conservation of marine turtles
6 November 2007
Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, of
South Africa, today signed the Memorandum of Understanding concerning
Conservation Measures for Marine Turtles of the Atlantic Coast of Africa in the
presence of Douglas Hykle, senior advisor to the Convention on Migratory
Species.
The objective of the MoU is to protect, conserve, replenish and recover
marine turtles and their habitats in the Atlantic Ocean.
South Africa has joined 22 West African countries that are committed to the
conservation of marine turtles. Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cote
d'Ivoire, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe,
Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo are the current signatories. This means that all 23
African Range States are now on board.
Marine turtles are thought to be numerous along much of the Atlantic coast
of Africa, extending some 14 000 kilometres from Morocco to South Africa
including nesting sites, feeding areas, and migration corridors of importance
for six species including the loggerhead turtle, the olive ridley turtle, the
green turtle, the hawksbill turtle and the leatherback turtle.
The MoU aims to heighten conservation efforts of the populations of marine
turtles frequenting the territorial waters and beaches of the Atlantic coast of
Africa, from the Strait of Gibraltar to the Cape of Good Hope, including
Macronesia which are seriously threatened.
Five of the world's seven marine turtle species occur in the Atlantic Ocean
and form an important part of the biodiversity of the coastal and marine
ecosystems. Sea turtles are valued as socio-cultural assets as well as economic
and food sources especially for poor coastal communities. Due to the highly
migratory nature of sea turtles living in many different countries through out
their lives and continued unsustainable use, sea turtles are now considered
endangered or critically endangered in many parts of their range. The major
threats to turtles are due to harvesting of turtles or eggs, habitat
destruction, development and pollution, and incidental capture in fisheries
activities. The Atlantic coast off Southern Africa is particularly known for
the large industrial fishing with apparent devastating effects to sea turtle
populations.
The MoU acknowledges that if these human-induced threats are not properly
mitigated and managed, that it could lead to a further decline in marine turtle
population numbers.
To view the MoU go to http://www.deat.gov.za.
For media interviews and queries contact:
Carol Moses
Tel: 021 402 3566
Cell: 082 829 3917
E-mail: cmoses@deat.gov.za
Roopa Singh
Tel: 012 310 3566
Cell: 082 225 3076
E-mail: rsingh@deat.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
6 November 2007
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (http://www.environment.gov.za)
