The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has partnered with the Research Institute for Marine Fisheries (RIMF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to launch the International Year of the Sea Turtle 2006 in Vietnam.
At the same time, these three organizations announced a new collaborative project aimed at conserving sea turtles in Vietnam.
A signing ceremony for an agreement between WWF Vietnam Program, IUCN Vietnam, and the Research Institute for Marine Fisheries was held to coordinate the implementation of a new project funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and WWF International, with the primary goal of reducing the mortality rate of turtles caused by incidental catch in Vietnam’s fisheries.
The memorandum of understanding signed by the parties outlines a framework for collaboration among the three organizations to prioritize activities related to the research, monitoring, and management of sea turtles.
According to international experts, the implementation of a sea turtle monitoring program on fishing vessels is being conducted for the first time in Vietnam.
This project will help accurately determine the level of interaction between the fishing industry and sea turtles offshore.
Based on this, the project will assist in developing and implementing practical management solutions, including improvements to fishing gear to reduce impacts on sea turtles.
Currently, there are five species of sea turtles found in Vietnam’s waters, all of which are listed by the Vietnamese government as threatened species.
Huong Cat
