History, Present Status and The Future Prospect of Sea Turtle Research and Conservation in Bangladesh

Abstract:

In the persent study, history, presents and the future prospect of ses the rosourch and conservation in Bangladesh was studied for a period of six months from April 2011 to September 2011. Data were collected from newaletter, scientific reports, and personal contact and Interview with resource persons of different organizations. Bangladesh safeguards 27 species of turtin among thern 22 species of freshwater turtles and tortoises and 5 sea turtles. The identified areas are St. Martin’s Island, Sahporirdwip to Cox’s Bazar leng sandy beach of Sahporirdwip, Teknaf Berdal Kochopia, Inani, Monkhall, Sonadia Island, Kutubdia Island, Sandwip, Egg Island, Mandarbaria, Dubla island and sandy beaches of Sundarban area. Less priority has given for research or conservation since independence, Among five only three species has been reported to nest in Bangladesh where in Otive ridleys and Green turtles nesting are coramon and available in the entire coast of Bangladesh and have been found to nest in the coast line from Sundarban mangrove forest to St. Martin’s Island. Nesting of Hawksbills is rare while nesting of Loggerhead and Leatherback are unconfirmed. The choerved nesting sites were south-central island beaches, mainland beaches in the southeast (Cox’s Bazar to Teknaf), St. Martin’s, Sonadia, Kutubdia, Hatiya and Sandweep Islands. Green turtles are less widespread thas olive ridleys. A south Central Island off Sandweep has been recorded as breeding ground of Olive ridley turtles. Hawksbills are the rare visitors to the beaches of Bangladesh while it was regular in the 1950s. Bangladesh Sea Turtle Satellite Tracking Project is going on through an NGO named Marine Life Alliance, in Cox’s bazaar and started on 29th March 2010. Destructive fishing activities, deterioration of nesting beaches, egg collection and predation are the major threats for declining turtle populations. Though, sea turtles were not included in the list of protected species, Schedule III of the Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation) (Amendment) Act 1974 (BWPA), but currently protected under the revised Bangladesh Wildlife Protected Act 2005. To address all the issues and for development of a long-term conservation and management plan, a strategy should formulate with the combined effort of different governmental agencies (DoE, DoF, BFRI), NGO’s, universities and donor agencies. The strategy should covered the collection and selection of all data regarding turtle movement in Bangladesh coast, assessment of the present status of turtles including their population, introduction of TED (Turtle Excluder Device), development of awareness and educational program to involve all local communities, and sustainable monitoring program