12/03/2005 - Australian
Minister for the Environment and Heritage,
Senator Ian Campbell, today welcomed the praise
Australia has received for marine turtle conservation
and management in the Indian Ocean and South-east
Asian region.
"Australia has been recognised as a regional
leader in protecting its six species of marine
turtles, which are all listed as threatened
under Australian legislation," Senator
Campbell said.
The Secretariat of the Indian Ocean and South-east
Asia Turtle MoU, headed by Mr Douglas Hykle,
praised Australia's efforts to implement the
MoU's Conservation and Management Plan. He
noted that Australia's in-depth reporting
of activities undertaken to date was exemplary,
and set a good standard for other Signatory
States to follow.
"The work we have done includes setting
up the first national turtle recovery group
to advise on conservation priorities, initiatives
to reduce turtle bycatch in fishing operations,
long-term population monitoring studies, and
a $3.8 million Natural Heritage Trust project
to develop community-driven approaches to
sustainable management of marine turtles across
northern Australia," Senator Campbell
said.
"These are among the actions outlined
in Australia's National Report on implementing
the Indian Ocean and South-east Asia Turtle
Memorandum of Understanding in the region.
"The National Report details on-ground
conservation and management actions to protect
marine turtles which migrate between Australia
and other countries in the region, and what
other countries could do to ensure that turtle
conservation is of a high standard.
"As turtles are highly migratory, our
ability to protect them depends on other countries
taking similar measures."
Australian governments, academic institutions
and conservation organisations contributed
to the report.
"The Australian Government is looking
forward to presenting the report and helping
to set turtle conservation priorities at the
3rd Meeting of Signatory States in Bangkok
at the end of March," Senator Campbell
said.
"We will also encourage other countries
in the region to join the MoU and to implement
similar conservation actions. This will ensure
regional conservation efforts are enhanced
and turtles will have a better chance of recovery."
