Representatives from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced that, for the first time, international organizations will collaborate with Vietnamese research agencies to monitor sea turtles in Vietnamese waters aboard fishing boats.
According to Mr. Keith Symington, Coordinator of the Marine Program at WWF Vietnam, “Implementing a sea turtle monitoring program on fishing boats for the first time in Vietnam will help accurately determine the level of interaction between the fishing industry and sea turtles offshore.”
Based on this, within the framework of an international project titled “Supporting the Implementation of the Sea Turtle Conservation Action Plan in Vietnam”, the parties will assist in “developing and implementing management solutions, including improvements to fishing gear to reduce impacts on sea turtles.” – Mr. Keith Symington added.
Dr. Chu Tien Vinh, Deputy Director of the Research Institute of Marine Fisheries (RIMF), stated that all five species of sea turtles found in Vietnamese waters are listed as threatened species.
“The Vietnamese government has made remarkable strides in preventing the decline of sea turtle populations in its waters.” – Mr. Bernard O’Callaghan, coordinator of the Vietnam office of the international conservation organization, commented.
QD
