Issue 110 - July 2024

Actions to Strengthen Marine Turtle Conservation Agreed at UN Meeting in Tanzania

Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, 27 June 2024 – Governments, scientific experts and stakeholders gathered over four days in an international meeting that ended today to discuss pressing conservation issues for marine turtles in the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia region.

The 9th Meeting of the Signatory States to the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia (IOSEA Marine Turtles MOU) agreed on a number of conservation actions. These include the adoption of a Single Species Action Plan for the critically endangered hawksbill turtle, recommendations on beach management and hatchery practices, as well as the endorsement of guidance on identifying critical habitats for turtles. On the closing day of the meeting, the State of Kuwait – hosting five of the seven marine turtle species – became 36th Signatory State by signing the agreement.

The MOU is one of several specialized agreements under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).

“The need for increased efforts to conserve migratory species of animals has never been greater. I am pleased that this meeting agreed on a number of key commitments for the conservation of marine turtles, underscoring the importance of international cooperation to achieve shared objectives.”

Amy Fraenkel, CMS Executive Secretary

Marine turtles are migratory species which have thrived for millions of years and the IOSEA region is home to six out of seven species. But they are now at risk due to human activities. Direct threats such as bycatch, egg collection, hunting for meat or shells and destruction of nesting habitat are compounded by indirect threats like plastic ingestion, entanglement in marine debris, and light pollution at nesting beaches.

One major topic at the meeting was on how to address the adverse impacts of climate change on marine turtles. According to the recent State of the World’s Migratory Species report, climate change is predicted to pose a threat to species with temperature-dependent sex determination, such as marine turtles. A study of the northern Great Barrier Reef Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) population found that 87% of adult turtles were female, rising to 99% in juvenile and subadult turtles. The difference in sex ratio between these two age groups was suggested to indicate an increase in the proportion of females in recent decades, likely due to rising sand temperatures.

Other climate change impacts such as rising sea levels and frequent storms further endanger nesting habitats and reduce nesting success. To address the issue, six different management actions were agreed by governments, giving them a suite of options to be used, depending on local conditions:

Manage threats to individual females, nests, and hatchlings on the beach
Prevent beach erosion with sound coastal management practices
Use Managed Retreat options to manage inappropriate developments
Protect or defend coastal infrastructure/turtle nesting beaches through e.g. beach nourishment schemes
Sacrifice infrastructure to re-establish coastal processes
Apply spatial planning approaches to ensure sufficient habitat is available away from competing activities and intact coastal connectivity

The appropriate use of in situ protection and ex situ egg relocation or hatcheries was also discussed as being an option of last resort.

The meeting also [discussed the unintentional negative impacts from efforts to protect coastal property from rising sea levels. These coastal constructions can disrupt beach dynamics, affect sediment movement, and harm the nesting and incubation environments, posing significant risks to hatchlings.

The meeting also advanced efforts to address the protection of important habitat for marine turtles. The Network of Sites of Importance for Marine Turtles in the Indian Ocean – South-East Asia Region was formally adopted by the 6^th Meeting of Signatory States to the IOSEA Marine Turtle MOU in 2012 and to date fifteen sites have been added to the Network, including four at this meeting:

Cox’s Bazar Coast in Bangladesh: An important nesting site for Olive Ridley and green turtles, with Hawksbill turtles observed inshore. The extensive beach offers resilience against natural and human impacts, with significant cultural and social value for local communities.
Al Qurm Protected Area in the United Arab Emirates: A vital foraging site for juvenile green sea turtles, featuring diverse habitats including rocky reefs, mudflats, and mangroves. This area provides undisturbed foraging opportunities and showcases a migratory link to Masirah, Oman.
Sharma, Jathmoun and Dhargum Natural Reserve in Yemen: A crucial nesting area for green turtles, free from disruptions such as lights and noise.
Khore Omiera Protected Area in Yemen: an important feeding ground of green turtles.

Governments also endorsed guidance on identifying critical habitats, including specifications for the life stages of each species of marine turtle.

Among other important measures, Signatory States adopted a Single Species Action Plan (SSAP) for the critically endangered hawksbill turtle in South-East Asia and the Western Pacific Ocean Region. This plan, developed in collaboration with CMS and adopted by all CMS Parties at the recent 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (CMS COP14), aids governments in fulfilling commitments across various policy frameworks, addressing the complex linkages between community and commercial use of hawksbill turtles.

Additionally, a Work Programme for the years 2024-2028 was adopted, which sets in place agreed priorities in marine turtle conservation in the Indian Ocean South-East Asia region. Implementation will be aided by a renewed focus on capacity building for government officials, NGOs, community groups and the commercial sector.

Addressing the conservation of marine turtles is of global importance and provides an opportunity for countries to contribute to achieving wider goals such as the Samarkand Strategic Plan for Migratory Species, the UN Decade of Oceans Science for Sustainable Development and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

About IOSEA Marine Turtle MOU

The IOSEA Marine Turtle MOU is an intergovernmental environmental treaty concluded under the auspices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). It came into effect on 1 September 2001, and the Signatory States held their first meeting in Bangkok in 2003.

The MOU applies to the waters and coastal States of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia and adjacent seas, extending eastwards to the Torres Strait. This agreement area is considered to cover 44 States of which 36 are to date Signatories to the MOU.

The IOSEA region is host to six out of seven existing species of marine turtles:

Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)
Olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea)
Green (Chelonia mydas)
Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea)
Flatback (Natator depressus)

The IOSEA Marine Turtle MOU Secretariat operates from the headquarters of CMS in Bonn, Germany.

Up Next

Back to the Bay: Southern Sea Otter Conservation Efforts in Northern California

Don't Miss

Bleached But Not Broken: CCMI Reveals The Impact & Future Implications of Record-Breaking Temperature on Little Cayman’s Reefs

Issue 110 - July 2024

SEVENSEAS Travel Magazine – July 2024 – Issue 110

NEWSROOM

Back to the Bay: Southern Sea Otter Conservation Efforts in Northern California

The southern sea otter, or California sea otter, is one of three endangered subspecies of sea otter found in a small area near central California. Despite government protection, this species has been endangered for over sixty years, unable to make significant population growth in almost thirty years. Read more…

Choking The Seas: How Marine Debris is Reshaping Ecosystems

Millions of pounds of plastics enter the ocean, wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems. Marine ecosystems have had to evolve rapidly to survive these changes. If climate change and plastic pollution continue to increase at these rates, marine ecosystems may no longer be able to keep up with the changes. Read more…

Actions to Strengthen Marine Turtle Conservation Agreed at UN Meeting in Tanzania

Governments, scientific experts and stakeholders gathered over four days in an international meeting that ended today to discuss pressing conservation issues for marine turtles in the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia region. Read more…

CCMI Reveals The Impact & Future Implications of Record-Breaking Temperature on Little Cayman’s Reefs

CCMI’s 2023 Coral Bleaching Report Card shows that the coral bleaching in Little Cayman was severe, and comparably more severe than other reefs in the region, this is likely to be attributed to factors including higher coral cover to start with and the presence of more susceptible species that are not present on most reefs with more stressors. Read more…

Book Suggestion: The Arctic in Peril, A Photographic Journey Through a Changing Landscape

The Arctic: A Darker Shade of White banner

In “The Arctic: A Darker Shade of White,” Sebastian Copeland invites us on an extraordinary visual journey to the heart of a vanishing world. Through his lens, we witness the raw beauty and delicate balance of the Arctic ecosystem, a landscape of ethereal ice formations, vast tundra, and resilient wildlife. Read more…

Dive in with The Reef-World Foundation: “Drops in the Ocean” Campaign Sweeps Across the UK!

The Reef-World Foundation, a leading non-profit dedicated to coral reef conservation, today announced the exciting launch of its new campaign, “Drops in the Ocean,” which went live on Monday, 17 June across the UK. This impactful campaign receives a significant boost. Read more…

The Sea Serpent and Limits to Growth

The learned men of the Boston Natural History Society had studied their Bestiaries, ancient, illustrated volumes of all the animals, and set out for Gloucester’s high rocky shore to survey the seascape. There, they found what they were looking for. Read more…

G20 CORDAP & KSLOF Forge Historic Partnership to Combat Coral Reef Decline

This partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aims to harness the unique strengths and resources of both organizations to enhance coral reef conservation and restoration efforts on a global scale. Read more…

Scientists on a research expedition onboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor (too) have located Chile’s deepest and most northern cold seeps. At 2836 meters deep, the seeps provide chemical energy for deep-sea animals living without sunlight, offering potential insights into the conditions that led to the development of life on Earth. Read more…

Wild Women Expeditions Voted Best Adventure Tour Operator in the 2024 USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards

Wild Women Expeditions has been voted ‘Best Adventure Tour Operator’ in the 2024 edition of the USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The leader in women’s adventure travel takes the top spot for the second year running, and the third time overall, having won this category in 2021 as well. Read more…

The Parrot & the Igloo, Exposing the History of Climate Change Denial

In “The Parrot and the Igloo,” David Lipsky embarks on an ambitious initiative to untangle the complex history of climate change denial. With a deft hand, he weaves together a narrative that is both informative and captivating, exposing missed opportunities, deliberate misinformation, and the intricate dance between science and politics. Read more…

Saudi Arabia Shows Initiatives, Bolstering Ocean Sustainability & Biodiversity Conservation at High-Level Event

Saudi Arabia Shows Initiatives ARTICLE BANNER

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Member and Climate Affairs Envoy Adel Al-Jubeir took part in the High-Level Event on Ocean Action, held in the capital of Costa Rica, San José, from June 7-8, at the head of the Kingdom’s delegation. Read more…

Feature Destination

Geneva ranks among the top five European destinations for 2024

Geneva Tourism is delighted to announce that the iconic Swiss city has been named one of Europe’s leading destinations to visit in 2024 by European Best Destinations – the most visited travel and culture website in Europe with 8 million visitors annually. Read more…

World Oceans Day Highlights Immediate Protection Measures Needed

UN World Oceans Day, celebrated on Friday at UN Headquarters in New York, focused on “opening minds, igniting senses, and inspiring possibilities” to protect marine life worldwide. Read more…

A Traveler’s Guide to Discovering the Charm of Geneva

For many, Geneva may not immediately come to mind as a bustling tourist destination compared to other European cities. It lacks sandy beaches and a certain youthful exuberance, but what it offers is a rich cultural tapestry. Read more…

ASEAN & UNDP Launch Joint GEF-Funded Marine Conservation Project

The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the governments of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand, kick start this year’s World Ocean Day celebration with the launching and inception of the GEF-funded joint marine conservation project – Effectively Managing Networks of Marine Protected Areas in Large Marine Ecosystems in the ASEAN Region (ASEAN ENMAPS)–on 6 June 2024. Read more…

The FREE Weekly Conservation Post and Jobs List

Signing up for the free Weekly Newsletter & Jobs List will get you a round-up of upcoming events, webinars, meetings, reports, funding opportunities, photos of the week, and recent postings to the jobs list.

To sign up for our free subscription, please Click Here or email us Here.

Since 2004, SEVENSEAS Media has fostered an informal and non-partisan platform to promote understanding of key issues and challenges while building partnerships across an increasingly diverse group of marine conservation professionals and students.

Our mission is to promote communication and build partnerships across the global marine community and to identify and address gaps in the community’s work. SEVENSEAS Media achieves this through multimedia promotion and partnerships. The community consists of a diverse and growing group of participants, including non-governmental organizations, government agencies, foundations, bilateral and multilateral agencies, fellowship programs, independent consultants, and academia/students.

If you are interested in contributing or getting involved, email us Here.

=[xyz-ihs snippet=”Prepared-by-PK”]

Book Suggestion

Book Suggestion: The Arctic in Peril, A Photographic Journey Through a Changing Landscape

In “The Arctic: A Darker Shade of White,” Sebastian Copeland invites us on an extraordinary visual journey to the heart of a vanishing world. Through his lens, we witness the raw beauty and delicate balance of the Arctic ecosystem, a landscape of ethereal ice formations, vast tundra, and resilient wildlife.

The Arctic: A Darker Shade of White: Book Cover

Copeland’s photographs are not merely stunning works of art; they are a poignant testament to the alarming pace of climate change. His images of melting glaciers, receding sea ice, and altered animal migration patterns serve as a wake-up call to the urgent need for climate action. Each photograph tells a story of transformation and loss, showcasing the vulnerability of this pristine wilderness to the effects of human activity.

But “The Arctic: A Darker Shade of White” is not simply a lament for a disappearing landscape. Copeland’s narrative goes beyond the visual, offering a nuanced exploration of the complex relationship between humans and nature. He delves into the history of Arctic exploration, the challenges faced by indigenous communities, and the geopolitical implications of a rapidly changing Arctic. His words paint a picture of a region at a crossroads, facing unprecedented challenges yet brimming with potential for resilience and adaptation.

The book’s poetic prose and striking imagery combine to create an immersive experience that transports readers to the heart of the Arctic. Copeland’s passion for this fragile ecosystem is evident on every page, as he shares his reflections and insights gained from years of exploration and advocacy.

“The Arctic: A Darker Shade of White” is a compelling demonstration of the power of photography to inspire change. It is a visual symphony that awakens our senses, challenges our assumptions, and compels us to protect this extraordinary place before it’s too late. As Dr. Jane Goodall eloquently states in her foreword, this book is “a powerful and moving tribute to a region that is both awe-inspiring and deeply vulnerable.”

About The Author

With approximately 6,000 miles under his skis in the polar regions, Sebastian Copeland has led numerous expeditions to the North and South Poles on foot. Noted as a photographer “who has produced works that are of outstanding artistic merit and communicate messages of urgent global significance,” Copeland has addressed audiences at the UN, universities, and many Fortune 500 companies to warn of the systemic transformations taking place in the polar regions and their geopolitical consequences. In 2017, Men’s Journal named Copeland one of 25 of the world’s top adventurers of the last 25 years. The Arctic completes a polar trilogy comprising Antarctica: The Waking Giant (2020) and Polar Explorations (2022). Copeland was named four times Photographer of the Year. In 2019, he was knighted by French President Emmanuel Macron in the National Order of Merit; and the National Order of Arts and Letters. Dr. Jane Goodall, known for her landmark chimpanzee study, is the most recognizable figure in conservation today.

[xyz-ihs snippet=”Prepared-by-PK”]

Book Suggestion

Book Suggestion: The Parrot & the Igloo, Exposing the History of Climate Change Denial

Lipsky’s journey begins with the early warnings of global warming, highlighting the missed signals and the rise of a professional lying apparatus that has cast doubt on the scientific consensus. He meticulously traces the origins of this disinformation campaign, revealing how the same tactics used to deny the dangers of cigarettes and acid rain were employed to undermine climate science.

Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Lipsky exposes the human element of climate change denial, delving into the motivations and consequences of inaction. He questions the role of media, corporations, and politics in shaping public opinion and hindering meaningful action. By unravelling the tangled web of denial, Lipsky empowers readers to critically assess the information presented to them and to seek the truth about the climate crisis.

The book serves as a wake-up call, urging readers to confront the urgency of the situation and to challenge the misinformation that has stalled progress. Lipsky’s unique perspective, honed through his experience as a writer and professor of narrative, allows him to present complex issues in a clear and accessible manner, making the book a compelling read for both experts and newcomers to the topic.

“The Parrot and the Igloo” is not just a historical record but also a call to action. It encourages readers to engage with the issue, to question the narratives presented to them, and to seek the truth about climate change. Lipsky’s engaging writing style and insightful analysis make this book an essential read for anyone concerned about the future of our planet. It is a timely and essential contribution to the ongoing discussion about climate change, offering a unique perspective that is both informative and thought-provoking.

By exposing the tactics of climate change denial and highlighting the urgent need for action, Lipsky’s book empowers readers to make informed decisions and engage in meaningful conversations about the climate crisis. “The Parrot and the Igloo” is a powerful tool for understanding and addressing the challenges of climate change, offering a glimmer of hope in the face of a daunting global crisis.

[xyz-ihs snippet=”Prepared-by-PK”]