Title:

Conservation of Marine Turtle in the Mediterranean

Total duration:

36 months, June 2017 – May 2020

Beneficiary countries:

Albania, Egypt, Greece, Lebanon, Libya, Tunisia, Turkey, Spain.

Context and objectives of the Project:

The project aims to support the creation of monitoring networks and tools and a sustainable management plan for marine turtles and their habitats in the Mediterranean, through the implementation of harmonized monitoring protocols in line with Ecosystem Approach (EcAp) guidelines, and by adopting a participatory and integrated approach that consider both local socio-economic and environmental contexts.

This project also aims to assist the contracting Parties of the Barcelona Convention to fulfil their obligation under the SPA/BD Protocol, the Strategic Action Programme for the conservation of Biological Diversity (SAP BIO) in the Mediterranean Region, and the Regional Action Plan for the conservation of Marine Turtles in the Mediterranean.

Activities:

In order to satisfy its objectives, the Project outlines 5 key strategies:

• Strategy A: Applied research and monitoring actions on nesting sites and marine hotspots of marine turtles and their habitats while taking into account local environmental and socio-economic contexts.
• Strategy B: Reinforce coordination among concerned partners including decision-makers, scientists and MPA Managers. The aim is to implement harmonized management plans and monitoring protocols following a participatory approach and in line with the EcAp Guidelines.
• Strategy C: Build capacities for relevant stakeholders on the conservation of marine turtles and their habitats through training, exchanging, awareness and sharing of experience and information.
• Strategy D: Improve the management and the protection of nesting sites.
• Strategy E: Reduce the illegal trade of sea turtles’ products including through education, raising awareness and communication.

Partners of the project:

Archelon, DEKAMER, MEDASSET, MedPAN, NMPZ, WWF Greece, WWF Turkey, WWF North Africa

National partners of the project:

APAL, INSTM, Notre Grand Bleu, Association Tunisienne de la Vie Sauvage, Association Jlij pour l’Environnement Marin, Association des Fans de la Chebba, Environmental General Authority of Libya (EGA), Egyptian Environment Affair Agency (EEAA), Ministry of Environment of Lebabon (MoE), Ministère de l’Energie, des Mines et de l’Environnement Marocain (MEME), Ministère de l’Environnement et des Energies Renouvelables Algérien (MEER), AHE.

Funding:

The marine turtles project is financially supported by the MAVA Foundation.