Sea turtle protection initiatives are experiencing funding difficulties

On July 26, MARD coordinated with TRAFFIC Vietnam to host the National Workshop on the Conservation of Marine Turtles and Marine Mammals in Con Dao (Ba Ria - Vung Tau province).

The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to assess the implementation of the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Sea Turtles in Vietnam from 2016 to 2025; introduce some results, solutions, and conservation models for sea turtles and marine mammals; and provide guidance and propose solutions for the future conservation of sea turtles and marine mammals.

Several conservation programs and strategies for marine turtles

The conservation program of endangered turtle species in Vietnam until 2025, with a vision to 2030, is the legal basis for sea turtle conservation activities in Vietnam. The National Action Plan for the Conservation of Vietnam's Sea Turtles from 2016 to 2025 was also issued by MARD.

The plan targets at least 5% of gillnets and 10% of trawlers with a turtle escape device (TED); 100% of sea turtle habitats are protected; perfecting the organizational system, mechanisms, and policies for sea turtle conservation in accordance with the National Action Plan on biodiversity conservation; completing the database on sea turtles, linking the Directorate of Fisheries to the National Parks, Marine Protected Areas, and local Sub-Departments of Fisheries.

The agriculture sector has compiled a report on the contents related to marine mammal conservation in Vietnam. The report provides information on groups of aquatic species exploited, processed, and raised for export to the United States; lists the main fisheries with the potential for unintentional fishing of marine mammals; information on marine mammals distributed in Vietnam's waters; information on enterprises exporting seafood to the United States; and Vietnam's regulations o marine mammal conservation.

The Ministry has also drafted, solicited feedback from relevant agencies and units within and outside the Ministry, and finalized the Draft National Action Plan for 2021 to 2025 concerning sharks, rays, and marine mammals in Vietnam.

Con Dao National Park is among the top locations with the most effective sea turtle conservation models. Con Dao National Park recorded 2,347 mother turtles laying eggs in Con Dao waters between 2020 and 2022, an average of more than 600 - 900 mother turtles per year, an increase of 42.24 percent compared to the period of 2017 to 2019.

The park tags 1,220 mother turtles with biological tracking tags, or an average of 380 to 400 mother turtles per year.

In the period from 2020 to 2022, 7,075 turtle colonies were effectively rescued, a 42.76 percent increase from the period from 2017 to 2019. Bay Canh, Hon Cau, and Hon Cau are the locations where sea turtles procreate in the greatest numbers. Big Bamboo, Bai Duong.

During the first half of 2023, 1,028 colonies were rescued and hatched artificially. The biological monitoring device was affixed to 1,220 mother tortoises between 2020 and 2022. Con Dao National Park is the first location to research and implement effective sea turtle conservation models appropriate for Vietnam, which can then be implemented in other regions.

Establishing a monitoring system for sea turtles to enhance conservation quality

However, the protection of sea turtles and marine mammals continues to face numerous obstacles. In particular, limited funding for the implementation of priority tasks and projects results in the asynchronous and inefficient implementation of numerous contents.

The sea turtle conservation plan lacks content to control, prevent illicit trade, and deal with violations committed by sea turtle traffickers; the function of law enforcement forces is not specified. In addition, marine pollution is becoming increasingly severe, and the reproductive habitats of sea turtles are threatened by climate change, sea level rise, etc.

To address the aforementioned deficiencies, the conference proposed the establishment of a monitoring system at sea that incorporates marine turtle monitoring.

It is essential to continue to improve fishing gear, implement turtle escape devices to reduce unintentional fishing, and comply with international integration requirements; organizing communication activities for sea turtle conservation.

Sea turtle rescue and re-release must be socialized. Priority should be given to the deployment of micro rescue stations in certain areas where sea turtles are prevalent, followed by the establishment of sea turtle rescue stations in important fisheries areas.

In conservation efforts, it is necessary to continue researching, evaluating, and mapping the current status of sea turtles and their habitats, and to propose conservation solutions.

Some regions, including Nam Du islands - Kien Hai district, Kien Giang province; Tho Chu island - Phu Quoc city, Kien Giang; Quy Nhon bay - Binh Dinh, aquatic resource protection area/area banned from fishing for a limited time (Con Dao sea area - Ba Ria - Vung Tau province) should establish Fishery Protection and Exploitation Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050.

In addition, it is necessary to establish the duties and responsibilities of law enforcement forces (environmental police, customs, market management, navy, border guard, coast guard, fishery control, etc.) in managing violations of sea turtle conservation.