KESCOM CONSERVATION STATUS OF MARINE TURTLES IN KENYA PRESENTATION OVERVIEW BACKGROUND INFORMATION

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1 CONSERVATION STATUS OF MARINE TURTLES IN KENYA KESCOM PRESENTATION OVERVIEW 1.) Background information Spatial extent of activities Marine turtle Species/distribution Threats and conservation status 2.) Research and Monitoring/results General research activities Tagging programs Genetic studies Monitoring methods Gaps 3). Conservation and management/lessons and experiences Participatory approaches Nest protection programs Fisheries Collaboration strategies/networks established National policy and legislative mechanisms BACKGROUND INFORMATION KESCOM-established in 1993 and has 200 members constituted by students, individuals, corporate entities, NGOs and Government Institutions Respond to increased reports of mortalities and poaching and trade in marine turtle products Initiative to supplement government s commitment to addressing global concerns for marine turtle population decline Initial activities limited to Mombasa Currently has established 10 community based conservation groups over 50% of potential nesting grounds and adjacent waters Spatial extent of marine turtle conservation initiatives in Kenya and nesting sites Activity TCG Kiunga TAFMEN Robinson Kilifi Baobab Bodo Sample TCGs Activities Reports on turtle activity Other marine programs Habitat rehabilitation Education and Awareness Income generating activity

2 SPECIES FOUND IN KENYA Nesting Species Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) Most Common: Reported in all nesting areas Olive ridley(lepidochelys olivacea) Rare: Nests in Malindi,, Mombasa Hawksbill(Eretmo -chelys imbricata) Mainly nests at Kiunga, Malindi,, SPECIES FOUND IN KENYA.. Others Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) Malindi, Msambweni areas Mortality: Kipini, Kisite Occasionally caught by trawlers Commonly sighted at Malindi, area Juveniles reported at THREATS: anthropogenic Poaching and trade in turtle products Trawling Gill nets/artisanal fishing gears Photo: R. Zanre Pollution Plastics in gut Beach traffic Coastal development: Lighting and armoring Pairwise ranking of threats and problems affecting marine turtles in Kenya by TAFMEN-Kipini Threats NP TF L P Po ST CD CG Score Rank NP TF NP P NP NP NP NP 5 4 TF L TF TF TF TF TF 6 2 Resource L managers L L assign L L higher L 6 scores 1 P P P P P 5 3 to Pothreats from fisheries Po Po and Popoaching 3 5 ST ST CG 1 7 CD CG 0 8 CG 2 6 Key: TF- Threats from fisheries, NP- Natural Predation, L- Legislation, P-Poaching, Po- Pollution, ST- Sea Traffic, CD- Coastal Development, CG- Coastal Geomorphology. Threats RESEARCH ACTIVITIES Earlier studies Frazier 1975: Marine Turtles of the Western Indian Ocean-Documents species +Biology Wamukoya et. al Aerial survey of marine mammals and turtles. # turtles sighted 107 Species sighted Dc, Cm, Cc, Ei, # nests 37 # false crawls 25 Recent studies Mueni and Mwangi, A survey on the use of TEDs in trawlers along the Kenyan coast By-catch 70% of total catch Reported over 35 turtles caught in the trawlers within a sampling period spread over three months TEDs which are currently in use on Kenyan Trawlers are not quite effective in excluding turtles On board Observers have reported breakages, reduced target catch

3 Recent studies Mwatha, et.al The Malindi-Ugwana Bay fishery; assessment of the prawn fishery, bycatch resource use conflicts and the performance of TEDs. KEMFRI Tech. Rep. Trawling-issue of national interest Resource use conflicts-economic benefits/value Environmental degradation By-catch % Commercially important juvenile fish and endangered species Task force established- Mandate address research needs, socio-economics and make appropriate recommendations to stakeholders KESCOM is represented in the task force Recent studies Okemwa, et. al The Status and Conservation of Sea Turtles in Kenya (MTN 105). Background information on conservation of sea turtles in Kenya Analysis of data collected by TCGs, Hoteliers and Individuals from Describes the conservation measures undertaken to mitigate threats Major findings from Okemwa et. al Green turtle nests constitute 91% of nests sighted Clutch sizes range from eggs for green, for hawksbill and for olive ridleys Incubation period is between 55-74days for greens, days for hawksbills and 52-64days for olives An upsurge in mortalities reported in 2000 and 2001(54%, greens) -increased surveillance Public awareness, capacity building and general empowerment of the fishermen and local people, a priority Recent studies Nzuki, et. al Enhancing Community Participation in the Conservation of Sea Turtles in Kenya (BP Conservation program). PRA Capacity building, education and awareness Survey on nesting, mortality levels and sightings Participatory GIS database development on nesting and foraging sites Results Community Action Plan +strategies to address threats 33 community members trained in turtle data collection; morphometrics, tagging, genetic sampling GIS database developed Networks and Linkages

4 Mean size (cm) class size distributions of mortality cases for Kipini area ( ) Species Green Hawksbill Sex(n) Males (35) Females (61) Females (28) Curved Carapace Length (CCL) Mean (SE) 58.5 (4.5) 57.9 (2.4) 54.5 (4.0) Range Curved Carapace Width (CCW) Mean Range (SE) (3.8) (2.2) 50.3 (3.4) A participatory map of the Tana Delta area showing major nesting and foraging areas, reported sightings and mortality cases Interpretations and base map from 1992 aerial photographs Tagging & Genetic Research Tagging Flipper tagging, double tagging, except for juveniles titanium tags, some plastic tags used for juveniles, mainly WTW, Baobab and TCGs. Tag nesting females, captures by fishermen, foraging ground -research Results 985+ turtles tagged 2 returns to Kenya, 5 from Kenya Number of tagged turtles per site ( ) Year Site Baobab Kiunga Totals GRAND TOTAL 985 Summary of international tag returns Key Returns to Kenya Returns from Kenya # 2 5 #/Country 1 TZ 1 SOM 2-SEY 2-MAY 1-SA Total 7 Tags returned to Kenyafishermen Tags from Kenya to SEY and MAY-Fishermen SA- Trawler Genetics 300 individuals sampled for DNA at,, Kipini and Sampling protocol according to a modified ver. Moritz et al. IUCN-MTSG Marine Turtle Techniques Manual (1999)- Tissue samples a thin, slice about 1cm 2 in size and 2mm depth from neck area - preserved in DMSO Data to be analyzed at Cardiff University

5 Main monitoring methods Beach patrols and surveillance Nesting Mortalities Morphometrics Fishermen activities Outputs of data collection and monitoring efforts Data on nesting (2014nests), sightings (758), mortality(578), tagging (985) Characterization of foraging grounds- Food items (cover, density)-south coast and Kilifi-ongoing Nesting beach characterization (spatial extent, sand type, index of human pressure, vegetation, approach) -ongoing Patrols in foraging areas/sighting reports Interviews with fishermen Annual nesting reports from (all sites, data pooled) Green Hawksbill Olive ridley Seasonal patterns in nesting activity for the last 7 years (Data pooled for all sites and years). GAPS A. ) Inadequate data and information on population status, structure B.) National data an under estimate due to; 1.) Some nesting areas not covered 2.) Limited effort allocated to patrols and monitoring 3.) Limited resources C.) Inadequate data on migrations and remigrations intervals D.) Inadequate socio-economic data CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT Participatory approaches KESCOM is using participatory approaches to promote stakeholder participation in conservation of turtles. Four main stakeholders; local people, government, private sector, NGOs A national PRA process has been initiated aimed at assessing habitat status and developing time lines for resource use-marine turtles being used as flagship Marine resource conservation problems being assessed and ranked socio-economic status of local people

6 Nesting habitat survey training for TAFMEN Awareness in a local hotel Community Action ADF addresses local fishermen in Kipini Mangrove replanting-bodo Morphometrics training Community education Education and awareness Identified target groups-communities, schools, Identified needs, developed objectives Collaborate with partners -Wildlife Clubs of Kenya to implement education programs Information disseminated through periodicals Kasa News(KESCOM news quarterly) and wildlife club magazines Targeted awareness raised through regular campaigns and follow-up activities targeting local fishers and other marine resource users EST PROTECTION PROGRAMS Some TCGs have a cash incentive (average of US$10) scheme to encourage in situ protection of nests by local people Nest adoption programs in some areas (eco-tourism) Translocate to secure areas Natural predation -caging and rotation of translocation areas Kiunga Baobab Releases by fishermen ( ) Year Site Totals GRAND TOTAL 1, Collaboration/ Networks/Linkages Database of experts in WIO region developed Local networks developed with private, government and NGOs sector Collaborating with national institutions-fisheries, KWS, KMFRI, CDA, NMK Some collaborating institutions i.e. KWS and FD charged with implementation of legislation for sea turtle conservation-wildlife and Fisheries Act Cap. 376 and 378 respectively. KWS has developed management guidelines for MPAs in Kenya Networks with other sea turtle conservation projects - regional range states Linkages developed with regional marine programs- WCS, WIOMSA, IUCN-EARO and WWF-EAME National policy and legislation Kenya is a signatory to major international/regional instruments relating to marine turtles; e.g. CITES, CMS, IOSEA_MOU Has national legislation; Cap 378 of the Fisheries Act (specific) and CAP 376 of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act (regarded as trophy). Weaknesses of current legislation 1.) Implementation 2.) Does not address the issue of habitats 3.) Jurisdictional overlaps 4.) Penalties -Not effective deterrent 2years/US$ 250 -No clear penalties for specific infringements

7 Alternative livelihoods Project Enhancing Sea Turtle Conservation in Kenya Participatory habitat characterization Advancing sea turtle conservation in Kenya Class size distributions in a foraging ground CURRENT PROJECTS Major activities PRA, Research, Habitat rehabilitation Nesting and foraging grounds surveys National GIS database Awareness materials Morphometrics, habitat spatial extent, DNA Lifespun 2 years Nov Nov year July 2003-July year July 2004-July year July 2004-July 2005 Funding agency UNDP-GEF- SGP WIOMSA CMS: IOSEA_MOU Duke University