Fiji Joins “Year of the Sea Turtle” Campaign
Fiji is an important foraging ground for green turtles
Suva, Fiji A renewed effort to protect endangered sea turtles will be launched in Fiji today. This coincides with similar events around the region to mark the 2006 Pacific Year of the Sea Turtle (YOST) declared by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
Today, six of the seven living species of marine turtle are classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered. Populations of green turtles are estimated to have declined globally by around 60% over the last 50 years. Fiji is an important foraging ground for green turtles. Hence the urgent need to conserve them.
Fiji currently has a 5 year Moratorium (2004 2008) which bans the commercial harvest and sale of sea turtles, but the sale and consumption of turtle meat is still common. WWF Fiji will continue to work with partners, such as the Departments of Environment and Fisheries, to create awareness on the regulations that offer sea turtles protection within Fijis waters.
Viliame Leqa, Managing Director (Pacific manufacturers LMT) - PML launches the YOST campaign in Fiji by presenting a launch information pack to Ratu Aisea Katonivere, High Chief of Macuata, Fiji
“Turtles are a cultural icon in Fiji. It is a delicacy that is often served at important traditional functions” said Etika Rupeni, WWF Fiji Programme Country Manager.
“However, with changing times, turtle meat is now a dish finding its way onto many tables. WWF believes that this is a contributing factor to the severe decline we are seeing in our turtle populations.”
Given the severe threat to the Pacifics sea turtle populations, SPREP is calling for local communities, Governments, Intergovernmental Organisations, the fishing industry, fisheries and tourism authorities, donors, NGOs, institutes and organizations, to collaborate and protect them.
“As part of this effort, WWF Fiji will, over the course of the year, work towards creating nationwide awareness on the threats to turtles and will work with partners to agree and undertake actions to protect our ancient mariners,” said Mr. Rupeni.
FINTEL and Pacific Manufacturers Limited (PML) are also supporting WWFs turtle campaign by raising the profile of the issue through posters (in English and local vernaculars) and key messages on their merchandise. These were launched on 1 March 2006.
Meanwhile, regional and cross border action is being taken where delegations from the government of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, and NGO partners traveled to Solomon Islands last week to continue progress towards a tri-national agreement on the conservation and management of the last remaining and critically endangered Western Pacific leatherback turtle population.
Listen to WWF Regional Marine Officer, Penina Solomona talk to Radio Australia's Jemima Garrett 'On the Mat' to hear how communities across the Pacific are contributing to the fight to save these beautiful creatures. You'll also hear how one of Fiji's high chiefs, Ratu Aisea Katonivere, the Tui Macuata, is working with his people to change centuries of tradition and how you can help the turtles in your area.
» Radio Australia's Pacific Beat Interview (mp3, 9.4MB)
For further information:
Ashwini Prabha, Communications Coordinator, WWF South Pacific Programme Office, T +679 3315533, MOB +679 9268 016
Etika Rupeni, Fiji Country Programme Manager, WWF South Pacific Programme Office, T +679 331 5533
Manasa Sovaki, Principal Environment Officer, Department of Environment, T +679 3311699
Notes to Editor:
- Interviews for radio and print are available with Etika Rupeni, WWF Fiji and Regional Marine Officer Penina Solomona, WWF-South Pacific Programme office T +679 3315533 or M +679 9258311. For assistance with interviews please contact Ashwini Prabha, T +679 3315533 or +679 9268016
- WWF is no longer known as the World Wild Fund for Nature but only as WWF or WWF, the global conservation organization.
- There are four species of turtles found in Fiji. The Hawksbill (Taku) and the Leatherback (Vonu dakulaca) are considered to be Critically Endangered while the Green (Vonu dina) and the Loggerhead (Tuvonu) are Endangered indicating their levels of vulnerability.
- 2006 is also the official Year of the Turtle within the Indian Ocean and South-East Asian region by ISOEA (the Indian Ocean South-East Asian Marine Turtle MOU for conservation of marine turtles and their habitats)
- Marine turtles have swum in the worlds oceans for over 100 million years. They are the only widely distributed marine reptiles and many species migrate for thousands of kilometres and even across entire oceans between feeding and nesting grounds. Regional cooperation is essential to ensure that turtles are protected at different stages in their life cycles