2006 Post-Nesting Migrations of Loggerhead Turtles From Masirah Island, Oman

A project of Environment Society of Oman and Oman Ministry of Regional Municipalities in conjunction with the partners and sponsors detailed below.

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Introduction

Marine turtles in the northwest Indian Ocean are threatened, mostly through habitat loss and indirect capture in fisheries, and are in dire need of conservation action. With long maturation periods and low survival, they have extremely slow replenishment rates. Understanding the needs of the turtles depends heavily on understanding their distribution and habitat use, which can be determined through satellite tracking. By tracking loggerhead turtles departing from Oman's beaches we aim to raise the collective awareness of their plight and to provide the concrete linkages among the nations upon which the species depends, in order to develop linked conservation approaches and solutions.

This satellite telemetry project is being implemented to assist Omani authorities in determining the migration paths of post-nesting loggerhead turtles and to raise awareness of the importance of marine turtle populations and the international efforts needed for their wise conservation. The project is one component of a larger and more complex conservation strategy undertaken by the Omani government, which includes training and capacity-building, strategic conservation planning, streamlining of survey methodology and data analysis, and addressing threats to sea turtles such as artficial lighting.

Project Partners

The project is a collaborative effort among the Environment Society of Oman, the Oman Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources (MRMEWR), the Marine Research Foundation, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the U.S. NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.