Mission, Vision and Objectives

Mission

The mission of the IOSEA Marine Turtle MOU is to promote the protection, conservation, recovery, and sustainable management of marine turtles and their habitats through coordinated action among States and partners across the region.

In doing so, the MOU seeks to:

  • Facilitate cooperation among governments, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector
  • Integrate conservation objectives with socio‑economic development priorities, particularly in coastal and marine sectors
  • Encourage the use of best available scientific knowledge, traditional knowledge, and adaptive management approaches
  • Address threats to marine turtles through collective, timely and coordinated interventions across their migratory range.

 

Vision

The IOSEA Marine Turtle MOU envisions a future in which marine turtle populations across the Indian Ocean and South‑East Asia are secure, resilient, and functioning as healthy components of marine and coastal ecosystems, supported by adequate habitats and managed through coordinated regional stewardship.

This vision reflects the shared aspiration that marine turtle populations maintain a favourable conservation status, meaning viable populations, stable or expanding ranges, and sufficient habitat to sustain them over the long term.

 

Objectives

The overarching objective of the MOU is:

To protect, conserve, replenish and recover marine turtles and their habitats, based on the best scientific evidence, taking into account environmental, socio‑economic and cultural characteristics of the signatory States.

This objective underscores both the ecological importance of marine turtles and the need for solutions that are practical and responsive to national and regional circumstances.

The Conservation and Management Plan (CMP) provides the operational framework for achieving the MOU’s objective, guiding the Signatory States in their implementation of the MOU as well as the Advisory Committee and Secretariat in their efforts to support them. It is structured around six interlinked strategic objectives (click on each heading for a summary):

Reduce direct and indirect causes of marine turtle mortality, including:

  • Fisheries bycatch and incidental capture
  • Unsustainable harvest and illegal trade
  • Impacts from coastal development and pollution

This includes promoting best practices, policy reforms, and targeted mitigation measures.

Safeguard and rehabilitate critical marine and coastal habitats, such as:

  • Nesting beaches
  • Feeding and foraging areas
  • Migratory corridors

Efforts include protected area management, pollution control, and habitat restoration initiatives.

Improve understanding of marine turtle populations and ecology through:

  • Research and long-term monitoring
  • Regional data sharing and collaboration
  • Integration of traditional ecological knowledge

These efforts support evidence-based decision‑making and adaptive management. 

Enhance public awareness and stakeholder participation by:

  • Promoting education and outreach initiatives
  • Encouraging community involvement in conservation
  • Supporting sustainable and alternative livelihoods

This objective recognizes that long-term conservation success depends on informed and engaged stakeholders.

Enhance national, regional and international collaboration through:

  • Information exchange and networking
  • Joint conservation initiatives and enforcement actions
  • Cooperation on trade regulation and capacity building

Given the migratory nature of marine turtles, effective conservation requires cross-border coordination and governance.

Promote effective implementation by:

  • Building institutional and technical capacity
  • Securing sustainable financial resources
  • Strengthening coordination among sectors and stakeholders

This includes the role of the Secretariat and Advisory Committee in facilitating cooperation and monitoring progress.

 

A Shared Commitment

At its core, the IOSEA Marine Turtle MOU represents a shared commitment among States and partners to address the complex and transboundary challenges facing marine turtles. By combining national actions with regional cooperation, the MOU provides a platform to achieve lasting conservation outcomes while supporting sustainable development across the region.