Turtle Conservation in Tanzania

Although turtle conservation and management efforts are underway in some areas of Tanzania including Pemba and Unguja islands of the Zanzibar archipelago, many questions regarding population dynamics, nesting populations, feeding and developmental habitats remain unanswered. As such the status of turtles in Tanzania remains largely unknown. Exploitation of turtles for meat and eggs is commonplace, coastal development is mostly unregulated and gillnets and prawn trawling pose a serious threat in inshore waters.

Young turtle	Measuring green turtle

In June 2001 Tanzania signed up to the Conservation & Management Plan (CMP), as an Annex to the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia (IOSEA), developed under the auspices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). As a signatory, Tanzania is committed to implementing the activities outlined in the CMP. In 2003, a National Turtle Conservation Committee (TTCC) was established to implement the relevant provisions of the CMP. The TTCC recently commissioned a report on the Status of Turtles in Tanzania which highlighted the paucity of information on turtle status and distribution and called for further research, habitat protection, measures to reduce turtle by-catch and public education. The TTCC plans to develop a Turtle Recovery & Action Plan for Tanzania to address the objectives of the CMP, based on the recommendations and following consultation with all relevant stakeholders.

INTRODUCTION

TURTLES OF TANZANIA

THREATS TO TURTLES

TURTLE CONSERVATION
IN TANZANIA

SPECIES STATUS

REPORTS