Thirty-sixth Meeting of the Program Committee Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Trader Hotel, Penang, Malaysia 25-27 November 2013 WP03.1d-iii PROJECT DOCUMENT Program Categories: Project Title: Project id: 041002 Programs under the ASEAN-SEAFDEC ASSP and FCG Mechanism Research and Management of Sea Turtles in Foraging Habitats in the Southeast Asian Waters. Program Thrust: IV Total Duration: 5 yrs (2010-2014) Lead Department: MFRDMD Lead Country: Malaysia Project Sponsor: JTF Project Partner: Proposed Budget: USD 11,500 Prepared by Masaya Katoh, Deputy Chief This year budget: Project Leader TD & TUMEC, DoF Malaysia [2013] USD 30,466 Mr. Syed Abdullah & Ms. Wahidah 1. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND Southeast Asian countries have been recognized as one of major nesting sites for sea turtles in the world. These reptiles are highly migratory and share several certain foraging habitats in the Southeast Asian region. Thus, regional cooperation among member countries in conserving sea turtles is vital to ensure their survival. In addition, regional effort should be undertaken to reduce the mortality especially due to accidental catch by fishing gears. This project is aimed to conduct several research activities to collect information about sea turtles in the foraging habitats, to reduce sea turtle mortality by fisheries, and to formulate the management plans of fisheries to protect sea turtles in this region. Sea turtle activities correspond to #5 of Resolution at the ASEAN-SEAFDEC conference in 2011 (Further develop regional initiatives to promote a responsible fisheries management mechanism, taking into account the specific social, economic, cultural, ecological and institutional contexts and diversity of ASEAN and ASEAN fisheries in the spirit of the development of the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community) and #29 of Plan of Action (Recognizing the different management approaches that are required, sustainably manage major critical coastal habitats, such as mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass; and develop and disseminate information and guidance on appropriate tools and interventions). The performance indicators will be numbers of tagged sea turtles and studied individuals for DNA analysis in the research activities and publication of the plan of action for managing foraging habitats of sea turtles in the region. 2. PROJECT (for total duration of project) 2.1 Goal/Overall Objectives and Performance Indicators: The objectives of this project are: 1. To collect ecological parameters of several pilot foraging habitats of sea turtles to study the key factors to manage these areas for sea turtle conservation, SEAFDEC Page 1
2. To collect, compile, and review information of sea turtles migration corridors, nesting/foraging habitats, and their population structures in the region by genetic, satellite tracking, and conventional tagging studies for conservation and enhancement of the sea turtle populations in the ASEAN region, 3. To review fishing activities in the region which are possibly interacting with sea turtle populations in their foraging/nesting habitats and migration routes in space and time, 4. To promote responsible fishing gears and practices by conducting commercial demonstrations and experimental trials of modified specific fishing gears to protect sea turtle populations in the region, 5. To formulate and propose management plans on fishing activities and other activities to conserve and enhance sea turtle populations in the region based on the scientific information. 2.2 Expected Outcomes and Outputs: The expected outputs of the project include the biological and ecological information of sea turtles and their foraging habitats, which can be used for development of the management and conservation plans of sea turtles, and promotion of mitigation measures for fisheries suitable for the ASEAN region to reduce the incidental capture of sea turtles. The regional plan of action on sea turtle foraging habitats will be formulated by the end of the project. Through implementation of the plan of action, incentives for conservation among fishers and ordinary people will be established in the future. The incentives for conservation will be expected outcomes. 2.3 Project Description/Framework (for total duration of the project) Activity 1: Meeting/Workshop SEAFDEC/MFRDMD organized two workshops and one regional meeting and three preparatory meetings to implement the project. The meeting participants discussed an action plan for managing foraging habitats of sea turtles in the region. Activity 2: Research on Sea Turtle Foraging Populations SEAFDEC/MFRDMD and other partner organizations with participants from selected member countries conducted two scientific surveys for ecological parameters in pilot foraging habitats (Lawas and Mabul and Sipadan islands). During the surveys, tissue samples of sea turtles were obtained for genetic study. Probable natal origins were defined through Mixed Stock Analysis (MSA) of mtdna sequencing data employing Bayes software. Inconel tagging activities were continued in member countries. MFRDMD conducted the satellite telemetry study. Information about sea turtle poaching will be discussed at the regional meeting. All available scientific data have been used to prepare an action plan for managing foraging habitats of sea turtles in the region. Activity 3: Interaction between Sea Turtles and Fishing (TD) TD conducted the study for modification of responsible fishing gears and their practices to reduce the sea turtles by-catch. The use of c-hook in hook-and-line fishing was promoted in SEAFDEC Member Countries. Activity 4: Action Plan for Managing Foraging Habitats of Sea Turtles An action plan for managing foraging habitats of sea turtles in the region has been formulated based on the scientific information. The action plan includes management on fishing activities that threaten adult sea turtles and abatement of egg poaching. The purpose of the action plan is to conserve and enhance sea turtle populations in the region. Activity 5: Publication Two reports (i) Regional Plan of Action and (ii) Information on Sea Turtle Populations and Migration of Sea Turtles will be published. The report (ii) intends to summarize sea turtle activities conducted by SEAFDEC/MFRDMD since the first workshop on marine turtle research and conservation in 1996. Page 2 36PCM
3. PROGRESS/ACHIEVEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES IN THE YEAR 2013 3.1 Activities Achievements in the Year 2013 Achievements based on Activities Duration Remarks Activity 2: Research on Sea Turtle Foraging Populations Sub-Activity 2-2: Genetic study During the scientific survey for ecological parameters in a pilot foraging habitat (Mabul and Sipadan islands) in 2011, more than 80 green sea turtles inhabiting there were captured. Tissue samples collected from these sea turtles were preserved appropriately and analyzed for genetic study of sea turtle subpopulation structures in the region. The mtdna markers were used for the genetic analysis. Probable natal origins were defined through Mixed Stock Analysis (MSA) of mtdna sequencing data employing Bayes software. Jan. -Dec. Jan.-Dec. Sub-Activity 2-3: Tagging study Inconel tagging activities were continued in member countries. October Sub-Activity 2-5: Information collection of sea turtle poaching Information about sea turtle poaching will be discussed at the regional meeting in October 2013. Activity 4: Action Plan for Managing Foraging Habitats of Sea Turtles Sub-Activity 4.1: Formulation of Action Plan for managing foraging habitats of sea turtles The regional plan of action on sea turtle foraging habitats has been formulated based on the scientific information. The plan of action includes management on fishing activities that threaten adult sea turtles and abatement of egg poaching. The purpose of the plan of action is to conserve and enhance sea turtle populations in the region. Jan.-Dec. 3.2 Evaluation of the Project Outcomes Till the Year 2013 3.2.1 Theme/Program Thrust and Issues: (1) Theme/Program Thrust: Research and management of sea turtles in foraging habitats in the Southeast Asian waters/ Thrust IV: Providing Policy & Advisory Services for Planning & Executing Management of Fisheries (2) Issues in the region at the beginning of the study: Conservation of endangered marine animals in relation to fisheries is now matters of global concern. In the Southeast Asian region, six of the seven species of sea turtles in the world are distributed. They are highly migratory and recognized as the endangered species. Successful conservation and enhancement of sea turtle resources requires the scientific evidences on their ecological aspects such as migratory routes, reproductive and feeding behaviors and genetic structure, and on the status of incidental catch and habitat reduction related to their mortality. 3.2.2 Expected Final Goal of the Project: To contribute to the formulation of a management/action plan of sea turtles inhabited in the ASEAN region with reference to the biological and ecological information; To contribute to the formulation of management plans of fisheries that are suspected to have relationship with sea turtle habitats in space and time; To develop and distribute mitigation measures for fisheries suitable for the ASEAN region to reduce the incidental capture of sea turtles. SEAFDEC Page 3
3.2.3 Steps Toward Achieving Final Goal: Step 1: Conservation and management of sea turtles To study management of sea turtle hatchery; To conduct sea turtle tagging survey in major nesting beaches in the region; To collect and compile information on the current status of sea turtle nesting and conservation effort in the Southeast Asia; To study and distribute the turtle excluder devices (TEDs) for the shrimp trawl fishery as a mitigation measure to reduce sea turtle by-catch. Step 2: Research for stock enhancement of sea turtles To conduct sea turtle tagging and satellite tracking studies for nesting females in major nesting beaches to obtain ecological information about sea turtles such as migration route, foraging habitats, etc.; To conduct the genetic analysis of nesting sea turtles to reveal the subpopulation structure of sea turtles in the region; To study and distribute the usage of responsible fishing gear and practices, including C-hook instead of J-hook in several longline fisheries, etc. to reduce sea turtle by-catch. Step 3: Research and management of sea turtles in foraging habitats in the Southeast Asian Waters. To conduct sea turtle genetic, tagging, and satellite tracking studies in their foraging habitats; To compile ecological and biological information about sea turtles in the foraging habitats; To conduct information collection of ecological parameters in pilot foraging habitats in the region; To collect information on sea turtle poaching in the region; To recognized fisheries which supposed to be closely related to sea turtle habitats in space and time; To study and distribute effective mitigation measures to reduce sea turtle unintentional capture by artisanal fisheries in their foraging habitats; To formulate the regional plan of action on sea turtle foraging habitats. 3.2.4 Activities in the Current Project: (1) Current position of the project: Step 3 (2) Program duration: 2010-2014 (3) Main activities: Regional Meetings/Workshops to discuss on the implementation plans, progress, and outcomes of this program. Field survey to collect ecological information on selected pilot foraging habitats of sea turtles. Genetic study of foraging sea turtles to reveal sea turtle population structures in the region. Conventional tagging and satellite tracking studies of sea turtles to reveal sea turtle migration patterns and their nesting/foraging habitats in the region. Information collection of sea turtle poaching in the region. Research on interaction between sea turtles and fishing, including sound and hook-and-lines. Dissemination of the outcomes from research on interaction between sea turtles and fishing, including sound stimuli and hook-and-lines. Formulation of the regional plan of action on sea turtle foraging habitats. 3.2.5 Progress and Achievements of the Current Project: (1) Main activities conducted in the current project The Regional Planning Workshop, Regional Progress Workshop and two preparatory meetings for the management/action plan. Field survey to collect ecological information on selected pilot foraging habitats of sea turtles. Genetic study of foraging sea turtles to reveal sea turtle population structures in the region. Conventional tagging and satellite tracking studies of sea turtles to reveal sea turtle migration patterns and their nesting/foraging habitats in the region. Page 4 36PCM
Information collection of sea turtle poaching in the region. Research on interaction between sea turtles and fishing, including sound stimuli and hook-andlines. Dissemination of the outcomes from research on interaction between sea turtles and fishing, including hook-and-lines. (2) Main achievements till the end of 2013 (tentative) The Regional Planning Workshop, Regional Progress Workshop and two preparatory meetings for the management plan. Ecological information of selected pilot foraging habitats of sea turtles was collected at Lawas and Mabul and Sipadan islands. Genetic data on foraging sea turtles. Inconel tagging at the focused nesting sites of sea turtles in participating Member Countries and tag recovery. Satellite telemetry studies for one juvenile green turtle in Malaysia. Research on interaction between sea turtles and fishing, including sound stimuli and hook-andline. Draft of the regional plan of action on sea turtle foraging habitats. (3) Outcomes/Outputs during the project period and expected achievement rate till the end of 2013 (tentative) Expected outcomes/outputs Achievement rate (%) Meeting/Workshop Field surveys to collect ecological information on selected pilot foraging habitats of sea turtles Genetic study of foraging sea turtles to reveal sea turtle population structures in the region Conventional tagging and satellite tracking studies of sea turtles to reveal sea turtle migration patterns and their nesting/foraging habitats in the region Information collection of sea turtle poaching Research on interaction between sea turtles and fishing, including sound stimuli and hook-and-lines. Dissemination of the outcomes from research on interaction between sea turtles and fishing, including sound stimuli and hookand-lines Formulation of the regional plan of action on sea turtle foraging habitats Publication of two reports (i) Regional Plan of Action and (ii) Information on Sea Turtle Populations and Migration of Sea Turtles 0% 3.2.6 Evaluation of Project Activities in 2013 More than one hundred specimens of sea turtles have been sequenced for the DNA study. They were captured at foraging habitats. The result of the genetic data will elucidate stock structure of green turtles. Two reports (i) Regional Plan of Action and (ii) Information on Sea Turtle Populations and Migration of Sea Turtles will be prepared by the end of 2013. These publications will be key references for management planning of sea turtles in the region. SEAFDEC Page 5
4. PROPOSED ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR 2014 4.1 Planning of the Project Activities Activity/inputs Duration Remarks Activity 6: Publication Two reports (i) Regional Plan of Action and (ii) Information on Sea Turtle Populations and Migration of Sea Turtles will be published. The report (ii) intends to summarize sea turtle activities conducted by SEAFDEC/MFRDMD since the first workshop on marine turtle research and conservation in 1996. Jan.-Dec. 4.2 Expected Outcomes/Outputs of the Year 2014 The two reports will be distributed to member countries. The member countries can endorse the regional plan of action and will utilize those reports to strength their activities for managing foraging habitats of sea turtles in the region. Outputs will be the two reports and an outcome will be improvement of management of sea turtle foraging habitats. Page 6 36PCM