Undercover investigation reveals 'horrific' conditions in Cayman Islands
18th October 2012
Via underwatertimes.com. A year-long undercover investigation conducted by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) at the Cayman Turtle Farm, a popular tourist destination and the world's last remaining facility that raises sea turtles for slaughter, has revealed disturbing animal cruelty and potential human health risks. Click here for full story.
Via underwatertimes.com. A year-long undercover investigation conducted by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) at the Cayman Turtle Farm, a popular tourist destination and the world's last remaining facility that raises sea turtles for slaughter, has revealed disturbing animal cruelty and potential human health risks. Click here for full story.
Tonga - Joint Community Turtle Monitoring and Eco-Tourism Development Program Launched
5th October 2012
This week marked the first consultative meeting of partners involved in the Community Turtle Monitoring and Eco-Tourism Development Project led by the Tongan Ministry of Land, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources (MLECCNR), supported by the Tongan Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (MAFF), funded by NZ Aid Program, coordinated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Program (SPREP) and backed by the NZ Department of Conservation (DOC). The NZ Aid project as a whole targets four countries (Tonga, Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands) where there is an identified need for improved knowledge and turtle conservation management to ensure survival of species present in country waters.
It has been recognised by all partners that there is a decline in the number of marine turtles in Tongan waters which threatens, not only the survival of this species, but also the traditional way of life here in the islands. This project will extend and expand on the Vanuatu community turtle monitoring model to enhance the capacity within local communities to improve their knowledge and skills, enabling them to sustainably manage their natural resources (in this case marine turtles) and support the development of sustainable eco-tourism programs that bring economic and social benefit.
The Vava'u Turtle Monitoring Program (VTMP) has been established with goals and objectives that fall in line with the goals of this NZ Aid project and will therefore be able to help expand the effort even further in Tonga in close cooperation with the Ministry of Fisheries and the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.
This first meeting of the partners was exceptionally well attended by MLECCNR, MAFF, the Ministry of Tourism, the VTMP, VEPA and the private sector with Mr Asipeli Palaki, CEO of the MLECCNR, agreeing to take the lead in the project implementation in close cooperation with MAFF.
The outcome of this meeting sees a real timeline being agreed upon for rolling out the first stages of implementation including preliminary visits to potential monitoring communities by MLECCNR and MAFF and an agreement to start the SPREP led capacity building workshops by the end of 2012. It is the intention of VTMP to also bring communities of our own from Vava’u onboard with the same model and thereby expand the conservation efforts and coordinate our joint resources.
VTMP is excited to be a part of this important and timely (and acronym filled!) project and the level of support and commitment shown by MLECCNR and MAFF during this initial meeting to the conservation of our local turtle population is heartening. VTMP welcomes this collaboration and we’ll keep you updated with all developments.
You can also follow us on www.facebook.com/vavauturtle for more regular updates on all the work we are doing.
This week marked the first consultative meeting of partners involved in the Community Turtle Monitoring and Eco-Tourism Development Project led by the Tongan Ministry of Land, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources (MLECCNR), supported by the Tongan Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (MAFF), funded by NZ Aid Program, coordinated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Program (SPREP) and backed by the NZ Department of Conservation (DOC). The NZ Aid project as a whole targets four countries (Tonga, Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands) where there is an identified need for improved knowledge and turtle conservation management to ensure survival of species present in country waters.
It has been recognised by all partners that there is a decline in the number of marine turtles in Tongan waters which threatens, not only the survival of this species, but also the traditional way of life here in the islands. This project will extend and expand on the Vanuatu community turtle monitoring model to enhance the capacity within local communities to improve their knowledge and skills, enabling them to sustainably manage their natural resources (in this case marine turtles) and support the development of sustainable eco-tourism programs that bring economic and social benefit.
The Vava'u Turtle Monitoring Program (VTMP) has been established with goals and objectives that fall in line with the goals of this NZ Aid project and will therefore be able to help expand the effort even further in Tonga in close cooperation with the Ministry of Fisheries and the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.
This first meeting of the partners was exceptionally well attended by MLECCNR, MAFF, the Ministry of Tourism, the VTMP, VEPA and the private sector with Mr Asipeli Palaki, CEO of the MLECCNR, agreeing to take the lead in the project implementation in close cooperation with MAFF.
The outcome of this meeting sees a real timeline being agreed upon for rolling out the first stages of implementation including preliminary visits to potential monitoring communities by MLECCNR and MAFF and an agreement to start the SPREP led capacity building workshops by the end of 2012. It is the intention of VTMP to also bring communities of our own from Vava’u onboard with the same model and thereby expand the conservation efforts and coordinate our joint resources.
VTMP is excited to be a part of this important and timely (and acronym filled!) project and the level of support and commitment shown by MLECCNR and MAFF during this initial meeting to the conservation of our local turtle population is heartening. VTMP welcomes this collaboration and we’ll keep you updated with all developments.
You can also follow us on www.facebook.com/vavauturtle for more regular updates on all the work we are doing.
Vava'u's first turtle conservation program launched
28th August 2012
Funded by the Ruffords Small Grant Program and affiliated with the Vava'u Environmental Protection Association (VEPA), the Vava'u Turtle Monitoring Program (VTMP) has recently been established by Kate Walker, a marine scientist from the UK.
There has been very little research conducted to date on turtles in Vava'u and anecdotal evidence provides the basis for most of the information known in the region with indications leaning towards a decline in numbers locally. In addition to this, there exists a turtle fishery in the Kingdom of Tonga with limited catch data being recorded and illegal harvesting going unmonitored.
While there is a place for sustainable harvesting of turtles for traditional use, it is important that alternate ways of utilising the economic potential of marine turtles through eco-tourism, paying volunteers and alternate income programs is demonstrated to the island communities throughout the country.
In its first year, VTMP, along with VEPA, will seek to establish a baseline data set of foraging, nesting, and fishing of marine turtles and to join forces with local community groups, government ministries, regional NGOs and island residents to build a solid foundation of cooperation from which to move forward.
As the project develops, this website will be updated and you can follow along with our progress.
Funded by the Ruffords Small Grant Program and affiliated with the Vava'u Environmental Protection Association (VEPA), the Vava'u Turtle Monitoring Program (VTMP) has recently been established by Kate Walker, a marine scientist from the UK.
There has been very little research conducted to date on turtles in Vava'u and anecdotal evidence provides the basis for most of the information known in the region with indications leaning towards a decline in numbers locally. In addition to this, there exists a turtle fishery in the Kingdom of Tonga with limited catch data being recorded and illegal harvesting going unmonitored.
While there is a place for sustainable harvesting of turtles for traditional use, it is important that alternate ways of utilising the economic potential of marine turtles through eco-tourism, paying volunteers and alternate income programs is demonstrated to the island communities throughout the country.
In its first year, VTMP, along with VEPA, will seek to establish a baseline data set of foraging, nesting, and fishing of marine turtles and to join forces with local community groups, government ministries, regional NGOs and island residents to build a solid foundation of cooperation from which to move forward.
As the project develops, this website will be updated and you can follow along with our progress.
VEPA Release Rescued Hatchling
In August 2011, Vava'u Environmental Protection Association (VEPA) rescued and rehabilitated this Hawksbill hatchling that had been removed from its beach upon hatching. Karen Stone, Project Coordinator for VEPA, raised the hatchling for over four months until it reached 11cm in length before releasing it at this protected beach. It is estimated that only 1 in 1000 hatchlings make it to breeding age so every single one is important for the conservation of this critically endangered species.