Indian Ocean

Global Distribution of Two Fungal Pathogens Threatening Endangered Sea Turtles

Nascent fungal infections are currently considered as one of the main threats for biodiversity and ecosystem health, and have driven several animal species into critical risk of extinction. Sea turtles are one of the most endangered groups of animals and only seven species have survived to date. Here, we described two pathogenic species, i.e., Fusarium falciforme and Fusarium keratoplasticum, that are globally distributed in major turtle nesting areas for six sea turtle species and that are implicated in low hatch success.

13 September 2018

Genetic diversity and phylogeography of hawksbill turtle in the Persian Gulf

Genetic diversity and phylogeography of Hawksbill sea turtle was studied by using sequencing of the mitochondrial DNA (D-loop and tRNA pro region). 45 dead embryos were collected from the Qeshm (25 samples) and Kish Islands (20 samples) in the Persian Gulf. Analysis of sequence diversity showed over 890 bp of the mtDNA D-loop and tRNA pro region revealed 5 polymorphism sites and 7 haplotypes. Two new haplotypes were submitted on NCBI gene bank as Iran3 with GU997696 accession number and Iran7 with JN627023 accession number.

13 September 2018

Funding Opportunity: USFWS Marine Turtle Conservation Fund Calls for Proposals by 22 January and 1 April 2018

Individuals and organizations engaged in marine turtle conservation work outside of the United States and its territories again have the opportunity to apply for a grant from the Marine Turtle Conservation Fund (MTCF).

04 January 2018

Western Indian Ocean MTTF Discusses Sea Turtle Research, Conservation and Management

The 7th Meeting of the Task Force took place on 2 November 2017 in Dar es Salaam, as a Special Session of the WIOMSA Scientific Symposium. The morning session was an open session to share information on current sea turtle research, conservation and management initiatives in the WIO region. In the afternoon the 7th Meeting of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Turtle Task Force (WIO MTTF) was held. Members from Comoros, Kenya, France, South Africa and Tanzania, as well as the Secretariat of the IOSEA MOU, attended.

09 November 2017

Study: Conservation Priorities for Shark and Ray Species included and proposed for inclusion in Annex 1 to the CMS Sharks MOU

The Sharks MOU has defined general objectives for the conservation and management of species and populations listed in Annex 1 of the MOU, which are further detailed in a global Conservation Plan for migratory Sharks (Annex 3 to the MOU).
18 October 2015

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, Paki

13 October 2015

Illegal Take and Trade of Marine Turtles in the IOSEA Region

Illegal take of marine turtles can assume various forms, from poaching of animals and eggs on nesting beaches to illegal take of animals at sea.   Typically, green and leatherback turtles are hunted for their meat; the hawksbill turtle is hunted for its carapace as the raw material for craftwork; while the eggs of loggerhead and olive ridley turtles are considered a delicacy.  Turtle meat consumption reportedly occurs in 75% of IOSEA Signatory States, while trade in shell products seems to be predominant in East Asian countries.  Whereas numerous investigations in this regard have been unde

18 January 2018

Ecological Risk Assessment and Productivity - Susceptibility Analysis of sea turtles overlapping with fisheries in the IOTC region

Interactions between sea turtles and fishing activities have been listed as a significant threat to sea turtles. This study aimed to assess which sea turtle species/populations in the Indian Ocean (IO) are at risk from interactions with tuna-related fisheries. The approach used was a desktop study to compile (1) all available data on sea turtle population demographics, rookery sizes and at-sea distributions; and (2) collate all information of longline, purse seine and gillnet effort and sea turtle interactions in the Indian Ocean.

30 April 2015

North-west Indian Ocean Experts meet to Identify Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas

At the invitation of the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marine experts from 15 Northwest Indian Ocean countries participated in a regional workshop to describe marine areas meeting criteria developed under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) for ecologically or biologically sensitive marine areas (EBSAs).

28 April 2015

IOSEA: Review of 2014 and Look Ahead to 2015

As is customary at this time of the year, the IOSEA Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Secretariat presents a compilation of marine turtle-related news of the past 12 months, from around the Indian Ocean – South-East Asia region.

19 January 2015