Sea Turtle Project, Kenya
TURTLE SCIENTIST
Edward Mwamuye
In association with the Local Ocean Trust - Watamu Turtle Watch (LOT-WTW)
THE NEED FOR CONSERVATION AND AWARENESS
The increasing destruction of the marine environment along the Kenyan coast ultimately impacts negatively on the lives of the coastal communities. The coastal communities are lacking in education and awareness with regard to sustainable use and management of their natural marine resources. Growing population pressure has led to over-fishing and an increase in illegal and destructive habits brought by high poverty levels.
In Kenya, there is mounting concern as sea turtles and the marine environment as a whole is suffering increasingly from a range of human related threats.
Five of the seven world’s sea turtles are found in Kenyan waters, with Watamu being a regionally important feeding and breeding area. Sea turtles have performed a key role in East Africa’s ecosystems for over 100 million years. All are endangered or critically endangered because of man’s activities.
PROJECT SUMMARY
This Project seeks funding to promote measures ‘on-the-ground’ for the conservation of sea turtles and the marine environment and to support sustainable resource use, through local communities playing an active participatory role in conservation activities.
The funds will also be used to target and educate the fishing community to deter them from slaughtering sea turtles as has been done historically, impressing upon them the significant role of the sea turtle within marine ecosystems and its value to the local community as an eco-tourism attraction and potential source of revenue.
The project will help raise public awareness within the local coastal communities, learning institutions, tourists and other stakeholders to the general threats to the marine environment and in so doing develop greater understanding and responsibility for our threatened marine environment and its fragile ecosystems.
The Project intends to provide and promote protection of sea turtles and the marine environment, whilst educating local communities to understand the value of their natural resource. Through environmental advocacy and awareness, individuals will learn the global impact of local actions and can make responsible choices about marine resource utilization.
OBJECTIVES AND CONSERVATION AIMS
To conserve the biodiversity of Kenya’s marine environment, encouraging wise sustainable use of marine resources for the benefit of the coastal communities and other marine stakeholders.
1. Support the conservation and research of sea turtles
2. To promote sustainable fishing methods and highlight the immediate and long term negative impacts of illegal and destructive fishing activities.
3. To sensitize fishers to the value of their marine environment and the benefits it can provide now and for future generations.
4. To target and educate the fisher community to deter them from slaughtering endangered sea turtles as has been done historically and impressing upon them the significant role of the sea turtle within marine ecosystems and its value to the local community as an eco-tourism attraction and potential source of revenue.
5. To provide environmental education to school children, the next generation and future natural resource users.
6. Support of selected nature based income generating activities such as mariculture, beekeeping, ecotourism and tree planting
TURTLE SCIENTIST
Edward Mwamuye
In association with the Local Ocean Trust - Watamu Turtle Watch (LOT-WTW)
THE NEED FOR CONSERVATION AND AWARENESS
The increasing destruction of the marine environment along the Kenyan coast ultimately impacts negatively on the lives of the coastal communities. The coastal communities are lacking in education and awareness with regard to sustainable use and management of their natural marine resources. Growing population pressure has led to over-fishing and an increase in illegal and destructive habits brought by high poverty levels.
In Kenya, there is mounting concern as sea turtles and the marine environment as a whole is suffering increasingly from a range of human related threats.
Five of the seven world’s sea turtles are found in Kenyan waters, with Watamu being a regionally important feeding and breeding area. Sea turtles have performed a key role in East Africa’s ecosystems for over 100 million years. All are endangered or critically endangered because of man’s activities.
PROJECT SUMMARY
This Project seeks funding to promote measures ‘on-the-ground’ for the conservation of sea turtles and the marine environment and to support sustainable resource use, through local communities playing an active participatory role in conservation activities.
The funds will also be used to target and educate the fishing community to deter them from slaughtering sea turtles as has been done historically, impressing upon them the significant role of the sea turtle within marine ecosystems and its value to the local community as an eco-tourism attraction and potential source of revenue.
The project will help raise public awareness within the local coastal communities, learning institutions, tourists and other stakeholders to the general threats to the marine environment and in so doing develop greater understanding and responsibility for our threatened marine environment and its fragile ecosystems.
The Project intends to provide and promote protection of sea turtles and the marine environment, whilst educating local communities to understand the value of their natural resource. Through environmental advocacy and awareness, individuals will learn the global impact of local actions and can make responsible choices about marine resource utilization.
OBJECTIVES AND CONSERVATION AIMS
To conserve the biodiversity of Kenya’s marine environment, encouraging wise sustainable use of marine resources for the benefit of the coastal communities and other marine stakeholders.
1. Support the conservation and research of sea turtles
2. To promote sustainable fishing methods and highlight the immediate and long term negative impacts of illegal and destructive fishing activities.
3. To sensitize fishers to the value of their marine environment and the benefits it can provide now and for future generations.
4. To target and educate the fisher community to deter them from slaughtering endangered sea turtles as has been done historically and impressing upon them the significant role of the sea turtle within marine ecosystems and its value to the local community as an eco-tourism attraction and potential source of revenue.
5. To provide environmental education to school children, the next generation and future natural resource users.
6. Support of selected nature based income generating activities such as mariculture, beekeeping, ecotourism and tree planting