The
Proposed
ASEAN Regional Marine Turtle
Conservation Program
ASEAN Regional Marine Turtle
Conservation Program
| OCEAN AMBASSADORS |
The
Proposed
ASEAN Regional Marine Turtle Conservation Program |
|
1. Introduction The ASEAN Region (hereinafter referred to as "the Region") is recognized as an important habitat of the endangered marine turtles. Of the seven remaining marine turtle species in the world, six are reported to occur within the Region. These are the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and the Flatback (Natator depressus). In recent decades, marine turtles in the Region experienced a significant decline in population due to the continued over-exploitation for trade and local consumption, accidental drowning in fishing gears as well as habitat modification resulting from ill-planned coastal development. Considering that marine turtles are highly migratory, effective conservation cannot be achieved only at the national level. International and regional cooperative efforts are necessary to ensure the long-term survival of marine turtles. Eggs of all marine turtle species are harvested and consumed in many parts of the world including Southeast Asia. The consumption of marine turtle eggs is widespread and traditional in the Region. Turtle meat constitutes an important ingredient in the diet of some coastal communities. For this purpose, C. mydas is preferred. Using proper techniques, leather can be processed from turtle skin. This fact has implications to marine turtle harvests. When income from turtle meat cannot cover costs, additional income from leather products can make turtle exploitation profitable. E. imbricata is harvested primarily because its carapace scutes are used in jewelry manufacture. While C. mydas and E. imbricata are the primary species harvested for manufacturing stuffed turtles, other species have likewise been used. In addition to the products supplied by marine turtles, tourism activities are increasing in areas where marine turtle aggregations occur. 3. Pressures on Marine Turtle Populations One of the primary causes of the decline in the population of all species of marine turtles in the Region is the systematic and continued exploitation of eggs and/or adults. While the green turtle has been traditionally used as food in some parts of the Region, the introduction of cash economies and access to improved technology coupled with the increase in human populations raised subsistence harvest to unsustainable levels. On the other hand, the primary cause of the widespread depletion of the hawksbill is the high demand for raw tortoise shell and its by-products for commercial trade. Other species are either caught intentionally or accidentally by various fishing gears in large numbers especially leatherback turtles which experienced a decline of 99% since the 1950s. Coastal development and the destruction of their marine habitats due to industrial pollution, siltation and illegal fishing methods (e.g., dynamite and cyanide fishing) have likewise taken their toll on these unique reptiles. 4. AWGNC Recommendations The need for a regional conservation program was recognized and presented as a recommendation during the First Meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Nature Conservation (AWGNC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 6-7 November 1990. The meeting agreed that a proposal to be submitted to the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN) for consideration. During the second meeting of the AWGNC in Manila, Philippines on 6-7 November 1991. The Philippines recommended that a Regional Symposium Workshop first be conducted to evaluate the regional status of these testudines and to serve as a preparatory phase for the formulation of a comprehensive regional strategy. 5. The ASEAN Regional Marine Turtle Conservation Program A major output of the symposium workshop is a regional strategy proposal formulated by representatives of ASEAN member nations. The strategy calls for a concerted effort by marine turtle specialists from various institutions within the Region. Government agencies, non-government organizations and academic institutions with established technical expertise in marine turtle management and research shall be tapped to recommend, formulate and implement programs on marine turtle conservation. 6. Overall Aim of the Proposed ASEAN Regional Marine Turtle Conservation Program The aim of the proposed ASEAN Regional Marine Turtle Conservation program is to conserve and propagate the ecologically and economically important marine turtles which are now on the verge of total depletion. 7. Proposed Work Areas for Implementation 7.1 Information
7.2 Institution Building
7.3 Management-oriented Research and Monitoring Through the symposium, it has been recognized that members of the ASEAN have embarked on marine conservation programs in their respective countries. Concerted efforts of marine turtle scientists in the Region are needed to enhance research and monitoring methods. Further, financial support is required in order to achieve these objectives. The guidelines provided below aim to standardize all research and monitoring procedures and/or activities to be undertaken by ASEAN members. Monitoring is necessary in order to identify the efficiency of the turtle management agencies in each country. The research and monitoring database should be compatible throughout the member countries.
8. Education, Conservation Awareness and Publicity Programs 8.1 To coordinate training and education opportunities for appropriate personnel involved in marine turtle conservation in the Region, as requested by governments. 8.2 To develop an educational program promoting the conservation of marine turtles in the Region. To be achieved by coordinating a regional training program involving institutions, local community groups (e.g. NGOs, traditional landowners) and government agencies. The Regional Marine Turtle Conservation Center shall conduct a training needs analysis and design an appropriate training package to attend to the needs of the Region. 8.3 To facilitate the sharing of successful educational programs. 8.4 To promote community involvement by non-government conservation groups, religious groups, etc. in the development of local or community projects involving marine turtles (e.g., nest protection, recording traditional uses for turtles); the distribution of educational materials to local communities. 9. International Efforts 9.1 To encourage countries to accede to international and regional species conservation agreements (i.e., CITES and the Bonn Convention) and to review the need for specific provisions relating to marine turtle conservation in regional agreements. To be achieved by the provision of technical expertise and financial assistance to advise countries on establishing administrative procedures required to accede to and implement international agreements. 9.2 To participate in international efforts promoting the conservation, management and wise use of marine turtles. To be achieved by the Regional Program linking in with marine turtle programs in other regions through liaison with the IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group, the UNEP East Asian Seas Program, the IUCN/WWF TRAFFIC Network and other non-government organizations. 9.3. To encourage the exchange of information and development of joint conservation programs between range countries within the Region. To be achieved by those countries entering into bilateral/multilateral agreements to establish the framework for the development of long-term management and conservation strategies for shared marine resources. The publication of an ASEAN Marine Turtle Research Journal is a valuable tool to achieve this objective. 10. Resource Management Efforts 10.1 To recommend the declaration of regionally and globally significant nesting areas in the Region as ASEAN natural heritage/conservation area. Most preferably, the IUCN classification would be followed without prejudice to existing legislation of concerned countries and where possible employing the category providing the highest degree of conservation. To be achieved by declaring the following areas as ASEAN natural heritage conservation area, preferably: (a) Turtle Islands; Sipadan Island; and Berau Islands; (b) Pantai Utara Kepala Burung Irian Jaya in Indonesia (for greens and leatherbacks). 10.2 To encourage cooperation in the management of significant turtle areas that share common boundaries or an international border. To be achieved by cross-visits of area staff to exchange information and provide provisions for the possible implementation of joint management schemes. 10.3 To recommend the formulation of specific regional management plans for identified regionally significant marine turtle areas. To be achieved by involving experts from the Region, relevant management staff, and local people in the process of developing a comprehensive management plan. Funding sources must be identified to implement this program. 10.4. To encourage the identification of significant areas for marine turtle conservation and to formulate and implement management plans for these areas including those that have been identified in the past, but do not have management plans. To be achieved by sourcing funds to implement management for identified areas. 10.5 To discourage the use of fishing methods which cause turtle mortality or destroy turtle habitat. To implement strictly the ban on cyanide and dynamite fishing. 10.6 To encourage the modification of destructive fishing methods so that turtle mortality from those methods is eliminated or drastically reduced. The applicability of Turtle Exclusion Devices (TEDs) should be investigated, likewise the reduction of mesh sizes in drift nets to a size that does not entrap turtles. 10.7 To actively support the current United Nations global moratorium on high seas drift net fisheries that has been in place since 31 December 1992. 10.8 To join with the other countries concerned with the incidental kill of leatherbacks in the Pacific high seas long-line fisheries and seek further reduction of mortality of this species in international waters. 10.9 To initiate a regional leatherback conservation program to reduce the by-catch mortality of leatherbacks in fisheries within the territorial waters of ASEAN countries.
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turtle biology
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