The Status and Conservation of Sea Turtles in Kenya.
Five species of sea turtles have been documented as occurring within Kenyan waters: the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). Of these, green, hawksbill and olive ridley turtles are known to nest in Kenya. The 200km of beach land available for sea turtle nesting is however under critical threat of erosion and pollution (UNEP 1998). The Kenya government has put in place legislation to protect sea turtles i.e., the Wildlife Act (Cap 376) and the Fisheries Industry Act (Cap 378). The laws prohibit hunting, removing, holding, moving and trafficking sea turtles and their products whether dead or alive. However, there is no legislation protecting key nesting and foraging habitats utilized by sea turtles except for those falling within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). As a result, poaching of sea turtles continues unabated compounded by poor enforcement due to a lack of personnel and facilities. To address the plight of marine turtles, the Kenya Sea Turtle Conservation Committee (KESCOM) was established in 1993 under the patronage of various government institutions: Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS), Fisheries Department (FD), Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Coast Development Authority (CDA) and National Museums of Kenya (NMK) and Wildlife Clubs of Kenya. Various non-government organizations, WWF-Kiunga, Baobab Trust, Watamu Turtle Watch (WTW) and Colobus Trust, have given extensive onground support towards this initiative. KESCOM represents a national integrated approach to sea turtle conservation promoting community participation in various conservation activities that include research and monitoring, public awareness and advocacy. KESCOM has successfully campaigned for the mandatory use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in all trawlers operating within Kenyan waters.
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Journal Contribution biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2004
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| Subjects: | Marine fisheries, Marine parks, Surveillance and enforcement, Coastal zone, Fishery regulations, Environmental protection, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/7717 |
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