The
Third Regional Technical Consultation
for the ongoing ‘Research for Stock Enhancement
of Sea Turtles in Southeast Asia’ project
was held in Kuala Lumpur from 15-17 October
2008. The annual meeting reviews progress
under this successful sub-regional programme,
which is supported by a Japanese Trust
Fund.
This particular meeting took on added
significance, inasmuch as it served to
review the outcomes of the fourth phase
of the project, to exchange ideas on activities
to be undertaken under a new fifth phase
(2010-2014), and to plan for some “bridging”
activities in 2009. More »
The
Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)
held the Fourth Session of its Working
Party on Ecosystems and Bycatch in Bangkok
from 20-22 October 2008. By virtue of
an IOTC recommendation adopted in 2005
(drafted with input from the IOSEA Secretariat),
IOTC members are encouraged to collect
and voluntarily provide the IOTC Scientific
Committee with information on interactions
with sea turtles in fisheries, including
successful mitigation measures. The recommendation
also encourages greater cooperation and
exchange of information between IOTC and
IOSEA. More »
Collisions
with boats, particularly propellers, are
one of the causes of injuries and sometimes
death of marine turtles, especially green
turtles in Reunion Island.
Boat users often tend to forget that the
sea is the home of many species and that
collision (accidents) can happen. To avoid
these accidents, we need to look beyond
the boat and reduce speed when approaching
the coast, where marine life is more abundant. More »
FROM THE SECRETARIAT
October was a good month for strengthening
links with a number of organisations relevant
to marine turtle conservation in the Indian
Ocean – South-East Asia region. Watch
for more outputs in the months ahead as
a result of increased interaction between
the IOSEA Secretariat and the Indian Ocean
Tuna Commission (IOTC) and SEAFDEC.
An
important reminder about the Technical
Workshop on Minimizing Sea Turtle Interactions
in Coastal Net Fisheries, being organised
in Honolulu, Hawaii, from 20-22 January
2009. The final deadline for registrations
to participate (15 November) is fast approaching.
A limited number of delegates will be
sponsored to attend. So far, the level
of representation from Indian Ocean countries
is very low. If you have expertise in
coastal net fisheries and would like to
contribute your knowledge and experience
to the meeting (or if you know of a fisheries
colleague who might attend), please contact
the main organizer, Eric Gilman, whose
details can be found in the workshop
flyer.
Finally,
a thank you everyone who provided comments
on the draft report of the Fifth Meeting
of the Signatory States, and on the conduct
of the meeting itself. The feedback was
very positive. Those responding were unanimous
in the view that a thematic workshop on
contemporary issues should continue to
form part of the meeting schedule, but
there should only be one workshop with
adequate time allowed for discussion.
Similarly, there was support for allowing
more time for discussion in smaller sub-regional
groups, perhaps by setting aside time
each day for the groups to meet. All of
the ideas expressed will be considered
in the planning of the next meeting. The
final report is now in the process of
being finalized, and will be circulated
as soon as it is ready.
MONTHLY ROUND-UP: What you may have missed in October
The Report of the Second Regional Technical Consultation on Research for Stock Enhancement of Sea Turtles (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 5-7 June 2007) is now available. Copies can be requested from SEAFDEC-MFRDMD.
The
Third Regional Technical Consultation
for the ongoing ‘Research for Stock Enhancement
of Sea Turtles in Southeast Asia’ project
was held in Kuala Lumpur from 15-17 October
2008. The annual meeting reviews progress
under this successful sub-regional programme,
which is supported by a Japanese Trust
Fund. 
The
Collisions
with boats, particularly propellers, are
one of the causes of injuries and sometimes
death of marine turtles, especially green
turtles in Reunion Island. 
