Populations of sea turtles and dugongs have been declining on a global scale over the past few decades. In Tanzania, exploitation of sea turtles and dugongs for meat is commonplace, artisanal gillnets and commercial prawn trawlers pose a serious threat in inshore waters and plastic pollution poses a risk to foraging animals. Unregulated coastal development has caused the loss of sea turtle nesting sites and dynamite fishing, coral mining and mangrove harvesting are having considerable impact on the wider marine ecosystem.
There is also a paucity of data concerning the abundance, distribution and movements of sea turtles and dugongs which are critical for the development and implementation of specific conservation and management actions in Tanzania and on a regional scale in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO).
Sea Sense is working closely with coastal communities to address threats on a local scale and improve understanding of the role of species and habitats in the overall functioning of a healthy marine environment. Sea Sense is also collaborating with regional partners to address knowledge and information gaps and contribute to management actions across the WIO.
Sea Sense is currently working on an exciting new initiative to address the issue of plastic...
