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2nd
ASEAN Symposium and Workshop on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation
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SESSION
1: Management and Conservation
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ABSTRACTS
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SEA
TURTLES CONSERVATION IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Saif M. Al-Ghais
Environmental Research and
Wildlife Development Agency, United Arab Emirates
Worldwide decline in the marine turtles
population due to anthropogenic stresses demands conservation measures
for the survival of these fascinating creatures. Of the eight species of
marine turtles known to the world, five occure in the Arabian Gulf waters,
but only two green turtles Chelonia mydas, and hawksbill turtles, Eretmochelys
imbricata are frequent visitors to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) shores
and nesting on its sandy beaches. The complex of about 200 islands in the
western area of Abu Dhabi emirate of the UAE, which have extensive sea-grass
beds represented by species of Halodule uninervis and Halophila
ovalis and shallow coral reefs, offers friendly environment for feeding
and breeding of sea turtles. A survey of Qurnain, Bu Teinah, Zarcoh and
Daianh Islands was undertaken to study their ecological habitat, biology,
migration and distribution pattern. Lately, a pioneer project for rearing
hawksbill turtle on Jurnain Islands has been launched for the first time
in this region, where free-contact group rearing concept has been adapted
for rearing hatchlings in fiberglass tanks (1.5 and 5.0 meter diameters).
After these hatchling are raised to enable them survive when they are set
free into the local marine environment. |
