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MARINE
TURTLE CONSERVATION
IN THAILAND
by Dr Robert Mather
Country Representative
World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) - Thailand |
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| MARINE
TURTLES IN THAILAND
Globally there are 7 species of Marine
Turtles. All are in serious decline
throughout most of their range.
Historically,
five of these have been found in Thai
waters, although there have been no
records of the loggerhead turtle in
the last 15-20 years.
The four species
of marine turtles that can still be
found in Thai waters are as follows:
THE LEATHERBACK TURTLE
(Dermochelys coriacea)
Image
© WWF Thailand
In Thailand the leatherback is only
known to nest on the Andaman Coast.
The leatherback has been listed as
globally endangered since 1970, and
was confirmed as "Critically
Endangered in Thailand" in 1996.
It is listed in CITES Appendix I,
and is also protected by Thai Law
(WARPA 2535)
THE GREEN TURTLE
(Chelonia mydas)
Image
© WWF Thailand
In Thailand the green turtle is found
in scattered areas in both the Andaman
and South China Sea coasts, nesting
in both areas. They are listed as
globally threatened by the
World Conservation Union (IUCN)
and are protected by International
Law (CITES Appendix I) and Thai Law
(WARPA 2535)
THE HAWKSBILL TURTLE
(Eretmochelys imbricata)
In Thailand, they are found near of-shore
islands in the coastal waters of the
Andaman Sea, and the northern Gulf
of Thailand. Given the worldwide decline
in numbers, the Hawksbill is listed
as "Critically Endangered"
in IUCN's Red List. It is listed in
CITES Appendix I, and is protected
by Thai Law (WARPA 2535).
THE OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLE
(Lepidochelys olivacea)
In Thailand, the number of nests on
three major nesting beaches has declined
dramatically from 350 in 1985 to just
11 in 2000. Olive Ridley's are listed
as "Endangered" by IUCN,
are protected by CITES (Appendix I)
and Thai Law (WARPA 2535)
THREATS
TO MARINE TURTLES IN THAILAND
Sea turtles have lived on this planet
for 130 million years, but egg poaching,
habitat degradation, pollution, and
over-fishing threaten to make them
extinct. Only eight turtles nested
on Thailand's southwest coast this
year, compared to 350 in 1985.
The main threats to turtles in Thailand
can be summarised as follows:
- Threats to marine turtles from
fisheries
Entanglement (mostly accidental)
and drowning in long-line fisheries
and shrimp trawling nets
Much of both the coastal and open
seas areas used by turtles is also
used by fishermen. Because of this,
each year, many turtles are killed
(often unintentionally) by entanglement
in fishing gear and drowning. Some
injured and exhausted turtles are
released from nets before they die,
but their subsequent fate is uncertain.
- Threats to marine turtles from
consumption and trade
Turtle eggs are also easy to collect,
and highly nutritious. In some cultures
they are also suggested to have
aphrodisiac properties. Turtles
have also been hunted for their
shells that are used for ornaments,
sunglasses and in jewellery. Their
hides are cured for leather. In
Asia, there has been a long tradition
of consuming turtle flesh and eggs
for thousands of years. Historically
turtle shell has also been traded
in the region for hundreds of years.
- Threats to marine turtles from
coastal development
The construction of seawalls, hotels,
marinas, and other infrastructure
associated with coastal tourism
and commerce, have destroyed large
areas of turtle nesting beaches
around the world.
Disruptive activities on or near
nesting beaches during nesting season,
such as activity, noise, lights,
etc.
Turtle reproductive behaviour evolved
in an environment of deserted, intact
beaches. Nowadays, light and noise
pollution frequently deter or interrupt
many females from successful laying.
Hatchlings locate the water's edge
by orienting themselves to the horizon,
but house and street lights can
disorient newly hatched turtles
so that they actually crawl away
from the sea.
- Pollution of the oceans, including
chemical contamination
- The ingestion of plastic bags
and other garbage
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MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION
EFFORTS IN THAILAND AND WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE
(WWF) SUPPORT GOVERNMENT
EFFORTS AND THE ROLE OF THE ROYAL FAMILY
THE ROLE OF NGOs AND THE PRIVATE
SECTOR
THE MAI KHAO MARINE TURTLE FOUNDATION
INITIATED BY JW MARRIOTT
PHUKET RESORT AND SPA
Winner of the 2003 PATA Grand Award for Environmental
Education
WWF THAILAND'S NEW INITIATIVE:
THE MARINE TURTLE AND HABITAT PROTECTION PROJECT
GOVERNMENT
EFFORTS AND THE ROLE OF THE ROYAL FAMILY
Marine Turtles have been given legal protection
in Thailand for many years. A Ministerial Decree
for implementation of Article 32 (7) of The Thai
Fisheries law of 1947 prohibited turtle fisheries,
with a fine and/or imprisonment for offenders.
However, turtle egg collection was still allowed
under a concession system, supervised by the Department
of Fisheries, and export of turtle shell was not
prohibited per se.
In the 1960s and 1970s, WWF funded turtle surveys
in Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Western
Indonesia. By this time, the situation in Thailand
was already very worrying. Turtle eggs were being
collected on a commercial basis. The harvest was
in steep decline, and regulations to limit the
harvest were largely being ignored. Even more
threatening was the increase in the number of
large commercial fishing vessels that were killing
large numbers of adults.
With the proliferation of modern motorized fishing
vessels, using trawls and push-nets, a further
Ministerial Regulation of 20 July 1972 was issued
to exclude certain kinds of fishing vessels and
fishing gear (particularly push nets and trawls
used by boats with engines) from a 3km zone around
the entire coast of Southern Thailand. In addition,
many coastal areas were subsequently protected
as Marine National Parks. However, between 1976-78,
Thailand still exported an average of 35,000 kg
of turtle shell/year.
Her Majesty Queen Sirikit initiated specific
turtle conservation activities in 1979, with instructions
to the government of the day. On August 11, 1979,
Her Majesty established Her Turtle Conservation
project on Man Nai Island off the cost of Rayong
in the Gulf of Thailand, donating the island to
the Department of Fisheries for the project, with
the objectives to:
- Promote effective and technically appropriate
breeding of marine turtles
- Care for adult turtle breeding stock
- Disseminate technical knowledge of breeding
and conservation of turtles
On November 19, 1980, in line with Her Majesty's
wish to improve turtle conservation, the Department
of Fisheries asked the Ministry of Commerce to
prohibit further export of turtle shell.
In 1980, WWF provided boats to the Marine National
Parks Division to undertake status surveys and
combat nest poachers at Turatao National Park.
His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadej initiated
the Kung Krabaen Bay integrated coastal development
research center, established in Chanthaburi 1982,
to support and promote sustainable coastal fisheries
and aquaculture development.
PHUKET MARINE BIOLOGICAL
CENTRE (PMBC)
The Phuket Marine Biological Centre is also active
in turtle conservation, including rescue and treatment
of stranded/injured turtles (as well as other
marine species), turtle breeding, and education/awareness
raising.
Dr. Supot Chantrapornsyl of the Phuket Marine
Biological Center (PMBC) has monitored sea turtle
populations along the Andaman coast since 1981.
During that time of massive tourism development,
the number of turtle nests in Phuket had declined
by 95%. Working with Japanese and Malaysian collaborators,
Supot has tracked turtle migration routes. Every
two to eight years, the turtles swim thousands
of miles to breed: from southwest Thailand to
India or Burma; from the Gulf of Thailand to Malaysia,
Cambodia, Indonesia, and even as far as Okinawa,
Japan. Supot and his colleagues glue antennae
to the turtles' backs, then monitor the signals
for up to one year, until the battery dies and
glue dissolves. Sea turtles spend most of their
mysterious lives in the ocean, and the males never
come ashore.
At any given time, PMBC hosts up to 100 sea turtles in a variety of tanks hoping that, by protecting them for the first six months to three years of life, the turtles' chances of survival to maturity are increased. |
| THE ROLE OF THE ROYAL THAI NAVY
The Royal Thai Navy provides complete protection
for Koh Kram island in the Gulf of Thailand, the
largest turtle rookery remaining in Thailand,
with approximately 30,000 eggs hatched every year.
Most eggs are hatched in hatcheries run by the
Navy and the turtles are head-started before release
at 3-6 months of age.
The Royal Thai Navy also regularly patrols beaches
in the Similan and Surin Islands in the Andaman
Sea, for intruders and poachers. They also protect
the green and hawksbill eggs laid on the remote
islands and keep them safe from predators such
as birds and crabs. Once they are born, the turtles
are brought to the Navy's turtle protection centre
in Phang-nga province where they are nursed for
another six months before being released into
the sea.
THE
ROLE OF NGOs AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the
private sector have also worked to prevent extinction
of sea turtle species.
In 1987, WWF started to fund protection of nesting
turtles in Southern Thailand, supporting the efforts
of Wildlife Fund Thailand (WFT), and the villagers
of Mai Khao. Since 1996, a small NGO has reduced
egg poaching on Koh Phra Tong and two other islands
off the coast of Phang Nga Province.
As long as a generation ago, Mai Khao villagers
had a tradition of holding "marine turtle
walks" After the decline in nesting individuals
became obvious as a trend and not just an anomaly,
the Mai Khao villagers began to search for ways
to conserve the creatures that had become a part
of their very culture and traditions, with the
support of Wildlife Fund Thailand and WWF.
| 1990 |
WFT/WWF small grants program approved a
project submitted by the Phuket Environmental
Conservation Club to work with Mai Khao villagers
on marine turtle conservation. |
| 1991 |
Established the Mai Khao Marine Turtle
Conservation Fund. Egg collection and hatchery
and release of hatchlings. |
| 1991-1994 |
Villagers working on their own with regular
consultation and assistance from WFT Coastal
Wetlands Conservation Project staff. 1998-2000
WFT received additional funds from the Barbara
Delano Foundation. During this period there
was an increased interest and participation
in the village from other groups including
local businesses and the newly established
Sub-district Administrative Council (TAO).
Activities for the annual hatchling release
in April were revived and coordinated with
and advertised through the Tourism Authority
of Thailand, local hotels, and Internet websites.
The event is attended by large numbers of
tourists in addition to local villagers. Some
international tourists arrange annual vacation
dates around attending this event. |
| 2000-2002 |
Mai Khao Sea Turtle Conservation Fund now
working on its own with beach patrol, hatchery
operations, annual hatchling release in April.
WFT participates in a cooperative/consultative
manner. |
Throughout the 1990s WWF has also supported WFT's
efforts to build capacity of small-sale fishers
organizations, and to improve the enforcement
of the 3km exclusion zone.
Since July 2000 WWF has also implemented the
"Wildlife Trade Campaign" which has
focused on educating tourists, as well as those
working in the tourism sector, about the status
of endangered species in Thailand, their legal
protection, and the impacts of the illegal wildlife
trade on these species. In addition the campaign
has provided training for over 1,000 participants
from government enforcement agencies, educational
institutes, and the media as well as the tourism
sector. Marine Turtles were one of the targets
for this campaign, which will continue until late
2004
The small NGO "Naucrates" (Greek for
"those who dominate the sea") have worked
since 1996 to prevent the extinction of Andaman
coast sea turtles. Volunteers patrol fifteen kilometers
of Koh Phra Tong's beach early each morning, hoping
to reach the nests ahead of egg collectors. Their
Sea Turtle Project (see www.naucrates.org)
has reduced egg poaching on Koh Phra Tong and
two other islands to near zero, demonstrating
that an intense and regular conservation program
can eliminate one of the main human threats to
sea turtles -- at least in the short term.
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THE MAI KHAO MARINE
TURTLE FOUNDATION INITIATED BY
JW MARRIOTT PHUKET RESORT AND SPA
- Winner of the 2003 PATA Grand Award for Environmental
Education
The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation was launched
during the Grand Opening Celebrations of the five-star
JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa in March 2002,
to support the turtle conservation activities
of the local Mai Khao communities, as well as
the efforts of the Department of Fisheries and
Sirinath Marine National Park I education and
outreach activities.
A Board of Directors receives written applications
for funds. Sub-Committees are responsible for
fund raising and disbursement, subject to the
approval to the Board of Directors. Representatives
of WWF sit on these two sub-committees in an advisory
capacity.
When Marriott first announced plans to build a
resort adjacent to the protected 17-km Mai Khao
beach in northern Phuket, some conservationists
and local NGOs staged protests and attacked the
hotel company via the media. Marriott responded
with a five-part program to protect the turtles:
- The company established the Mai Khao Marine
Turtle Foundation with an initial USD 45,000
donation, and later began charging each guest
a modest "turtle donation."
- The hotel designed its lighting system so
the beach would remain dark, turtles could lay
their eggs and hatchlings would head into the
sea rather than the hotel pool.
- The company built a state-of-the art wastewater
management system, and preserved vegetation
near the seashore to minimize disruption to
the ecosystem.
- The Marriott brought Dr Robert Mather, Country
Representative of WWF Thailand, and Supot Chantrapornsyl,
a scientist from the Phuket Marine Biological
Centre, to conduct training sessions for members
of the hotel staff on sea turtle conservation.So
far almost 100 staff have been trained and this
will be extended to al staff in the near future.
- The resort includes in every room a booklet
to educate guests about sea turtles, organizes
community turtle release events, conducts educational
programs, and hosts an annual "Fun Run"
to raise money and awareness for sea turtle
conservation.
- The same booklet was translated into Thai
by Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat, of the Faculty
of Marine Science of Kasetsart University, for
distribution to hotel staff and for use in local
outreach
In March, the Resort was awarded the 2003 Pacific
Asia Travel Association (PATA) Grand Award for
Environmental Education.
RELATED ARTICLE
JW Marriott Phuket Resort
and Spa Raises 25,000 Baht from First Fundraising
Fun Run for Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation
Please click to view
The Mai Khao Marine
Turtle Foundation Announces First Disbursement
of Funds
Please click to view
Contact information:
Lee Sutton (Mrs)
Director of Public Relations
JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa
Phuket,Thailand
Email: lee.sutton@marriotthotels.com
Tel: 66 76 338 021 - direct
Fax: 66 76 348 360
WWF THAILAND'S NEW INITIATIVE:
THE MARINE TURTLE AND HABITAT PROTECTION PROJECT
As part of WWF's global and regional efforts
in turtle conservation, WWF Thailand aims to build
on previous and ongoing efforts in the country,
through a new Marine Turtle and Habitat Protection
Project. The project will raise funds to support
and expand ongoing work on turtle conservation
in Thailand.
OBJECTIVES
(i) Improving knowledge base for turtle
conservation
(ii) Building collaboration with fishermen for
turtle conservation
(iii) Cooperating with neighbouring countries
for turtle conservation
(iv) Encouraging public support and political
will for turtle conservation
MAIN OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES
To improve knowledge base for turtle conservation
- Compile existing information about distribution
of nesting and feeding sites, and migration
patterns, identify gaps and support additional
surveys were needed
- Improve dissemination of this information
through web-sites, a "Turtle Atlas
of Thailand" and activities with
the Department of Coastal Resources and
Royal Thai Navy
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To build collaboration with fishermen for turtle
conservation
- Develop simple materials for fishermen
explaining the status of turtles, and
the importance of turtle conservation,
as well as what to do and who to contact
if a turtle gets accidentally caught in
their nets
- Work together with the Navy, the Department
of Fisheries, and the Department of Coastal
Resources, to disseminate these materials
to fishermen
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To develop cooperation with neighbouring countries
for turtle conservation
- Support cooperation with India, Myanmar,
Malaysia for conservation of turtles in
the Andaman Sea, as part of the implementation
of the broader UNEP agreement on conservation
of turtles signed by Indian Ocean States
in Bangkok in 2003.
- Support cooperation with Cambodia, Vietnam,
Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore
and Malaysia for conservation of turtles
in the South China Sea and Sulu-Sulawesi
Sea, as part of the ASEAN MOU on Sea Turtle
Conservation and Protection signed by
the Senior Official Ministers on 12 September
1997
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To encourage public support and political will for
turtle conservation
- Highlight Thailand's past achievements
in, and future commitments to turtle conservation
as part of the awarding, and celebration
of, a Globally Endangered Species Conservation
"Gift to the Earth" to be awarded
to their Majesties the King and Queen
of Thailand by WWF International in 2004
- Develop a programme of information,
awareness-raising and educational activities
together with the Department of Fisheries,
Department of Coastal Resources, and the
Royal Thai Navy
- Work together with the Ministry of Natural
Resources and Environment to develop a
National Action Plan for Marine Turtles
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Contact information
WWF Thailand Programme
E-mail: wwfthai@wwfthai.org
Tel: 66-(0)-2524-6128 to 9, 66-(0)-2524-6168 to
9
Fax: 66-(0)-2524-6134
Websites:
www.wwfthai.org
http://www.wildlifethailand.org/wwc/
http://www.panda.org
ABOUT WWF
Known worldwide by its panda logo, World Wide
Fund For Nature (WWF) is dedicated to protecting
the world's wildlife and wild lands. The largest
privately supported international conservation
organization in the world, WWF has more than 1
million members in the U.S. alone. Since its inception
in 1961, WWF has invested in over 13,100 projects
in 157 countries.
WWF directs its conservation efforts toward three
global goals: protecting endangered spaces, saving
endangered species and addressing global threats.
From working to save the giant panda, tiger, and
rhino to helping establish and manage parks and
reserves worldwide, WWF has been a conservation
leader for 40 years.
Website: www.wwf.org
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