Marine Turtles in Bahrain

1. Marine Turtles in Bahrain Khawla Al Muhannadi President of Environment Friends Society

2. Glossary Fasht : Reef Fasht Al Adhim, Fasht Al Jarim: Names of areas of coral reef in Bahrain. Environment Friends Society (EFS): Bahraini NGO very active in environmental public awareness and as a pressure group. The Commission: The Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and WildLife (Governmental Agency) BCSR: Bahrain Center for Studies and Scientific Research Sulhuf: an NGO Project for saving Marine Turtles

3. Source of Information Literature: Limited NGO findings: Sulhuf Campaign Internal Reports, Press Releases, Interviews (Fishermen, government officials, researchers) Limited Interest in turtles

4. Status of turtles: Literature 1Two species of turtle were recorded in the Regional Water of Bahrain: the Green turtle Chelonia mydas, and the Hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata. 2One other species mentioned in old literature Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta

5. Status of turtles: Literature 1985 : Fishing Log Scheme (shrimp trawl fishery data) 1995 to 1998: The Meteorology and Environmental Protection Administration (MEPA) conducted a survey on the distribution of sea turtles in the western Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea. This survey found two species of turtle in the Gulf, the green turtle Chelonia mydas, and the Hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata. They were both classified as endangered species in the 1996 IUCN Red Data Book, for Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

6. Status of turtles: NGO’s Reports Sighting of Turtles More often dead than alive Alive: Mainly juveniles If Caught: Freed and let back to the sea Taken Home Sold in the market (US$ 40) Killed

7. Status of turtles: Literature No Records of nesting of turtles in Bahrain Arial Survey 1975-1979 (Fish, Shrimp) Researchers GDPMR Fishermen Nesting was witnessed in several occasions (Last observation 12 years ago)

8. Status of turtles: NGO’s Reports Nesting: Sighting in Mashtan, Umjaileed, Al-Mueteridh, Juazer Al- Daar Sighting (Alive) Fasht al adhim(juvenile) , Getat jaradeh(juvenile) , Fasht el jarim (bigger), Jabali, mashtan , el meteridh ,tqhaileb and abuthur triangle (bigger) tens

9. Status of turtles: NGO’s Reports

10. Threats: NGO’s Reports Continuous dredging and reclamation and its impacts on marine habitats By catch in Shrimp trawling (Abdulgader, 2000) Fishermen attitudes: Aggressive attitude towards turtles Fast boats Lack of awareness and link towards marine turtles Food? Plastic Bags?

11. Existing Laws: Direct Decree (2) year 2002 . Article 19: It is not allowed to catch larvae or fingerlings of marine fishes the size of which less than the size permitted. It is also not allowed to catch turtles, seals, sea cows or any other sea mammals or abuse their settlement areas along the coastline of the Kingdom or in the fishing waters.

12. Existing Laws: Direct Decree (2) year 2002 . Section 6:Punishment: Article 33:b Imprisonment for a period not exceeding a month and a fine not less than three hundred dinnars and not exceeding one thousand dinnars or with either of the two punishment

13. Existing Laws: In-Direct The Charter : The Constitute Environmental Law 1996 EIA Marine Laws (starting 1981) Membership in ROPME, CITES, Unified Law for the Protection of Wildlife Species (GCC), Bon Convention for Migratory Species

14. laws Limited Enforcement No clear mechanism of action/reactions The power of the authority (legally)

15. Ongoing Conservation Projects Gov. (The General Directorate of Marine Resources) NGO : Environment Friends Society and the EAPFA Sulhuf Campaign Research and Study Firms (BCSR, AGU, UOB)

16. Ongoing Conservation Projects:Government Old study implying relationship between shrimp trawling and turtles (Abdulader, 2000) Modifying the shrimp nets (BRD =By catch Reduction Device) Local experimental nets (starting 2000) Bilateral with KSA (2001) Regional through Fisheries Commission of the FAO (2003, 2004). Preparation of a National Plan

17. Ongoing Conservation Projects:Government/ Research Center FAO + UNEP (GEF) The "Reduction of environmental impact from tropical shrimp trawling" project is a global project wth 12 participating countries and 1 intergovernmental fisheries body.

18. Ongoing Conservation Projects:Government/ Research Center The Study of Abundant and Distribution of Turtles and Dugongs in Bahraini Water Started 2004 – For 18 months (originally) MOU : GCPEMW and BCSR

19. Ongoing Conservation Projects:Government

20. Ongoing Conservation Projects:Government

21. NGO’s Initiative The National Campaign for the Protection Of Marine Turtles : SULHUF Campaign Begins August 2005 Environmental Alliance for the Protection of Fasht Al Adhim (EAPFA) = Environment Friends Society, Fishermen Union, The National Society for Marine Hobbies

22. NGO’s Initiative Need and Justification EFS spotted and kept an injured sea turtle but failed to find an expert in Bahrain to be able to treat it

23. NGO’s Initiative Need and Justification EFS found sea turtles sold in the market EFS found injured sea turtles in traps

24. NGO’s Initiative Need and Justification EFS, FMU and NSMH found (many times) dead and injured (mainly dead) turtles in the sea and on the shore during shrimp catching period (Aug – Dec)

25. NGO’s Initiative Need and Justification From structured and semi structured interviews with old fishermen and sailormen, EFS believes there may be unrecorded nesting of turtles on Bahraini Islands. EAPFA believes strongly that Marine Turtles are in great risk

26. NGO’s Initiative Need and Justification Part of EAPFA Campaign for the Protection of FASHT Al Adhim

27. NGO’s Initiative Mission: Protection of Marine Turtles in Bahrain Waters Objectives: Monitoring and Recording Sightings of Marine Turtles (Dead and Alive) in Bahraini Waters Building baseline data of the distribution and status of Sea Turtles Collecting all existing literature, reports and findings and building a databank on sea turtles Coordinating and joining efforts with NGOs and Regional Organizations in the area

28. NGO’s Initiative

33. NGO’s Initiative Steps Taken Media Campaign

34. Integrated in Marine Conservation

35. NGO’s Initiative Steps Taken Meetings Awareness

36. NGO’s Initiative Steps Taken Meetings Awareness

37. NGO’s Initiative

38. Involvement

39. NGO’s Initiative Steps Taken Capacity Building using limited Resources (We put all the information we have together and wrote our own reports, articles, stories and put together lectures and seminars and educated out volunteers first then the publish starting with the media people)

41. Awareness

42. Awareness

43. Awareness

44. Bilateral and Regional Plans Testing the modified nets (KSA, Region ) Bahrain currently is preparing for joining IOSEA Marine Turtle MoU NGOs established communications with NGOs and Researchers in the area as a base for a regional project.

45. Gaps and Challenges Destruction of important marine habitats for turtles (reclamation and dredging) Lack of baseline data of turtle population, distribution, and status Lack of studies on impact of on-going Megaprojects on the Arabian Gulf on marine turtles and their habitats Lack of protected marine dedicated areas Shortage of funding to research and studies Resistance from local fishermen to the use o the modified nets Limited Utilization of NGOs No detailed mechanism and set of steps for putting the law in action Lack of Intra- and Inter- Cooperation and coordination on regional level Lack of Follow-up monitoring

46. Recommendation Urgent efforts towards marine habitat protection Mandatory inclusion, regarding sea turtles, in the EIA study of any new marine project or extension of a project Cooperation between Sulhuf and GDPMR regarding RBD. Adaptation and support of the NGOs initiative: The National Campaign for Protecting Turtles (Suhuf) “Abundance and Distribution Of Dugongs and Sea Turtles in Bahraini Water” Study should create a partnership with NGOs who are in this field. Link to existing projects in the region Regional Combined Initiatives

47. Source of Information BCSR Dr. Mohammed Al Romaidh Dr. Adel Al Zayani (left) Dr. Ibrahim Abdulgader DPMR Mr. Jassim Al Qasir Fishermen Union Sulhuf

48. List Of References Abdulqader, E.A.(2000 ). Turtle Incidences in Shrimp Trawl Nets During the 1997-1998 Shrimp Season in Bahrain Waters. Asian Fisheries Science 13:187-296. Philippines. Al-Zanyani, A. K. (2003). The Selection of Areas (MPA’s): A Model for The Kingdom of Bahrain. PhD Thesis Centre for Environmental Sciences, University of Southampton, UK. GEOMATEC, BCSR 2006. Marine Environmental Geographic Information System (MARGIS II). Report submitted to the Government of Bahrain, GEOMATEC, BCSR, August 2006. Hamann ,et al. (2006). Assessment of the conservation of the leatherback turtle in the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia. IOSEA Marine Turtle MOU Secretariat. Thailand. GCPEMW (2006). Semi-structured interviews with Mr. Jasim Al Qassir . BCSR (2006). Semi-structured interviews with Dr. Mohammed Al Romaidh, Dr Ibrahim Abdulqader and Dr. Adil Al-Zayani. The Study of Abundant and Distribution of Turtles and Dugongs in Bahraini Water. Reports. http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=484&ArticleID=5327&l=en Regional Meeting (2006)Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia . Oman.

49. Thank You! Khawla Al Muhannadi Environment Friends Society – Bahrain mangrove@batelco.com.bh almuhannadi.khawla@gmail.com

51. Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) are the only sea turtles recorded in Bahrain

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53. There are seven living species of sea turtles, of which two are common in the Gulf. The green turtle Cheloria mydas is the commonest species locally. The hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbrica

54. The Project is funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), implemented by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and executed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the governments and private sector of the twelve participating countries and SEAFDEC. For details, see the REBYC brochure (PDF The "Reduction of environmental impact from tropical shrimp trawling" project is a global project with 12 participating countries and 1 intergovernmental fisheries body.

55. Status of turtles: Literature Few information available on the abundance and distribution of green turtles in Bahrain Water. These data were gathered from different studies (Miller et al., 1989; Preen et al., 1989; Mohamed, 1991, 1993; King, 1999), and survey reports (Bell, 2001; King, 2002; BCSR, 2005; EFS, 2005) and other reports from fishermen.

56. Ongoing Conservation Projects:Government/ Research Center

57. Status of turtles: Literature In survey in 2000 The shallow offshore area to the south east of Bahrain had the highest densities of turtles (6.5/km2 ) The second is the area between Bahrain and Hawar (0.6/km2 ). The highest density of turtle foraging was observed between the headland of Hadd al Jamal (50o 37.50’ and 26o 51.00’) and the shallow area of Jabbari (50o 40.00’ and 26o 55.00’).

58. NGO’s Initiative

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