INDIAN OCEAN SOUTH EAST ASIAN MARINE TURTLE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Tanzania is a signatory state to the Indian Ocean and South-East Asian Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding, developed under the auspices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). The IOSEA MoU is an intergovernmental agreement that aims to protect, conserve, replenish and recover marine turtles and their habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asian region, working in partnership with a range of organisations.

The objectives of the agreement are achieved through the collective implementation of an associated Conservation and Management Plan. As a signatory state, Tanzania is committed to implementing the activities outlined in the Plan and Sea Sense is a lead implementer on behalf of the Government of Tanzania.

The Convention on Migratory Species lists the dugong (Dugong dugon) in its Appendix II, meaning that the conservation of the species would benefit from international cooperative activities organized across the Dugong's migratory range. The Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs and their Habitats entered into force in 2007 and Tanzania is a signatory state.

The MoU is designed to facilitate national level and transboundary actions that will lead to the conservation of dugong populations and their habitats. A dugong Conservation and Management Plan provides the basis for focused species and habitat-specific activities, coordinated across the dugong’s migratory range. Similar to the IOSEA marine turtle MoU, Sea Sense is a lead implementer of the activities set out in the dugong Conservation and Management Plan.