KEY INITIATIVES
Conservation INITIATIVE MARKED FOR CRITICAL FUNDING!
The conservation of wildlife and other natural resources
cannot be disassociated with the needs and the cultural heritage of the people exploiting
said resources. Currently the islands in Sabah are protected and patrolled nightly to
ensure that no eggs are taken from the nests. In Sabah, the removal of turtle eggs for
sale or consumption is illegal, yet eggs are invariably available at certain markets, such
as the one in Sandakan. Many, if not all, of the eggs sold in Sandakan originate from the
nearby Philippine islands.
The sale of eggs represents an
important source of revenue for the villagers, who purchase permits from the government to
collect the eggs on their beaches. At present, 30% of eggs deposited are collected and
reared in hatcheries, while the remaining 70% is sold at market. The latest
recommendations of the IUCN Marine Turtle Specialist Group recommend the complete
opposite. The group indicates that at least 70% of the eggs are to be maintained for
conservation if the population is to survive. Explaining the need for conservation to
villagers who have exploited this resource for generations and ensuring the implementation
of protection schemes shall be two of the key components of this programme.
Enforcement of
regulations.
Bilateral conservation schemes will require bilateral enforcement. The
protection of the marine turtles will depend on the successful enforcement of regulations
carried out with the same degree of commitment and means. The project shall determine the
best manner in which this may be accomplished.Bilateral conservation schemes will require bilateral enforcement. The
protection of the marine turtles will depend on the successful enforcement of regulations
carried out with the same degree of commitment and means. The project shall determine the
best manner in which this may be accomplished.
Environmental
Parameter Controls
Marine turtles are sensitive to a host of environmental parameters, such
as light pollution, nesting beach access and predation. Bright lights along the shore
deters turtles from nesting, and disorients hatchlings on their seaward journey. Access to
the nesting beaches may be restricted by accumulated debris and near-shore fishing nets.
Predation, both from wild animals and humans, decreases the efficacy of long-term
conservation strategies. The joint management of these and other environmental threats
will ensure the marine turtles in the region.Marine turtles are sensitive to a host of environmental parameters, such
as light pollution, nesting beach access and predation. Bright lights along the shore
deters turtles from nesting, and disorients hatchlings on their seaward journey. Access to
the nesting beaches may be restricted by accumulated debris and near-shore fishing nets.
Predation, both from wild animals and humans, decreases the efficacy of long-term
conservation strategies. The joint management of these and other environmental threats
will ensure the marine turtles in the region.
Predation
Hatchling predation by fishes as they are released to the water after
collection from the hatchery has been found to exceed 50% in certain areas in the world.
the project shall investigate hatchling predation and design release programmes to counter
the loss.Hatchling predation by fishes as they are released to the water after
collection from the hatchery has been found to exceed 50% in certain areas in the world.
the project shall investigate hatchling predation and design release programmes to counter
the loss.
Health of
Hatchlings
As a result of hatchery incubation, it is hypothesized that hatchlings
will be weaker and thus have lower probability of survival that natural-reared hatchlings.
In the hatchery undeveloped eggs from previous clutches could cause bacterial and fungal
infestations, and coupled with the temperatures during incubation could result in weaker
hatchlings, and possibly lower egg survival rates. Additionally, red ant infestations of
hatchlings have been observed in the hatchery, an occurrence which has not been found in
nests developed in-situ.As a result of hatchery incubation, it is hypothesized that hatchlings
will be weaker and thus have lower probability of survival that natural-reared hatchlings.
In the hatchery undeveloped eggs from previous clutches could cause bacterial and fungal
infestations, and coupled with the temperatures during incubation could result in weaker
hatchlings, and possibly lower egg survival rates. Additionally, red ant infestations of
hatchlings have been observed in the hatchery, an occurrence which has not been found in
nests developed in-situ.
Regulating access
to the islands.
At present the number of boats which may land at the Turtle island Park
is regulated by the Sabah Parks authorities in en effort to curb illegal egg poaching. In
the Philippines this may not be a practical solution, as the villages there require access
to commercial trade links (they need to sell their products and buy those shipped in). It
is proposed that a form of monitoring be implemented that will curb the illegal sale of
eggs. However, it is hoped that the islanders themselves shall assist in regulating the
access to the egg trade.At present the number of boats which may land at the Turtle island Park
is regulated by the Sabah Parks authorities in en effort to curb illegal egg poaching. In
the Philippines this may not be a practical solution, as the villages there require access
to commercial trade links (they need to sell their products and buy those shipped in). It
is proposed that a form of monitoring be implemented that will curb the illegal sale of
eggs. However, it is hoped that the islanders themselves shall assist in regulating the
access to the egg trade.
Data Sharing.
No bilateral programme would succeed without the practically
unrestrained sharing of data. This does not only refer to scientific data, but to numbers
of eggs sold, numbers of visitors, social attitudes and beliefs, etc. The programme shall
strive to open up a clear line of communication between the involved parties without
compromising such things as national security, immigration and safety.
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