National Plan of Action for the Conservation of Marine Turtles in the UAE 2019 - 2021.

This Plan of Action for the Conservation of Marine Turtles is a nationwide sectoral document aiming to (i) protect, conserve and recover the endangered species of turtles in the United Arab Emirates and their habitats; (ii) provide an overview of the status, distribution, abundance and threats of the five marine turtle species that occur in the UAE: green, hawksbill, loggerhead, olive ridley and leatherback turtles; (iii) outline the legislative framework and the current management practices for marine turtle conservation, as well as the challenges that need to be addressed; (iv) propose a vision and a set of goals, criteria and actions for the conservation plan, based on scientific evidence and stakeholder involvement; (v) describe the implementation process of the plan, including the enabling activities, the roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders, and the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. The main goals set out by the Plan are (1) Reduce direct and indirect causes of marine turtles mortality; (2) Protect, conserve and rehabilitate nesting and foraging marine turtle habitats; (3) mprove understanding of marine turtles’ ecology and populations through research, monitoring information exchange; (4) Raise public awareness of the threats to marine turtles and their habitats, and encourage public participation in conservation activity; (5) Enhance implementation of national legislations and strengthen cooperation on national, regional and international levels.
Some of the key interventions proposed to protect the turtles in the Plan are as follows (i) developing techniques and adopting the use of gear and devices to minimize incidental capture of marine turtles in fisheries; (ii) designating and managing protected/conservation areas and sites for marine turtle habitats; (iii) conducting research studies and monitoring activities on marine turtle populations and their habitats to assess conservation status and population trends; (iv) developing and disseminating education materials on marine turtles, their ecological and cultural value and their habitats; (v) reviewing national policies and legislation to address gaps on marine turtle conservation and developing legislations or policies to address these gaps; (vi) developing training and capacity building programs for marine turtle rescue and rehabilitation protocols.