Initial steps to building a long term sea turtle conservation program in Socotra

Abdul Karim Nasher, Sana’a University, Yemen; and

Masaa Al Jumaily, Lebanese International University, Yemen

Background • Five species of sea turtles have been reported to visit different

Yemeni coasts, including Socotra:

• Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)

• Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

• Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

• Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)

• Olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea)

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Background • Only one species, the loggerhead Caretta caretta nests on

the island.

• The other four species forage in

shallow and deep waters north

and south of the island.

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Background • Two nesting sites have been confirmed:

• From Ras Ghubba along Abalhen beach, extending westward till Ras Kadama, and

• The bay at Ras Shu’ab

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Previous efforts

• Sea turtle monitoring activities started as early as 1998.*

• People involved included:

• EPA staff, Socotra.

• Socotra tourist police.

• Local community of Tsalmahu village.

* Source: Abduljameel Abdullah : Socotra’s turtles at risk as meat hunters on the loose (in Yemen observer, 28 May 2011).

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Previous efforts • These activities were made possible

through funding provided by:* • UNOPS-Socotra Biodiversity Project

• Socotra Conservation and Development programme (SCDP).

• EPA, Yemen.

• *Information provided by Mr. Foad Naseeb Saeed.

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Previous efforts • Results reported for 1999-2007 were very encouraging*.

• Source: report by Socotra EPA marine staff.

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Previous efforts • However,

• These activities did not continue as planned, possibly because:

• Funding discontinued.

• Weak awareness and capacity building programs.

• Little or lack of law enforcement.

• No serious steps to declare Abalhen beach a Turtle Protected Area.

• But most importantly: limited involvement of local community members; and

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Previous efforts • Administrative team (4)

• Field

team (19)

Name Position

Mohammed Amer Ahmed Chairman of EPA Socotra

Abduljameel Abdullah Ali Deputy Chairman and Head of IT-GIS Unit

Abdulraqeb Shamsan Al-Okaishi Deputy Chairman for Technical Affairs

Fuad Naseeb Saeed Head of Marine unit

: Name Position

Thabet Abdullah Khamis Team leader

Saleh Saeed Ahmed Team leader assistant

Ali Yossur Faraj Representative of fish wealth Socotra office

Abdullah Mohammed Mosa Head of Tourism Police

Ali Moammed Mahferen Technician

Mohammed Othman Taleb Technician

Fahmi Essa khalid Technician

Salem Ragab Logistic

Roshdi Khamis Taleb Driver

Security(from the tourism police) 4

Local community 5

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Present activities • My interest in sea turtle conservation started in2003 when I

was working for PAM and CZM project.

• Remains of slaughtered turtles along

the beach were very disturbing.

• Despite attempts to stop turtle

slaughter, no success was achieved.

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Present activities • During the CITES CoP 15, in Doha, Qatar; I

met with Ms. Teiko Saito, Acting Assistant Director for International Affairs at the U.S. Fish and wildlife

Services.

• She offered to

provide help.

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Present activities • Eventually, she introduced me to Mr. Earl

Possardt, who is in charge of the sea turtle conservation at US FWS.

• Worked together

and developed a

proposal.

• Grant secured

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Present activities Objectives:

Identify sea turtles visiting Yemeni coasts.

Record nesting times for different species.

Record numbers of nesting females.

Encourage establishment of environmental societies

Raise awareness and build capacity of local communities on conservation issues.

Most activities were done in Socotra.

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Present activities • Tsalmahu community

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Present activities Activities involved: Meetings with Salem

Suleiman & community

representatives

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Present activities More meetings: With

Sheikh Suleiman Noah

and members of the

Community. Some

success achieved

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Present activities Agreed points: Building field teams,

all from local community

with full responsibility

Role of EPA, Socotra “advisory”.

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Present activities Awareness workshops.

Full involvement of local communities.

Local teams were asked to do the following tasks against

some payment:

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Present activities • Activities included:

• Monitoring

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Present activities Keep record of the following:

• Number turtles seen; and

those which succeed in laying

and returning back to the sea.

• Number of eggs/turtle?

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Present activities Keep record of turtle tracks

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Present activities Locals showed affection to sea turtles.

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Present activities • Results this season (Tsalmahu & Kadama):

• 2007: 206, 84; 2006: 344, 239; 2005: 118, 35; 2004: 190, 59;

2003: 167, 56; 2002: 84, 28: 2001: 75, 22; 2000: 68, 16.

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month Turtles seen Laid eggs Tracks

May 2012 20 12 9

June 2012 52 42 7

July 2012 16 11 5

August 7 5 2

Total 95 70 23

Present activities Dramatic story: saving

a loggerhead:

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Thank you

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