Regional IOSEA Marine Turtle Meeting Held in Male

Upon the initiative and invitation of the Government of the Maldives, the five IOSEA Signatory States of the Northern Indian Ocean region (Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) came together on 11-12 October 2015 in Male to decide how they could better cooperate regionally to conserve marine turtles and their habitats.

They decided to form a marine turtle taskforce and concentrate their efforts on issues ranging from mitigating marine turtle bycatch in fisheries to eco-tourism and a review of head-starting and hatchery practices. (Statement of the Northern Indian Ocean Marine Turtle Meeting)

For the first time ever, a IOSEA Signatory State also organised a fundraising dinner as part of the workshop, inviting the business community to donate to the conservation of marine turtles and other marine fauna in the Maldives. A total of USD 181,085 was raised for the Marine Research Centre, the research institute affiliated with the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture (picture). The fundraising dinner could serve as model for similar events organised by Governments.