From the tropics to the Arctic circle, seagrasses are amongst the most widespread coastal habitats on the planet, existing in 159 countries. They are essential both for many migratory species of wild animals, as well as for climate change mitigation. Thousands of species depend on seagrasses for food, nursery grounds, and shelter.  Many others may use seagrass habitats as an important site for feeding along their migratory routes.

This new Single Species Action Plan outlines what needs to be done ‘To address unsustainable use and trade of hawksbill turtles in the South-East Asia and Western Pacific Ocean region and build resilience in the populations’ at both the domestic and the international level.

The longest-studied Flatback Turtle has returned to one of Australia's key nesting beaches. Known as X23103, this flatback was first flipper-tagged at the nesting beach "Mon Repos" (Queensland, Australia) in 1974, and has been coming back ever since, giving insights into important live-history parameters such as nesting intervals and site fidelity.

Around World Sea Turtle Day, the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia (IOSEA Marine Turtle MOU) celebrated its 20th Anniversary.

On the occasion of  World Sea Turtle Day 2021, “TurtleNet”, an interactive atlas that shows nesting, courtship, feeding and migration routes of marine turtles has been launched. The new online Marine Turtle Breeding and Migration Atlas, developed by Queensland’s Department of Environment and Science (DES) in collaboration with the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), brings together decades of Australian and global data.

The CMS/IOSEA Marine Turtle MOU Secretariat extends heartfelt congratulations to Dr Colin ‘Col’ Limpus for being made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours on 7 June. He received the award for his “distinguished service to environmental science, particularly to the conservation of sea turtles, and as a mentor of young scientists”.

A short film titled "You, come home when I am big" depicting the hazardous first moments in the lives of turtle hatchlings has been produced to coincide with the CMS COP13. The film was made by Ajit Samal who is a celebrated fine art painter has been making wildilfe films and documentaries for over 20 years. Based at Gujarat, he has contributed many productions concerning the conservation of species including the White-backed Vulture, the Asiatic Lion, the Asiatic Wild Ass, the Sarus Crane, Olive Ridley Turtles and the Whale Shark, as well as the Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary and Ramsar site and hte vuklture poisoning crisis.