MoU, and the signing of this important international instrument further strengthens Vietnam’s commitment to a broader regional approach to marine turtle conservation. Marine turtles are severely threatened. Globally the numbers of turtles are decreasing. This is causing great concern worldwide. Five species of marine turtle are believed to inhabit Vietnam these are the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), green turtle (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), and olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). The recently published 2000 IUCN Red list of Threatened animals classified four of these species as endangered, with hawksbill turtle listed as critically endangered at the global level. However, there is no specific study on marine turtle has been carried out and also no statistic on their population is available. Therefore a National Action Plan for Marine Turtle Conservation and Management is need to be developed in Vietnam. Thus, the aim of this paper is to consider the Need for a National Action Plan for Marine turtle Conservation and Management in Vietnam. The need for a National Action Plan for Marine Turtle Conservation and Management

In Vietnam, the responsibility for marine turtle conservation and research is broadly allocated among four government agencies. The agencies and their principle duties are: 1. MOSTE / National Environment Agency (NEA): responsible for developing environmental

policy, including the National Biodiversity Action Plan and Vietnam’s participation in the Convention on Biodiversity Conservation (CBD);

2. MoFi and its relevant departments and institutions responsible for marine species research and management, fisheries, marine protected areas;

3. MARD/Forest Protection Department (FPD): responsible for managing the National Terrestrial Protected Area system that includes several turtle rookeries, implementing and enforcing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and domestic wildlife laws; and


Despite the number of agencies in Vietnam whose responsibilities include marine turtles, and the decline of these species at regional and global levels, very little is actually known about their status in this country. There is little biological information available and what there is, has been obtained from one nesting site in Con Dao National Park. Moreover, trade surveys have only been undertaken for the Hawksbill turtle and its products. Unlike the progress that has been obtained for terrestrial conservation, establishing priorities for marine conservation in Vietnam has lagged far behind. In order to achieve progress in Vietnam’s marine turtle conservation, it is necessary to make comprehensive and harmonious efforts at the national level. The a development of appropriated National Action Plan for marine turtle conservation must be based on experiences, resources, co-operation and support of all participants and authorities relevant to the marine turtle conservation. It is also necessary to create a partnership between the relevant sectoral agencies and institutions. A Steering Committee should be established with representatives of key national government agencies. The role of this Steering Committee is to ensure co-ordination at the national level. This Action Plan will include an assessment of the current conservation status of marine turtles in Vietnam, important habitat, threats to species, and opportunities for remedial action. The Action Plan will identify priority conservation actions, including projects suitable for funding by the Government and the international community. Developing a National Action Plan will involve all stakeholders from the policy maker to the community level. A legal framework should be developed as first step and should be implemented at grass root level. Together with MOFI, IUCN Vietnam with WWF Indochina, and TRAFIC Southeast Asia Indochina developed a project proposal on Marine Turtle Conservation and Management in Vietnam. Danida is interested to support funding for the project with purpose to contribute to the conservation of marine turtles and their habitats in Vietnam through:

• Developing the technical and policy capacity of MoFi and MARD, including provincial

authorities, in order that they can implement the provisions under the Memorandum of Understanding of IOSEA and the Memorandum of Understanding on ASEAN Sea Turtle Conservation and Protection in Vietnam.

• Conducting baseline studies on marine turtles and their habitats over two complete nesting seasons to identify site fidelity, migrations, nesting volume fluctuations and important developmental habitats;

• Undertaking marine turtle trade surveys in Vietnam which will include assessing the means and rates of turtle harvests, consumption patterns and domestic and international trade flows;

• Developing a National Action Plan for marine turtles, identifying population status and threats and proposing recommendations for their protection as well as their habitats;

• Strengthening enforcement capacity of CITES and awareness of the IOSEA / ASEAN MoU amongst relevant government agencies;

• Promoting national support for accession by Vietnam to the Bonn Convention on Migratory Species; and,

• Improving awareness amongst the general public and relevant stakeholders on marine turtle conservation

N. Pilcher: Regional policies and approaches


REGIONAL POLICIES / APPROACHES TO MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

1Nicolas J. Pilcher

Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia

1Present Address: Community Conservation Network, P.O. Box 1017, Koror, Republic of Palau, PW 96940 Email: [email protected]

Introduction Five species of marine turtles are known to occur within Vietnamese waters. These include the Green turtle Chelonia mydas; the Hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata; the Loggerhead Caretta caretta; the Olive Ridley Lepidochelys olivacea; and the Leatherback Dermochelys coriacea. The recently published 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies four of these species as endangered, while the Hawksbill turtle is listed as critically endangered at a global level. Vietnam has initiated, over the last five years, the development of a strategic action plan to address sea turtle conservation. As part of these efforts, Vietnamese officials have participated in regional training workshops organised by the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) in 1999, international and regional symposia on marine turtles in 1999 and 2000, and hosted the first training workshop on turtle biology and conservation, held in Vung Tao and Con Dao National Park in July 2001. As a natural extension of these efforts a round-table discussion session was coordinated by the IUCN Vietnam office to address strategic aims of a National Action Plan. Within Vietnam, the responsibility for marine turtle conservation and research is broadly allocated amongst four government agencies. The agencies and their principle duties are:

1. MOSTE / National Environment Agency (NEA): responsible for developing environmental policy, including the National Biodiversity Action Plan and Vietnam’s participation in the Convention on Biodiversity Conservation (CBD);

2. MARD / Forest Protection Department (FPD): responsible for managing the National Terrestrial Protected Area system that includes several turtle rookeries, implementing and enforcing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and domestic wildlife enforcement;

3. MoFi / Research Institute for Marine Products: responsible for marine species research and management, fisheries, marine protected areas; and,


Despite the number of agencies whose responsibilities include marine turtles and the decline of these species at regional and global levels, very little is actually known about their status in Vietnam. There is little biological information available, and that which is concentrates on one nesting site within Con Dao National Park. Trade surveys have only been undertaken with regard to the Hawksbill turtle and its products (jewellery, stuffed carapaces, etc). Unlike what has occurred with terrestrial conservation efforts, establishing priorities for marine conservation in Vietnam has generally lagged far behind. An encouraging trend is that Vietnam is now (July 2001) a signatory to the Memorandum of Understanding on ASEAN Sea Turtle Conservation and Protection and the recently-concluded Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and

their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia (IOSEA), an agreement under Article IV, paragraph 4, of the Bonn Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). However, despite Vietnam’s importance as a range state for many migratory bird species and marine turtles, it is not yet a signatory to the broader umbrella Convention on Migratory Species. In light of the national and regional threats facing marine turtles and the lack of management for the species in Vietnam, the IUCN Marine Turtle Specialist Group (MTSG), the Secretariat of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), and IUCN offices in Asia, WWF Indochina, and TRAFFIC Southeast Asia - Vietnam are now cooperating in the development of a regional marine turtle conservation program. This process includes raising national awareness about the regional work of the CMS Secretariat on migratory water-birds and turtles and encouraging Vietnam to become a party to the convention - ratification of which would provide a clear basis for international cooperation in the management of migratory species as well as a strengthening of domestic species and habitat management regimes. The following comments are laid out with express regard to the current forward momentum in Vietnam to develop and implement the Conservation Management Plan for marine turtles, which are currently threatened globally and are under particular threat in the Southeast Asian region. They aim to put into perspective the international conventions, and examples of agreements, which may be of benefit when developing Vietnam’s action plan while highlighting management constraints and results which may be faced by managers and government offices when addressing the current situation. It is hoped that the information contained within will assist in the development of management plans at a National and provincial level in Vietnam, with an eventual goal of integrating domestic strategies into regional and global conservation efforts. Existing multi-lateral agreements While the list below is not globally exhaustive, it does cover the primary international conventions applicable to Vietnam and the Southeast Asian region. Further details on the contents, objectives and limitations of each agreement can be obtained from the original documents lodged with the Department of Fisheries of Malaysia (Secretariat for the ASEAN MoU), the CMS Secretariat at the Bonn, Germany UNEP offices (Interim Secretariat for the IOSEA MoU), WWF Philippines of Sabah Parks Malaysia (for the TIHPA Agreement), and at <http://www.cites.org> or <http://ww.unesco.org>. • ASEAN Memorandum of Understanding – The ASEAN MoU was signed by the

Governments of Negara Brunei Darussalam, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. It recognises the significance of sea turtle populations and their habitats in ASEAN waters, and also that sea turtles are migratory species and that the waters of ASEAN countries form a contiguous area of waters without any interval. Noting this, and realising that effective conservation efforts cannot be independently realized at a national level and that multilateral efforts are necessary to ensure the long-term survival of sea turtles in the ASEAN region, these countries resolved to promote the protection, conservation, replenishing and recovery of sea turtles and of the habitats based on the best available scientific evidence, taking into account the environmental, socio-economic and cultural characteristics of the Parties.

• TIHPA Malaysia-Philippines – The Philippine-Sabah Turtle Islands harbour one of the

world's major nesting grounds for green turtles (Chelonia mydas). The Philippine-Sabah Turtle Islands group is located in the Sulu Sea, at the southwestern tip of the Philippines, about 1,000 km southwest of Manila and some 40 km north of Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia. These nine islands (six in the Philippines and three in Malaysia) lie adjacent to the



international treaty limits that separate the two countries. In a historic bilateral agreement, the Governments of the Philippines and Malaysia established the Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA), the first and only trans-frontier protected area for marine turtles in the world. Management of the TIHPA is shared by both countries, making possible the conservation of habitats and sea turtles over a large area independent of their territorial boundaries. This is an unprecedented initiative by both implementing agencies of the TIHPA - the Pawikan Conservation Project under the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Sabah Parks of Malaysia. The following priority activities were identified to achieve the goal of the TIHPA: management-oriented research, the establishment of a centralized database and information network, appropriate information awareness programs, a marine turtle resource management and protection program, and an appropriate ecotourism program.

• IOSEA Memorandum of Understanding – The Memorandum of Understanding on the

Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia took effect on 1 September 2001, following the conclusion, in Manila in June 2001, of a comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. The Memorandum has now been signed by the following States: Australia, Comoros, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kenya, Mauritius, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, United Republic of Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States of America, and Vietnam.

• Bonn Convention (CMS) – The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of

Wild Animals (also known as CMS or the Bonn Convention) aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout their range. It is one of a small number of intergovernmental treaties concerned with the conservation of wildlife and wildlife habitats on a global scale. Since the Convention's entry into force on 1 November 1983, its membership has grown steadily to include 80 (as of 1 September 2002) Parties from Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Parties to CMS work together to conserve migratory species and their habitats by providing strict protection for the endangered migratory species listed in Appendix I of the Convention; by concluding multilateral Agreements for the conservation and management of migratory species listed in Appendix II; and by undertaking co-operative research activities. Appendix II lists migratory species that require or would benefit significantly from international co-operative Agreements under CMS. These may range from legally-binding treaties to less formal memoranda of understanding. The more formal Agreements should provide for co-ordinated species conservation and management plans; conservation and restoration of habitat; control of factors impeding migration; co-operative research and monitoring; and public education and exchange of information among Parties.

• CITES – The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and

Flora is an international agreement between Governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Because the trade in wild animals and plants crosses borders between countries, the effort to regulate it requires international cooperation to safeguard certain species from over-exploitation. CITES was conceived in the spirit of such cooperation. Today, it accords varying degrees of protection to more than 30,000 species of animals and plants, whether they are traded as live specimens, fur coats or dried herbs. CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of IUCN (The World Conservation Union). The text of the Convention was finally agreed at a meeting of representatives of 80 countries in Washington DC., United States of America, on 3 March 1973, and on 1 July 1975 CITES entered in force. CITES is an international agreement to which States (countries) adhere voluntarily. States that have agreed to be bound by the Convention ('joined' CITES) are known as Parties. Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties - in other words they have to implement the Convention - it does not take the place of national

laws. Rather it provides a framework to be respected by each Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to make sure that CITES is implemented at the national level.

• UNCLOS – The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides, for the

first time, a universal legal framework for the rational management of marine resources and their conservation for future generations. Rarely has such radical change been achieved peacefully, by consensus of the world community. It has thus been hailed as the most important international achievement since the approval of the United Nations Charter in 1945. Attempts have been made through the years to regulate the use of the oceans in a single convention that is acceptable to all nations. This effort finally culminated with the adoption of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which has gained nearly universal acceptance since its entry into force on 16 November 1994. While many institutions, some created by the Convention and others part of the United Nations system are responsible for governing areas on specific aspects of the ocean under their jurisdiction, the Convention itself remains the central instrument for promoting stability and peaceful uses of the seas and oceans. It is not, however, a static instrument, but rather a dynamic and evolving body of law that must be vigorously safeguarded and its implementation aggressively advanced.

Existing legislation A major obstacle in the legislative processes throughout the region prior to 1982, and in several cases still today, has been the improper listing or complete omission of marine turtles from wildlife ordinances and other legislative instruments. In many cases marine turtles were considered under Fisheries regulations, in which the basic premise was exploitation rather than conservation. Only in the last decade have major advances been made toward rectifying these deficiencies, and marine turtles are now, for the most part, listed by name and often as unique groups of individuals. The following summaries are provided to demonstrate the variability, inconsistency and diversity of legislation in some countries in Southeast Asia, with a view to assisting the Vietnamese authorities in drafting new, comprehensive and effective legislation that would allow for the sustainable use of turtles at a National level. • Indonesia - Turtles were protected under Act No. 4-1982 (Basic Provision for the

Management of Living Resources), but were not specifically mentioned by species name. Caretta caretta and Lepidochelys olivacea were protected under SK Mentan No. 716/Kpts/Um/10/1980, while Dermochelys coriacea was protected under SK Mentan No. 327/Kpts/Um/5/1978 and SK Menhut No. 301/Kpts-II/1991. Act No. 9-1985 (Fishery) and Act No. 5-1990 (Conservation of Ecosystems) indirectly addressed sea turtles, and all turtle species were recently protected by the more encompassing Peraturan Pemerintah Republik Indonesia No. 7 & 8 (1999), concerning the Protection of Plant and Animal Species (under which all forms of turtle trade are prohibited) and the Conservation of Natural Resources and their Ecosystems.

• Malaysia – In Malaysia marine turtles are under the jurisdiction of the varying States, and

only superficially addressed by National legislation. There are the Fisheries Act 1963, Fisheries Rule (1978-Kelantan), Fisheries Rule (1978-Pahang); Turtle Enactment (1951-Terengganu), Turtle Enactment (1972-Kedah); Turtles’ Rule (1975-Kedah); Fisheries Rules (1976-Negri Sembilan); Fauna Conservation Ordinance (1983-Sabah); Turtle Trust Ordinance (1957-Sarawak), to name some of the instruments that address turtles directly. At present the Department of Fisheries is considering a review and consolidation of legislation to bring turtles under more balanced conservation efforts nationwide.

• Vietnam – In Vietnam there is only the Ordinance on the Conservation and Management of

Marine Resources (1989) that addresses marine turtles indirectly. Vietnam acceded to the CITES Convention in 1994, and signed the IOSEA MoU on Marine Turtle conservation in



2001. These two international instruments should serve to control international trade in marine turtles, while the latter also addresses and provides direction for the domestic actions needed for conservation and sustainable use.

Conservation strategies in Vietnam In addressing the future of conservation of marine turtles in Vietnam, it is first imperative to ask the question “What is the major priority?”. The commitment has already been made at the highest governmental level to address the issue of marine turtle conservation through its signing of the IOSEA MoU, and research and site-specific conservation activities have been taking place for several years (e.g. WWF’s Con Dao National Park project). What is required now is immediate concerted activity to develop and implement a coordinated action plan. Why is time so crucial? The need for immediate action to address the decline of turtles in Vietnam, and even regionally, is based on several factors which are peculiar to marine turtle life-cycles. It is not so much that the turtle’s life time-scale has changed, but rather that today we understand much more about the turtle’s biology and are in a better position to influence conservation activities, and mitigate the deleterious consequences of over-harvesting and commerce. For example, what was originally thought to be a one- or two-year pelagic phase is now know to be closer to ten years. Whereas people once thought turtles came back to nest each year, it is now known that they only return every three or four years. And while it was once thought that turtles matured in five or six years, we now know that this period is closer to thirty years. Our understanding of these time lags presents us with unique management challenges: Simple fishery-style closures or seasons are ineffective for turtles, as turtles take such a long time to mature. Coupled with this are changes in demographic pressures, and today the pressures on turtle populations far exceed their capacity to maintain, let alone replenish, natural populations. For instance, the pressures of a small, localised village two hundred years back were probably in the order of one or two turtles each month, as the meat could be shared among family and villagers, and traditional boats and fishing gear limited captures to a single adult turtle per outing. Today this is no longer the case. Today village fishermen have large boats with outboard motors, can range further and hunt a greater number of turtles. They have access to more extensive markets through a developed road network, and can keep their product fresh longer through modern refrigeration. Harvesting no longer at a subsistence level, it is now a commercial venture, satisfying the demands for meat and an ever-expanding curio trade, and has shifted from a trading-based economy to a cash-based economy. Finally, population replenishment rates are so much slower than might be perceived by the general public, and turtles cannot maintain or increase population size except through long periods of recovery, possibly in the range of hundreds of years. That is, a population that has been nearly entirely wiped out might take so long to recover that human populations might pass through five or six generations, by which time few, if any, of the conservation concerns might be addressed or understood. This concept might be better explained though the use of Figure 1. In this schematic, the re-stocking of a human population is demonstrated in a simplistic form: Two small children could grow and reproduce within a twenty-year period. Another twenty years after, their offspring could have grown and had children of their own. Another twenty years later, the process could be repeated, and so on over many years. After a normal human life-span the original two members would be lost, but the population could, in the absence of external pressures, continue to grow. The situation for turtles, however, differs substantially: After twenty years two small turtles would still be juveniles, and not yet able to reproduce. It would not be for another twenty years that they could bring forth the next generation, and even twenty years later, this generation would still not be capable of reproducing. Overall, again in the absence of external pressures, and even with a longer life-span than humans, the growth of the turtle population is significantly slower than for humans.

2020 2040 2060 2080 2100 21201960 1980 2000

80-year lifespanHuman

100-year lifespanTurtle

Natural mortality loss

Natural mortality loss

Fig. 1: Schematic diagram of population expansion in human and turtle time frames (see text for details). What are the main problems? Turtles face a multitude of threats worldwide. They are highly migratory, and require suitable developmental habitats throughout their range and at each stage of their life cycle. Nesting turtles require clean beaches free from human encroachment, foraging turtles require healthy coral reefs, seagrass beds and even the deep sea, and hatchlings and juveniles require unpolluted open oceans free from debris and fishery pressures. Being migratory, with no regard to political boundaries, turtles are a shared resource among coastal nations, within small confined seas and across vast ocean expanses. Marine turtles provide meat, oils, shells for curio making, and eggs and some body parts are considered potent aphrodisiacs (although this is completely false and unproven). Although protected by law in every ASEAN country, certain loopholes allow a level of exploitation far in excess of that which can be supported by the turtles. A major threat to regional turtle populations is the near-complete depletion of localised populations in Southeast Asia. Turtles have been harvested for centuries, both as adults and their eggs, and this has resulted in the collapse of valuable breeding populations. In Terengganu, Malaysia, the eggs of the Leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea have been systematically harvested for hundreds of years, and today the nesting population has crashed, from over 500 nests per year to an average of only ten per year recently. Today the eggs are completely protected, but given the large number of years during which nearly every egg was collected, it is doubtful the population will recover, and certainly not anytime soon. In Cambodia turtle populations have decreased from several thousand nesting individuals per year to nearly zero in 1998. In many instances villagers do not understand the natural biology of the turtles and do not perceive their actions as being of long-lasting effect. In several cases, where a village community collected all eggs each season, villagers have exclaimed “Taking eggs is not a problem, there will be more turtles next year…” and sure enough, turtles did return. The only problem was that these were different turtles. And the village went out and collected all the eggs, again noting “it is not a problem, there will be more turtles next year…”. Again the following year more turtles returned, and again all eggs were collected. There is only a limited period over which any population could sustain this impact, and the case in Sarawak well illustrates this point (Fig. 2). In this example, eggs were harvested by the millions for over thirty years, and the decline after this period is clearly apparent.



Chelonia mydas IN MALAYSIA

SARAWAK

Annual egg harvest as a population index.

1925 1935 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995

YEAR

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5EGGS COLLECTED (millions)

Fig. 2: The long term collection of eggs in Sarawak, Malaysia, and the subsequent collapse of the population.

The thorough harvest of eggs means that no hatchlings reach the sea, such as occurs in many parts of the region. Adults might continue to nest, and do so for several decades, but with no recruitment of young to their breeding populations, the population is doomed. Once those adults are removed by hunting, or by natural causes, the population will be erased forever.

Turtles also constitute a large portion of by-catch in the ever-growing trawl fisheries of the region. Trawling fleets in Southeast Asia have been growing over the last three decades, with a concomitant rise in the numbers turtles that are caught as by-catch. While excluder devices exist, their implementation is one of the issues currently at the center of international dialog and which is viewed as a crucial factor in turtle conservation. The accidental drowning of sea turtles in fishing nets pulled by shrimp trawl vessels contributes significantly to the endangerment of sea turtles. Fortunately for the sea turtles, fishing gear experts have developed a relatively simple, inexpensive piece of equipment called the turtle excluder device or TED that can reduce the drowning of sea turtles in shrimp trawl nets dramatically. A TED is a metal or mesh grid that can be placed in a shrimp net. As the net moves forward in the water, small objects (such as shrimp) pass through the bars of the TED into the closed end of the net. Large objects (such as sea turtles) bump up against the bars of the TED and are directed out of a ‘trap door’ in the net. If TEDs are properly installed and used, they will allow at least 97 percent of sea turtles to escape, with minimal loss of shrimp. The reason this has become an issue results from an attempt by the United States to require all countries exporting shrimp to the U.S. to use TEDs on their trawlers, a requirement many developing countries took reservation to, citing illegal implementation of World Trade Organisation (WTO) trade restrictions. This issue has led to international lawsuits, and the continued drowning of turtles in shrimp nets while awaiting a final verdict. Only time will tell if the resolution has been to the satisfaction of all parties involved, particularly those whose lives are threatened, namely the turtles. Another of the historical threats that still affects turtles to a great degree is the collection of (mostly) juvenile turtles for the curio trade, and the continued collection of turtles in this manner results in a decrease in nesting activity (see Fig. 3).

NO MORE

TURTLES

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 20101930 1940 1950

Fig. 3: In a hypothetical situation, if all turtles (or their eggs) were to be collected for many years, it would take a lag of some 30 years before the lack of nesting turtles returning to the beaches was apparent.

Finally, turtles are not only collected for food, but also for ceremonial purposes. Each year over 5000, and possibly as many as 10,000 green turtles are slaughtered on the Indonesian island of Bali, Indonesia. During May to September, boats dock in a small fishing port in Bali, with their holds crammed with turtles whose front flippers are bound together, and many of these die. They are ferried ashore strung on poles, dangling from their flippers to trucks and driven to warehouses to await being butchered. They are then dumped into compounds until they are slaughtered. For religious and cultural reasons the Balinese are allowed to butcher 3,000 to 5,000 turtles a year. Green turtles have been used for food in Bali for a long time, and they used to be served at feasts or temple ceremonies as a delicacy. In Bali and surrounding waters the green turtle is almost extinct, and most of the turtles landed at Benoa now come from further afield. Many adult green turtles discovered while nesting on an Indonesian beach are also taken into captivity to be sold. Middlemen’s boats are big enough to collect as many as three hundred turtles on a trip, which can extend out to Aru, Southeast Sulawesi, East Kalimantan, Irian Jaya, Madura, Timor and Flores. Additionally, recent scientific efforts have determined that turtles sold in Bali may also originate in Australia, the Philippines and Malaysia. About 25 per cent of the turtles arriving are male indicating that turtles are also caught with nets, because only females come ashore for nesting. The meat is turned into 'satay', little meat skewers, or turtle soup. Even the carapace is eaten, after boiling it in water. In response to the outcry raised by environmentalists, the Bali provincial government issued a bylaw in the 1990s that set the legal maximum number of turtles that could be captured per year at 5,000. The bylaw also stated that turtles were only to be captured for use in religious and cultural ceremonies. Notes on the development of a national management project First and foremost, for a project to be effective and have a realistic chance of succeeding in future years, there are some basic requirements which include having realistic outputs, measurable deliverables, long-term objectives, have the right people to do the job, be cooperative and sharing, and finally be acceptable to the general public. The objective of this following section is to outline some of the questions that managers might want to pose themselves when addressing the complex task of developing a national conservation strategy. While the answers can only be produced through local inquiry and a deliberative process, suggestions on some of the key issues at hand are provided for clarification. Realistic outputs One must ask “Can we really conclude this project?”; ”Will we be able to use the results?”; “Will they be long-lasting?” to determine if the outputs sought by the project are realistic. While lofty goals are important, one must not lose sight of the need to make progress and achieve reasonable milestones in order to determine if the process is working adequately, or if the management strategy needs adjusting. While setting goals it is important to attempt to bring back turtles to pre-modern era pressures population sizes, proactively conserve the habitats they



need for reproduction and development, and develop and awareness and concern among the people who make their living off turtles and their products, so that they themselves are part of the recovery process. Measurable deliverables This is probably the most important consideration in today’s era of new ocean stewardship. This process is one of assuming responsibility, of acting to conserve marine resources and be accountable for their losses at a global level. It will not be long before nations regard ocean usage in the same light at the Kyoto Convention on emissions, whereby each has quotas they must adhere to. The objective of having measurable deliverables that correspond with the original objectives is so that managers can determine if their efforts are succeeding. With a goal which reads “Improve turtle conservation” it will be hard to determine if one has reached the goal, whereas a goal which reads “Designate the 14 main beaches of Con Dao National Park as key Protected Areas” or “Maintain nesting populations of at least 2000 turtles annually on Con Dao islands” are goals which can be measured. That is, a manager can easily determine if they have been met or not. Other examples include “A reduction of by-catch by 70% within 5 years” or “A phase-put of domestic curio trade in three years”, or “Stabilisation or increase in population within 10 years”. Long-term objectives One must consider the time-scale upon which turtle populations replenish. It is of little use having a two-year conservation project that protects nesting turtles and eggs, if poachers are allowed to continue taking eggs and adults after the project is over. Due to the long-lived nature of marine turtles, conservation strategies need also to be long lived. Similarly, normal, fishery-style management interventions are not applicable to sea turtles, as their maturation period far exceeds normal fishery seasons. Typically fishery regulations allow for a particular fish species to reproduce before being harvested, and closed seasons allow the final stages of growth and maturation, reproduction, and dispersal of juveniles. Only then is the fishery opened to commercial harvests. With turtles, which need a thirty-year maturation period, it is of little use having a closed season, say January to July, if they can continue to be caught August through December. The right people This issue deals with the who, rather than the how, or the why. It is important to consider who will run the project in 15 years, or even five years from now, as it is probable many of today’s legislators and managers will be long gone. It is always preferable to set up a dedicated position, rather than to allow something to become a particular staff member’s responsibility, to coordinate conservation efforts, as this position can be filled whenever there is a staff turnover, maintaining the integrity of the process. Cooperation and sharing Marine turtle conservation transcends many political boundaries, be they at a domestic level or international. At the international level, turtles migrate across borders with little regard to visas and residence permits. Foraging turtles of one nation are nesting turtles of another, and conservation strategies, to be effective, need to deal with each of these two cases, and in additional need to deal with the migratory component of the life cycle, and the waters the turtles use to go from one to the other. Examples of bilateral policies already exist in the region, the Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA) between the Philippines and Malaysia being a good example. In Vietnam it might be worthwhile pursuing the potential for establishing a trans-boundary conservation zone between southern Vietnam and Cambodia, extending into the northern waters of Thailand. Sufficient data exists to link these three areas biologically, and now all that remains is for the countries to collaborate and share information to make a designated protected zone come true.

At a national level, there is a need to incorporate existing scientific, technical and traditional knowledge into management plans. When local communities are involved and share their cultural knowledge, there are often opportunities to merge modern conservation strategies with age-old traditions. Contemporary scientific information is a second link in the process, as without it many of today’s threats could not be addressed, and much of our knowledge of the lifecycles of turtles would not exist. Can traditional management practices succeed in today’s environmental climate without the input of modern science? Probably not. There needs to be a dramatic shift away from solely traditional methods in favour of a combination of science and tradition. Many modern threats never existed in the days when what are now referred to as ‘traditional community conservation methods’ were applicable. In the last thirty years the global population has increased threefold. From two to six billion people. Nearly 60% of the population in South and Southeast Asia lives near the coast. Mere numbers and lifestyle patterns suggest this has caused a tremendous increase in pressure on the environment, particularly our seas. Few if any traditional leaders in the last two hundred years ever experienced a fourfold increase in the numbers of people in their villages in thirty years (or their leadership period) and the resulting increase in demand for natural resources. The industrial revolution of over the last 200 years similarly has brought the planet to a state of resource-utilisation far beyond anything that could have been envisaged by traditional rulers of days past. Mankind creates hundreds of new chemicals each month, and many of these find their way into the oceans. Supertankers carry bulk crude oil around the globe, and hundreds of ships each day traverse delicate marine ecosystems. Fishing fleets fish down the food chain in a never-ending quest to meet developed and developing country markets and needs. The third link in this process is the input of technical knowledge that enables us to tackle many modern era threats, such as using TEDs to counter by-catch in trawl fisheries, or satellite transmitters that enable us to track turtle migrations. It is the combination of these three valuable sources of information that will ensure a management regime that is at once accepted by all stakeholders, and efficient and with a realistic chance of being implemented. Acceptance by the general public As a last measure, any potential national management plan has to have the acceptance of the general public. Much of the current legal infrastructure in Vietnam was arrived at without the participation of the general public, and this translates into problematic compliance and nearly impossible enforcement. A case in point was the signing of the IOSEA MoU in July 2001. While the objectives behind signing the MoU were entirely honourable, it is doubtful that people living in Ninh Thuan, Khanh Hoa and Phu Quy, for example, were involved in the decision, or are even aware that the country has an international commitment to preserve marine turtle populations. While each government has its own way of developing and implementing legislature, experience has shown that at least some measure of public acceptance is a pre-requisite for long-term conservation efforts to be effective. This acceptance can be gained through discussions at public fora, through meetings at the provincial level and down to the community level, raising awareness and benefits to the people of the need to preserve marine turtles and the ways in which conservation efforts will impact their lives and livelihoods. It is hoped that these comments will help the Government of Vietnam in developing a plan to protect marine turtles in its waters and on its beaches, and to learn from the problems that continue to plague the region. The best way to conserve marine turtles in Vietnam will be by developing a programme that addresses marine turtle conservation and its impact on human populations. A potential goal would be a five-year programme funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to test and implement TEDS in all trawl fisheries, to develop and conduct training and awareness projects in remote regions, to curb egg collection and to curtail the turtle industry, and to ensure that the best indigenous, scientific and technical knowledge is used in the country’s management plans (particularly in hatcheries). Finally, it is time for the people of the Vietnam to understand that turtles are an important component of marine ecosystems, that they offer benefits far beyond the tangible, and that their



conservation is a public process, not that of a handful of dedicated individuals. For this there is a need for a widespread awareness campaign, coupled with programmes which provide alternative livelihoods to those affected by conservation activities, supported by quality research and monitoring of turtle populations.

ASEAN MoU

207

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON ASEAN SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION

Preamble The Government of Negara Brunei Darussalam, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, the Government of Lao People's Democratic Republic, the Government of Malaysia, the Government of the Union of Myanmar, the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, the Government of the Republic of Singapore, the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (hereinafter referred to as the "Parties" and individually as the "Party"). Recognizing the significance of the sea turtle populations and their habitats in ASEAN waters: Recognizing also that sea turtles are migratory species and the waters of ASEAN countries form a contiguous area of waters without any interval. Realizing that effective conservation efforts cannot be independently realized at a national level and that multilateral efforts are necessary to ensure the long-term survival of sea turtles in the ASEAN region; Desiring to jointly manage, protect and conserve all species (if sea turtle and their habitats in the ASEAN region through a unified approach in the formulation and attainment of the management, conservation and protection strategies. Have agreed as follows:

Article I

Definitions

For the purposes of this Memorandum of Understanding (hereinafter referred to as "MOU):

1. "Sea turtle" means any of the species as follows: Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) Olive/Pacific Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) Flatback Turtle (Natator depressa)

2. "Sea turtle habitats" mean all those aquatic and terrestrial environments where sea turtles

live at any stage of their life cycles,

3. "Parties" means ASEAN countries which have consented to be bound by this MOU and in which this MOU is in force.

Article II

Objectives The objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding on ASEAN Sea Turtle Conservation and Protection are to promote the protection, conservation, replenishing and recovery of sea turtles and of the habitats based on the best available scientific evidence, taking into account the environmental, socio-economic and cultural characteristics of the Parties.

Article III

Areas of Application The areas of application of this MOU shall include the land territories and the maritime areas over which the Parties exercise sovereignty, sovereign rights or jurisdiction in accordance with international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, concluded at the Montego Bay, Jamaica on 10th December 1982 and came into force on 16th November 1994.

Article IV

Proposed Mechanism 1. This MOU shall recognise that all matters or issues concerning sea turtles conservation and protection shall be subjected to the existing national laws and regulations of each Party. 2. When necessary, Parties to this MOU would consider harmonizing their existing national laws and regulations, and enact new laws on sea turtle conservation and protection to suit with current situations.

Article V

Co-ordinator and Technical Expert Working Group 1. A Co-ordinator shall be designated to coordinate and implement the proposed mechanism in Article IV when this MOU enters into force and report directly to the ASEAN Fisheries Working Group. 2. Considering its long-term experiences and strong efforts on sea turtle conservation, Malaysia shall be designated as the Co-ordinator under this MOU. 3. Each Party shall designate expert(s) to form the Technical Expert Working Group to prepare an ASEAN program and work plan on sea turtle conservation and protection for the endorsement of the ASEAN Fisheries Working Group and the approval of the Senior Officials Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (SOM-AMAF). 4. ASEAN member countries, recognizing the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) as the competent technical regional organisation on marine issues in the ASEAN region, shall seek close co-operation and collaboration with SEAFDEC in undertaking its sea turtle conservation and protection program.

ASEAN MoU

209

Article VI

Co-ordination and Linkages 1. Each Party shall designate an appropriate agency to co-ordinate with the Co-ordinator as specified in Article V. 2. The co-ordinations and linkages among the Parties under this MOU shall be done on a networking basis. 3. The Co-ordinator shall be responsible in organizing meeting of the Expert Technical Working Group as soon as this MOU enters into force.

Article VII

Final Provisions 1. This MOU shall enter into force on the date of signature. 2. This MOU shall be deposited wit the Secretary General of ASEAN. 3. Accession to this MOU shall take effect from the date on which the instrument of accession is deposited with the Secretary General of ASEAN. 4. Any Contracting Party may propose an amendment to the provision of this MOU. Such amendment shall only come into force after it has been accepted by all the other Contracting Parties. 5. A Contracting Party may at any time give formal notice of its intention to withdraw from this MOU and such withdrawal shall take affect one year from the date of the submission of the notification to the Secretary General of ASEAN. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned being duly authorized by their respective governments, have signed this MOU. Done at Bangkok on this Twelfth day of September in the year One Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety Seven in English language.

IOSEA MoU

211

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON THE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF MARINE TURTLES AND THEIR HABITATS

OF THE INDIAN OCEAN AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA

THE SIGNATORY STATES,

Aware that the populations of the six species of marine turtles of the Region are listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered on the IUCN - The World Conservation Union Red List of Threatened Species;

Noting that marine turtles have a priority for conservation action through their listing in the respective texts or appendices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, and the Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Eastern African Region and related protocols;

Recognising that the conservation of marine turtles and their habitats is specifically addressed in the Memorandum of Understanding on ASEAN Sea Turtle Conservation and Protection and the Memorandum of Agreement on the Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA);

Recognising that other international instruments, including the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), are relevant to the conservation of marine turtles and their habitats;

Aware that existing regional organisations, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Regional Organisation for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA), and the Regional Organisation for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) operate programmes relevant to the conservation of marine turtles and their habitats;

Recognising that marine turtles migrate and disperse over vast distances, which makes their survival dependent on their conservation over a wide area and in a wide range of marine and coastal habitats;

Acknowledging that human activities that may threaten marine turtle populations directly or indirectly include harvesting of eggs and turtles, inappropriate hatchery operations, destruction or modification of habitats, coastal development, pollution, fishing activities, mariculture and tourism;

Recognising the importance of integrating actions to conserve marine turtles and their habitats with activities related to the socio-economic development of the signatory States, including coastal development and maritime activities;

Acknowledging their shared responsibility for the conservation and management of marine turtle populations and their habitats;

Recognising the importance of involving all the States in the Region, as well as relevant inter-governmental, non-governmental and private sector organisations, in co-operative conservation and management of marine turtles and their habitats;

Noting the desirability of involving other States whose nationals or vessels conduct activities that may affect marine turtles of the Region, as well as States that may be in a position to contribute resources or expertise that may promote the implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding;

Recognising that concerted and coordinated action must be taken immediately to address the threats posed to marine turtle populations and their habitats;

Desiring to establish through this Memorandum of Understanding co-operative measures for the protection, conservation and management of marine turtles and their habitats throughout the Region;

AGREE to pursue the actions set forth in this Memorandum of Understanding, individually and collectively, to improve the conservation status of marine turtles and their habitats.

DEFINITIONS Marine turtles means any of the species listed below:

Species

Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta

Olive ridley turtle Lepidochelys olivacea

Green turtle Chelonia mydas

Hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata

Leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea

Flatback turtle Natator depressus

Habitats means all those aquatic and terrestrial environments which marine turtles use at any stage of their life cycles.

Region means all of the waters and coastal States of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia and adjacent seas, extending eastwards to the Torres Strait.

Conservation status of marine turtles means the sum of the influences acting on a marine turtle species that may affect its long-term distribution and abundance.

Conservation status will be taken as favourable when:

a) population dynamics data indicate that the marine turtle species is maintaining itself on a long-term basis as a viable component of its ecosystems;

b) the range of the marine turtle species is neither currently being reduced, nor is likely to be reduced, on a long-term basis;

c) there is, and will be in the foreseeable future, sufficient habitat to maintain the population of the marine turtle species on a long-term basis; and

d) the distribution and abundance of the marine turtle species approach historic coverage and levels to the extent that potentially suitable ecosystems exist and to the extent consistent with wise wildlife management.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this Memorandum of Understanding is to protect, conserve, replenish and recover marine turtles and their habitats, based on the best scientific evidence, taking into account the environmental, socio-economic and cultural characteristics of the signatory States.

IOSEA MoU

213

ACTIONS

To achieve the objective of the Memorandum of Understanding, in a spirit of mutual understanding and co-operation, the signatory States will:

Co-operate closely in order to achieve and maintain a favourable conservation status for marine turtles and the habitats on which they depend.

Implement, subject to availability of necessary resources, the provisions of the Conservation and Management Plan which shall be annexed to this Memorandum of Understanding. The Conservation and Management Plan shall address: marine turtle habitat protection; management of direct harvesting and trade; reduction of threats, including fisheries bycatch; research and education; information exchange; and capacity building.

As necessary, review, formulate, revise and harmonise national legislation relevant to the conservation of marine turtles and their habitats, and make every effort to effectively implement such legislation.

Consider ratifying or acceding to those international instruments most relevant to the conservation of marine turtles and their habitats in order to enhance the legal protection of these species in the Region.

Establish a Secretariat which will assist communication, encourage reporting and facilitate activities between and among signatory States, sub-regional institutions and other interested States and organisations. The Secretariat shall transmit to all of the signatory States and to each of the sub-regional institutions created pursuant to paragraphs 5 and 6 of the Basic Principles, all of the national reports it receives, prepare a periodic overview of progress in implementation of the Conservation and Management Plan, and perform such other functions as may be assigned by the signatory States. The Secretariat shall be based in the office of an appropriate national, regional or international organisation, as agreed by consensus of the signatory States at their first meeting, after consideration of all offers received.

Establish an Advisory Committee to provide scientific, technical and legal advice to the signatory States, individually and collectively, on the conservation and management of marine turtles and their habitats in the Region. The signatory States may nominate for membership on the Committee individuals with expertise in the fields of marine turtle biology, marine resource management, coastal development, socio-economics, law, fisheries technology, and other relevant disciplines. The size, composition and terms of appointment of the Advisory Committee shall be determined by the signatory States at their first meeting.

Designate a competent national Authority to serve as a focal point for communication between signatory States and activities under this Memorandum of Understanding, and communicate the complete contact details of this Authority (and any changes thereto) to the Secretariat.

Provide to the Secretariat a regular report on their implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding, the periodicity of which will be determined at the first meeting of the signatory States.

Assess at their first meeting, the extent of the need for and possibilities of obtaining financial resources, including the establishment of a special fund for purposes such as:

a) meeting the expenses required for the operation of the Secretariat, the Advisory Committee and activities carried out under this Memorandum of Understanding; and

b) assisting the signatory States to carry out their responsibilities under this Memorandum of Understanding.

BASIC PRINCIPLES

1. This Memorandum of Understanding shall be considered an agreement under Article IV, paragraph 4, of the CMS. It shall take effect on the first day of the third month following its signature by the second State. It shall remain open for signature indefinitely for subsequent States, and will come into effect for those States on the first day of the third month after their signature.

2. Each signatory State will implement, within the limits of its jurisdiction, the Memorandum of Understanding with respect to:

a) its land territory in the Region;

b) marine areas in the Region under its national jurisdiction; and

c) vessels operating in the Region under its flag.

3. Implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding, including the Conservation and Management Plan, shall be assessed at regular meetings to be attended by representatives of each of the signatory States and persons or organisations technically qualified in, or relevant to, the conservation of marine turtles. Such meetings shall be convened by the Secretariat and shall be hosted by, and organised in collaboration with, one of the signatory States. Such meetings should be held annually, at least initially. The periodicity of these meetings may be reviewed and revised by consensus of the signatory States at any of their regular meetings.

4. This Memorandum of Understanding, including the Conservation and Management Plan, may be amended by consensus of the signatory States. When appropriate, the signatory States will consider amending this Memorandum of Understanding to make it legally binding.

5. Signatory States may establish, by mutual agreement, bilateral, sub-regional or regional management plans that are consistent with this Memorandum of Understanding.

6. Actions under this Memorandum of Understanding will be coordinated with signatory States, as well as with sub-regional institutions in the Region.

7. The original text of this Memorandum of Understanding, in the Arabic, English and French languages shall be deposited with the UNEP/CMS Secretariat which shall be the Depositary. In the event of any discrepancies, the English version will be considered definitive.

8. Nothing in this Memorandum of Understanding shall preclude signatory States from implementing stronger national measures than those specified in the Conservation and Management Plan, in accordance with international law.

9. This Memorandum of Understanding shall remain in effect indefinitely, subject to the right of any signatory State to terminate its participation by providing one year's notice to the Depositary.

215

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mod

ifica

tions

to th

e ec

onom

ic in

cent

ives

in o

rder

to re

duce

thre

ats a

nd m

orta

lity,

and

dev

elop

pr

ogra

mm

es to

impl

emen

t the

mod

ifica

tions

c)

Id

entif

y re

sour

ces a

nd so

urce

s of f

undi

ng fo

r the

pro

gram

mes

1.

4

R

educ

e to

the

grea

test

ext

ent

prac

ticab

le th

e in

cide

ntal

cap

ture

an

d m

orta

lity

of m

arin

e tu

rtles

in

the

cour

se o

f fis

hing

act

iviti

es

a)

Dev

elop

and

use

gea

r, de

vice

s and

tech

niqu

es to

min

imis

e in

cide

ntal

cap

ture

of m

arin

e tu

rtles

in fi

sher

ies,

such

as d

evic

es th

at e

ffec

tivel

y al

low

the

esca

pe o

f mar

ine

turtl

es, a

nd sp

atia

l and

seas

onal

clo

sure

s b)

D

evel

op p

roce

dure

s and

trai

ning

pro

gram

mes

to p

rom

ote i

mpl

emen

tatio

n of

thes

e mea

sure

s, su

ch as

ves

sel

mon

itorin

g sy

stem

s and

insp

ectio

ns at

sea,

in p

ort a

nd at

land

ing

sites

, and

nat

iona

l on-

boar

d ob

serv

er p

rogr

amm

es

c)

Exch

ange

info

rmat

ion

and,

upo

n re

ques

t, pr

ovid

e te

chni

cal a

ssis

tanc

e to

oth

er si

gnat

ory

Stat

es to

pro

mot

e th

ese

activ

ities

a)

Li

aise

and

coo

rdin

ate

with

fish

erie

s ind

ustri

es a

nd fi

sher

ies m

anag

emen

t org

anis

atio

ns to

dev

elop

and

im

plem

ent i

ncid

enta

l cap

ture

miti

gatio

n m

echa

nism

s in

natio

nal w

ater

s and

on

the

high

seas

b)

Supp

ort t

he U

N G

ener

al A

ssem

bly

reso

lutio

n 46

/215

con

cern

ing

the

mor

ator

ium

on

the

use

of la

rge-

scal

e dr

iftne

ts o

n th

e hi

gh se

as

c)

Dev

elop

and

impl

emen

t net

rete

ntio

n an

d re

cycl

ing

sche

mes

to m

inim

ise th

e di

spos

al o

f fish

ing

gear

at s

ea a

nd o

n be

ache

s d)

Pr

ovid

e an

d en

sure

the

use

of p

ort f

acili

ties f

or th

e di

spos

al o

f shi

p-bo

rne

was

te

216

1.5

Proh

ibit

the

dire

ct h

arve

st

(cap

ture

or k

illin

g) o

f, an

d do

mes

tic tr

ade

in, m

arin

e tu

rtles

, th

eir e

ggs,

parts

or p

rodu

cts,

whi

lst a

llow

ing

exce

ptio

ns fo

r tra

ditio

nal h

arve

st b

y co

mm

uniti

es w

ithin

eac

h ju

risdi

ctio

n pr

ovid

ed th

at: s

uch

harv

est d

oes n

ot u

nder

min

e ef

forts

to p

rote

ct, c

onse

rve

and

reco

ver m

arin

e tu

rtle

popu

latio

ns

and

thei

r hab

itats

; and

the

mar

ine

turtl

e po

pula

tions

in q

uest

ion

are

able

to su

stai

n th

e ha

rves

t

a)

Enac

t, w

here

not

alre

ady

in p

lace

, leg

isla

tion

to p

rohi

bit d

irect

har

vest

and

dom

estic

trad

e

b)

Ass

ess t

he le

vel a

nd im

pact

of t

radi

tiona

l har

vest

on

mar

ine

turtl

es a

nd th

eir e

ggs

c)

Esta

blis

h m

anag

emen

t pro

gram

mes

that

may

incl

ude

limits

on

leve

ls o

f int

entio

nal h

arve

st

d)

Det

erm

ine

the

cultu

ral a

nd tr

aditi

onal

val

ues a

nd e

cono

mic

use

s of m

arin

e tu

rtles

(bot

h co

nsum

ptiv

e an

d no

n-co

nsum

ptiv

e)

e)

Neg

otia

te, w

here

app

ropr

iate

, man

agem

ent a

gree

men

ts o

n th

e su

stai

nabl

e le

vel o

f tra

ditio

nal h

arve

st, i

n co

nsul

tatio

n w

ith o

ther

con

cern

ed S

tate

s, to

ens

ure

that

such

har

vest

doe

s not

und

erm

ine

cons

erva

tion

effo

rts

1.6

Dev

elop

nes

ting

beac

h m

anag

emen

t pro

gram

mes

to

max

imiz

e ha

tchl

ing

recr

uitm

ent

a)

Eval

uate

the

effe

ctiv

enes

s of n

est a

nd b

each

man

agem

ent p

rogr

amm

es

b)

Red

uce

the

mor

talit

y of

egg

s and

hat

chlin

gs to

max

imis

e ha

tchl

ing

recr

uitm

ent a

nd su

rviv

al, p

refe

rabl

y us

ing

cons

erva

tion

tech

niqu

es th

at e

mph

asiz

e na

tura

l pro

cess

es w

here

ver p

ossi

ble

c)

M

inim

ise

the

mor

talit

y of

egg

s, ha

tchl

ings

and

nes

ting

fem

ale

turtl

es c

ause

d by

fera

l and

dom

estic

ani

mal

s

217

Obj

ectiv

e 2.

Pro

tect

, con

serv

e an

d re

habi

litat

e m

arin

e tu

rtle

hab

itats

Pr

ogra

mm

e A

ctiv

ity

2.1

Esta

blis

h ne

cess

ary

mea

sure

s to

prot

ect a

nd c

onse

rve

mar

ine

turtl

e ha

bita

ts

a)

Iden

tify

area

s of c

ritic

al h

abita

t suc

h as

mig

rato

ry c

orrid

ors,

nest

ing

beac

hes,

inte

r-ne

stin

g an

d fe

edin

g ar

eas

b)

Des

igna

te a

nd m

anag

e pr

otec

ted/

cons

erva

tion

area

s, sa

nctu

arie

s or t

empo

rary

exc

lusi

on z

ones

in a

reas

of c

ritic

al

habi

tat,

or ta

ke o

ther

mea

sure

s (e.

g. m

odifi

catio

n of

fish

ing

gear

, res

trict

ions

on

vess

el tr

affic

) to

rem

ove

thre

ats

to su

ch a

reas

c)

D

evel

op in

cent

ives

for a

dequ

ate

prot

ectio

n of

are

as o

f crit

ical

hab

itat o

utsi

de p

rote

cted

are

as

d)

Und

erta

ke a

sses

smen

ts o

f the

env

ironm

enta

l im

pact

of m

arin

e an

d co

asta

l dev

elop

men

t and

oth

er h

uman

ac

tiviti

es th

at m

ay a

ffec

t mar

ine

turtl

e po

pula

tions

and

thei

r hab

itats

e)

M

anag

e an

d re

gula

te w

ithin

eac

h ju

risdi

ctio

n th

e us

e of

bea

ches

and

coa

stal

dun

es, f

or e

xam

ple

loca

tion

and

desi

gn o

f bui

ldin

gs, u

se o

f arti

ficia

l lig

htin

g, a

nd tr

ansi

t of v

ehic

les i

n ne

stin

g ar

eas

f)

Mon

itor a

nd p

rom

ote

the

prot

ectio

n of

wat

er q

ualit

y fr

om la

nd-b

ased

and

mar

itim

e po

llutio

n, in

clud

ing

mar

ine

debr

is, t

hat m

ay a

dver

sely

aff

ect m

arin

e tu

rtles

g)

St

reng

then

the

appl

icat

ion

of e

xist

ing

bans

on

the

use

of p

oiso

nous

che

mic

als a

nd e

xplo

sive

s in

the

expl

oita

tion

of m

arin

e re

sour

ces

2.2

Reh

abili

tate

deg

rade

d m

arin

e tu

rtle

habi

tats

a)

Re-

vege

tate

, whe

re a

ppro

pria

te, f

ront

al d

unes

at n

estin

g be

ache

s, w

ith in

dige

nous

flor

a as

far a

s pos

sibl

e, in

or

der t

o pr

ovid

e vi

sual

bar

riers

to c

oast

al d

evel

opm

ent a

nd to

rest

ore

appr

opria

te b

each

tem

pera

ture

regi

mes

b)

R

emov

e de

bris

that

impe

des t

urtle

nes

ting

and

hatc

hlin

g pr

oduc

tion

c)

Enha

nce

reco

very

of d

egra

ded

cora

l ree

fs

d)

Enha

nce

reco

very

of d

egra

ded

man

grov

e an

d se

agra

ss h

abita

ts

218

Obj

ectiv

e 3.

Impr

ove

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

mar

ine

turt

le e

colo

gy a

nd p

opul

atio

ns th

roug

h re

sear

ch, m

onito

ring

and

info

rmat

ion

exch

ange

Pr

ogra

mm

e A

ctiv

ity

3.1

Con

duct

stud

ies o

n m

arin

e tu

rtles

an

d th

eir h

abita

ts ta

rget

ed to

thei

r co

nser

vatio

n an

d m

anag

emen

t

a)

Con

duct

bas

elin

e st

udie

s or g

athe

r sec

onda

ry in

form

atio

n on

mar

ine

turtl

e po

pula

tions

and

thei

r hab

itats

b)

In

itiat

e an

d/or

con

tinue

long

-term

mon

itorin

g of

prio

rity

mar

ine

turtl

e po

pula

tions

in o

rder

to a

sses

s co

nser

vatio

n st

atus

c)

C

hara

cter

ise

gene

tic id

entit

y of

mar

ine

turtl

e po

pula

tions

d)

Id

entif

y m

igra

tory

rout

es th

roug

h th

e us

e of

tagg

ing,

gen

etic

stud

ies a

nd/o

r sat

ellit

e tra

ckin

g e)

C

arry

out

stud

ies o

n m

arin

e tu

rtle

popu

latio

n dy

nam

ics a

nd su

rviv

al ra

tes

f)

Con

duct

rese

arch

on

the

freq

uenc

y an

d pa

thol

ogy

of d

isea

ses o

f mar

ine

turtl

es

g)

Prom

ote

the

use

of tr

aditi

onal

eco

logi

cal k

now

ledg

e in

rese

arch

stud

ies

h)

Rev

iew

per

iodi

cally

and

eva

luat

e re

sear

ch a

nd m

onito

ring

activ

ities

3.

2

Con

duct

col

labo

rativ

e re

sear

ch a

nd

mon

itorin

g

a)

Iden

tify

and

incl

ude

prio

rity

rese

arch

and

mon

itorin

g ne

eds i

n re

gion

al a

nd su

b-re

gion

al a

ctio

n pl

ans

b)

Con

duct

col

labo

rativ

e st

udie

s and

mon

itorin

g on

gen

etic

iden

tity,

con

serv

atio

n st

atus

, mig

ratio

ns, a

nd o

ther

bi

olog

ical

and

eco

logi

cal a

spec

ts o

f mar

ine

turtl

es

3.3

Ana

lyse

dat

a to

supp

ort m

itiga

tion

of th

reat

s and

to a

sses

s and

impr

ove

cons

erva

tion

polit

ics

a)

Prio

ritis

e po

pula

tions

for c

onse

rvat

ion

actio

ns

b)

Iden

tify

popu

latio

n tre

nds

c)

Use

rese

arch

resu

lts to

impr

ove

man

agem

ent,

miti

gate

thre

ats a

nd a

sses

s the

eff

icac

y of

con

serv

atio

n ac

tiviti

es

(e.g

. hat

cher

y m

anag

emen

t pra

ctic

es, h

abita

t los

s, et

c.)

3.4

Ex

chan

ge in

form

atio

n a)

St

anda

rdis

e m

etho

ds a

nd le

vels

of d

ata

colle

ctio

n an

d ad

opt o

r dev

elop

an

agre

ed se

t of p

roto

cols

for i

nter

alia

m

onito

ring

of n

estin

g be

ache

s, fe

edin

g gr

ound

stud

ies,

gene

tic sa

mpl

ing,

and

col

lect

ion

of m

orta

lity

data

b)

D

eter

min

e th

e m

ost a

ppro

pria

te m

etho

ds fo

r inf

orm

atio

n di

ssem

inat

ion

c)

Ex

chan

ge a

t reg

ular

inte

rval

s sci

entif

ic a

nd te

chni

cal i

nfor

mat

ion

and

expe

rtise

am

ong

natio

ns, s

cien

tific

in

stitu

tions

, non

-gov

ernm

enta

l and

inte

rnat

iona

l org

anis

atio

ns, i

n or

der t

o de

velo

p an

d im

plem

ent b

est p

ract

ice

appr

oach

es to

con

serv

atio

n of

mar

ine

turtl

es a

nd th

eir h

abita

ts

d)

Dis

sem

inat

e tra

ditio

nal k

now

ledg

e on

mar

ine

turtl

es a

nd th

eir h

abita

ts fo

r con

serv

atio

n an

d m

anag

emen

t e)

C

ompi

le o

n a

regu

lar b

asis

dat

a on

mar

ine

turtl

e po

pula

tions

of r

egio

nal i

nter

est

219

Obj

ectiv

e 4.

Incr

ease

pub

lic a

war

enes

s of t

he th

reat

s to

mar

ine

turt

les a

nd th

eir

habi

tats

, and

enh

ance

pub

lic p

artic

ipat

ion

in

cons

erva

tion

activ

ities

Prog

ram

me

Act

ivity

4.1

Es

tabl

ish

publ

ic e

duca

tion,

aw

aren

ess a

nd in

form

atio

n pr

ogra

mm

es

a)

Col

lect

, dev

elop

and

dis

sem

inat

e ed

ucat

ion

mat

eria

ls

b)

Esta

blis

h co

mm

unity

lear

ning

/ in

form

atio

n ce

ntre

s c)

D

evel

op a

nd im

plem

ent a

ccur

ate

mas

s med

ia in

form

atio

n pr

ogra

mm

es

d)

Dev

elop

and

con

duct

focu

sed

educ

atio

n an

d aw

aren

ess p

rogr

amm

es fo

r tar

get g

roup

s (e.

g. p

olic

y m

aker

s, te

ache

rs, s

choo

ls, f

ishi

ng c

omm

uniti

es, m

edia

) e)

En

cour

age

the

inco

rpor

atio

n of

mar

ine

turtl

e bi

olog

y an

d co

nser

vatio

n is

sues

into

scho

ol c

urric

ula

f)

Org

anis

e sp

ecia

l eve

nts r

elat

ed to

mar

ine

turtl

e co

nser

vatio

n an

d bi

olog

y (e

.g. T

urtle

Day

, Yea

r of t

he T

urtle

, sy

mpo

sia,

Tra

ck-a

-turtl

e)

4.2

D

evel

op a

ltern

ativ

e liv

elih

ood

oppo

rtuni

ties f

or lo

cal c

omm

uniti

es

to e

ncou

rage

thei

r act

ive

parti

cipa

tion

in c

onse

rvat

ion

effo

rts

a)

Iden

tify

and

faci

litat

e al

tern

ativ

e liv

elih

oods

(inc

ludi

ng in

com

e ge

nera

ting

activ

ities

) tha

t are

not

det

rimen

tal t

o m

arin

e tu

rtles

and

thei

r hab

itats

, in

cons

ulta

tion

with

loca

l com

mun

ities

and

oth

er st

akeh

olde

rs

4.3

Pr

omot

e pu

blic

par

ticip

atio

n a)

In

volv

e st

akeh

olde

rs, a

nd lo

cal c

omm

uniti

es in

par

ticul

ar, i

n pl

anni

ng a

nd im

plem

enta

tion

of c

onse

rvat

ion

and

man

agem

ent m

easu

res

b)

Enco

urag

e th

e pa

rtici

patio

n of

Gov

ernm

ent i

nstit

utio

ns, n

on-g

over

nmen

tal o

rgan

isat

ions

, the

priv

ate

sect

or a

nd

the

gene

ral c

omm

unity

(e.g

. stu

dent

s, vo

lunt

eers

, fis

hing

com

mun

ities

, loc

al c

omm

uniti

es) i

n re

sear

ch a

nd

cons

erva

tion

effo

rts

c)

Impl

emen

t, w

here

app

ropr

iate

, inc

entiv

e sc

hem

es to

enc

oura

ge p

ublic

par

ticip

atio

n (e

.g. T

-shi

rts fo

r tag

retu

rns,

publ

ic a

ckno

wle

dgem

ent,

certi

ficat

es)

220

Obj

ectiv

e 5.

Enh

ance

nat

iona

l, re

gion

al a

nd in

tern

atio

nal c

oope

ratio

n Pr

ogra

mm

e A

ctiv

ity

5.1

Col

labo

rate

with

and

ass

ist

sign

ator

y an

d no

n-si

gnat

ory

Stat

es

to re

gula

te a

nd sh

are

info

rmat

ion

on tr

ade,

to c

omba

t ille

gal t

rade

, an

d to

coo

pera

te in

enf

orce

men

t ac

tiviti

es re

latin

g to

mar

ine

turtl

e pr

oduc

ts

a)

Enco

urag

e si

gnat

ory

Stat

es th

at h

ave

not a

lread

y do

ne so

to b

ecom

e Pa

rties

to th

e C

onve

ntio

n on

Inte

rnat

iona

l Tr

ade

in E

ndan

gere

d Sp

ecie

s of W

ild F

auna

and

Flo

ra (C

ITES

) b)

R

evie

w a

t a n

atio

nal l

evel

com

plia

nce

with

obl

igat

ions

und

er C

ITES

rela

ting

to tr

ade

in m

arin

e tu

rtles

, the

ir eg

gs, p

arts

or p

rodu

cts

c)

Faci

litat

e be

tter c

ompl

ianc

e w

ith C

ITES

thro

ugh

train

ing

of re

leva

nt a

utho

ritie

s in

coop

erat

ion

with

oth

er

sign

ator

y St

ates

, the

CIT

ES S

ecre

taria

t and

oth

er re

leva

nt o

rgan

isat

ions

d)

Id

entif

y ro

utes

of i

nter

natio

nal i

llega

l tra

de th

roug

h m

onito

ring,

and

seek

coo

pera

tion

to ta

ke a

ctio

n to

pre

vent

, de

ter a

nd, w

here

pos

sibl

e, e

limin

ate

illeg

al tr

ade

e)

Exch

ange

and

dis

cuss

info

rmat

ion

on c

ompl

ianc

e an

d tra

de is

sues

at r

egul

ar in

terv

als,

such

as t

hrou

gh a

nnua

l re

porti

ng to

the

MoU

Sec

reta

riat a

nd a

t mee

tings

of t

he si

gnat

ory

Stat

es

f)

Iden

tify,

pre

vent

, det

er a

nd, w

here

pos

sibl

e, e

limin

ate

dom

estic

ille

gal t

rade

thro

ugh

mon

itorin

g,

impl

emen

tatio

n of

legi

slat

ion,

iden

tific

atio

n of

gap

s in

enfo

rcem

ent c

apab

ilitie

s in

each

cou

ntry

, and

trai

ning

of

enfo

rcem

ent o

ffic

ers

5.2

Ass

ist s

igna

tory

and

non

-sig

nato

ry

Stat

es, u

pon

requ

est,

to d

evel

op a

nd

impl

emen

t nat

iona

l, su

b-re

gion

al

and

regi

onal

act

ion

plan

s for

the

cons

erva

tion

and

man

agem

ent o

f m

arin

e tu

rtles

and

thei

r hab

itats

a)

Dev

elop

a se

t of k

ey m

anag

emen

t mea

sure

s tha

t cou

ld b

e us

ed a

s a b

asis

for a

ctio

n pl

ans,

thro

ugh

cons

ulta

tion

with

con

cern

ed G

over

nmen

t aut

horit

ies,

rese

arch

inst

itutio

ns, N

GO

s, lo

cal c

omm

uniti

es a

nd o

ther

stak

ehol

ders

b)

Id

entif

y ex

istin

g ac

tion

plan

s tha

t cou

ld b

e us

ed a

s mod

els

c)

Iden

tify

spec

ific

loca

l man

agem

ent i

ssue

s whe

re c

oope

ratio

n am

ong

Stat

es is

requ

ired

for s

ucce

ssfu

l co

nser

vatio

n an

d m

anag

emen

t d)

R

evie

w a

ctio

n pl

ans a

t reg

ular

inte

rval

s to

take

into

acc

ount

rece

nt a

dvan

ces i

n sk

ills a

nd k

now

ledg

e re

gard

ing

mar

ine

turtl

e co

nser

vatio

n an

d m

anag

emen

t, as

wel

l as c

hang

es in

con

serv

atio

n st

atus

of m

arin

e tu

rtle

popu

latio

ns

5.3

Enha

nce

mec

hani

sms f

or

coop

erat

ion

and

prom

ote

info

rmat

ion

exch

ange

a)

Iden

tify

and

stre

ngth

en e

xist

ing

mec

hani

sms f

or c

oope

ratio

n at

the

sub-

regi

onal

leve

l b)

D

evel

op a

web

site

and

/or n

ewsl

ette

r to

faci

litat

e ne

twor

king

and

exc

hang

e of

info

rmat

ion

c)

Dev

elop

a w

eb-b

ased

info

rmat

ion

reso

urce

for m

arin

e tu

rtle

cons

erva

tion

(incl

udin

g da

ta o

n po

pula

tions

, ne

stin

g, m

igra

tion,

on-

goin

g pr

ojec

ts)

d)

Cre

ate

a di

rect

ory

of e

xper

ts a

nd o

rgan

isat

ions

con

cern

ed w

ith m

arin

e tu

rtle

cons

erva

tion

e)

Dev

elop

net

wor

ks fo

r coo

pera

tive

man

agem

ent o

f sha

red

popu

latio

ns, w

ithin

or a

cros

s sub

-reg

ions

, and

, whe

re

appr

opria

te, f

orm

alis

e co

oper

ativ

e m

anag

emen

t arr

ange

men

ts

221

f)

C

oope

rate

whe

re p

ossi

ble

in th

e es

tabl

ishm

ent o

f tra

nsbo

unda

ry m

arin

e pr

otec

ted

area

s usi

ng e

colo

gica

l rat

her

than

pol

itica

l bou

ndar

ies

g)

Dev

elop

a st

ream

lined

form

at fo

r rep

ortin

g an

d ex

chan

ging

info

rmat

ion

(thro

ugh

the

MoU

Sec

reta

riat a

nd

amon

g si

gnat

ory

Stat

es) o

n th

e st

ate

of m

arin

e tu

rtle

cons

erva

tion

at th

e na

tiona

l lev

el

h)

Enco

urag

e M

oU si

gnat

ory

Stat

es th

at h

ave

not a

lread

y do

ne so

to b

ecom

e Pa

rties

to th

e C

onve

ntio

n on

M

igra

tory

Spe

cies

(CM

S)

i) En

cour

age

sign

ator

y St

ates

to b

ecom

e Pa

rties

to g

loba

l fis

herie

s agr

eem

ents

such

as t

he U

N F

ish

Stoc

ks

Agr

eem

ent (

1995

) and

the

FAO

Com

plia

nce

Agr

eem

ent (

1993

) and

impl

emen

t the

FA

O C

ode

of C

ondu

ct fo

r R

espo

nsib

le F

ishe

ries (

1995

) j)

Esta

blis

h re

latio

nshi

ps w

ith re

gion

al fi

sher

ies b

odie

s with

a v

iew

to o

btai

ning

dat

a on

inci

dent

al c

aptu

re a

nd

enco

urag

e th

em to

ado

pt m

arin

e tu

rtle

cons

erva

tion

mea

sure

s with

in E

EZs a

nd o

n th

e hi

gh se

as

5.4

Bui

ld c

apac

ity to

stre

ngth

en

cons

erva

tion

mea

sure

s

a)

Iden

tify

need

s for

cap

acity

-bui

ldin

g in

term

s of h

uman

reso

urce

s, kn

owle

dge

and

faci

litie

s b)

Pr

ovid

e tra

inin

g (e

.g. t

hrou

gh w

orks

hops

) in

mar

ine

turtl

e co

nser

vatio

n an

d m

anag

emen

t tec

hniq

ues t

o re

leva

nt

agen

cies

, ind

ivid

uals

and

loca

l com

mun

ities

c)

C

oord

inat

e tra

inin

g pr

ogra

mm

es a

nd w

orks

hops

d)

D

evel

op p

artn

ersh

ips w

ith u

nive

rsiti

es, r

esea

rch

inst

itutio

ns, t

rain

ing

bodi

es a

nd o

ther

rele

vant

org

anis

atio

ns

5.5

Stre

ngth

en a

nd im

prov

e en

forc

emen

t of c

onse

rvat

ion

legi

slat

ion

a)

Rev

iew

dom

estic

pol

icie

s and

law

s to

addr

ess g

aps o

r im

pedi

men

ts to

mar

ine

turtl

e co

nser

vatio

n

b)

Coo

pera

te in

law

enf

orce

men

t to

ensu

re c

ompa

tible

app

licat

ion

of la

ws a

cros

s and

bet

wee

n ju

risdi

ctio

ns

(incl

udin

g th

roug

h bi

late

ral/m

ultil

ater

al a

gree

men

ts a

nd in

telli

genc

e sh

arin

g)

222

Obj

ectiv

e 6.

Pro

mot

e im

plem

enta

tion

of th

e M

oU in

clud

ing

the

Con

serv

atio

n an

d M

anag

emen

t Pla

n Pr

ogra

mm

e A

ctiv

ity

6.1

B

road

en m

embe

rshi

p in

the

MoU

, an

d en

sure

con

tinui

ty o

f MoU

ac

tiviti

es

a)

Enco

urag

e no

n-si

gnat

ory

Stat

es to

sign

the

MoU

b)

A

rran

ge su

b-re

gion

al w

orks

hops

invo

lvin

g no

n-si

gnat

ory

Stat

es to

rais

e aw

aren

ess o

f the

MoU

c)

C

onsi

der a

t the

firs

t mee

ting

of th

e si

gnat

ory

Stat

es th

e de

velo

pmen

t of a

tim

etab

le fo

r pos

sibl

e am

endm

ent o

f th

e M

oU to

mak

e it

a le

gally

bin

ding

inst

rum

ent

6.2

Pr

omot

e th

e ro

le o

f the

Sec

reta

riat

and

the

Adv

isor

y C

omm

ittee

of t

he

MoU

in e

nsur

ing

the

obje

ctiv

es o

f th

e C

onse

rvat

ion

and

Man

agem

ent

Plan

are

met

a)

Secu

re re

liabl

e so

urce

s of f

undi

ng to

supp

ort t

he M

oU S

ecre

taria

t b)

A

ppoi

nt a

t the

firs

t mee

ting

of th

e si

gnat

ory

Stat

es th

e m

embe

rs o

f the

Adv

isor

y C

omm

ittee

c)

Es

tabl

ish

lines

of c

omm

unic

atio

n be

twee

n th

e M

oU S

ecre

taria

t and

the

Adv

isor

y C

omm

ittee

to fa

cilit

ate

advi

ce

to th

e si

gnat

ory

Stat

es

6.3

Se

ek re

sour

ces t

o su

ppor

t the

im

plem

enta

tion

of th

e M

oU

a)

Prio

ritis

e co

nser

vatio

n an

d m

anag

emen

t act

iviti

es fo

r fun

ding

b)

Ex

plor

e fu

ndin

g op

tions

with

Gov

ernm

ents

and

oth

er d

onor

s suc

h as

the

Asi

an D

evel

opm

ent B

ank,

Wor

ld B

ank,

U

ND

P, E

urop

ean

Uni

on, U

NEP

, GEF

, etc

. c)

So

licit

fund

ing

and

othe

r con

tribu

tions

from

indu

strie

s tha

t hav

e im

pact

s on

mar

ine

turtl

es a

nd th

eir h

abita

ts (e

.g.

fishe

ries,

tour

ism

, oil

indu

stry

, rea

l est

ate)

d)

Ex

plor

e th

e us

e of

eco

nom

ic in

stru

men

ts fo

r the

con

serv

atio

n of

mar

ine

turtl

es a

nd th

eir h

abita

ts

e)

App

roac

h th

e pr

ivat

e se

ctor

, fou

ndat

ions

and

NG

Os t

hat m

ay h

ave

an in

tere

st in

fund

ing

activ

ities

in p

artic

ular

co

untri

es to

cat

alys

e th

e cr

eatio

n of

a sm

all g

rant

s fun

d f)

G

ener

ate

fund

ing

for c

onse

rvat

ion

and

man

agem

ent a

ctiv

ities

thro

ugh

man

aged

eco

tour

ism

and

oth

er se

lf-su

ppor

ting

sche

mes

(whi

le b

enef

iting

loca

l com

mun

ities

) g)

Se

ek sy

nerg

ies (

with

resp

ect t

o fu

nd-r

aisi

ng, p

rovi

sion

of i

nstit

utio

nal s

uppo

rt, e

tc.)

with

oth

er re

gion

al/g

loba

l co

nven

tion

secr

etar

iats

h)

Ex

plor

e in

tern

atio

nal f

undi

ng su

ppor

t and

oth

er in

cent

ives

for s

igna

tory

Sta

tes t

hat e

ffec

tivel

y m

anag

e m

arin

e tu

rtle

popu

latio

ns, w

hich

mig

ht in

clud

e th

e co

mpl

ete

proh

ibiti

on o

f dire

ct h

arve

st (c

aptu

re o

r kill

ing)

223

6.4

Impr

ove

coor

dina

tion

amon

g go

vern

men

t and

non

-gov

ernm

ent

sect

ors i

n th

e co

nser

vatio

n of

m

arin

e tu

rtles

and

thei

r hab

itats

a)

Rev

iew

the

role

s and

resp

onsi

bilit

ies o

f gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies r

elat

ed to

the

cons

erva

tion

and

man

agem

ent o

f m

arin

e tu

rtles

and

thei

r hab

itats

b)

D

esig

nate

a le

ad a

genc

y re

spon

sible

for c

oord

inat

ing

natio

nal m

arin

e tu

rtle

cons

erva

tion

and

man

agem

ent p

olic

y c)

En

cour

age

coop

erat

ion

with

in a

nd a

mon

g go

vern

men

t and

non

-gov

ernm

ent s

ecto

rs, i

nclu

ding

thro

ugh

the

deve

lopm

ent a

nd/o

r stre

ngth

enin

g of

nat

iona

l net

wor

ks

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