The 8th Meeting of Signatories to The Indian Ocean - Southeast Asia (IOSEA) Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding in Da Nang city on October 21

He made the statement at the 8th Meeting of Signatories to TheIndian Ocean - Southeast Asia (IOSEA) Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding(MoU), saying Vietnam has engaged in the IOSEA Marine Turtle MoU in 2001, theMoU on ASEAN Sea Turtle Conservation and Protection in 2012, and the Conventionon International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in 1994.

Sea turtles have roamed the oceans for millions of years. Scientists recogniseseven living species of sea turtles, namely green turtle (Chelonia mydas),hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea),loggerhead (Caretta caretta), kem’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), flatback(Natator depressa), and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea). They are now on theverge of extinction.

There are five marine turtle species in Vietnam: green sea turtle, hawksbill,olive ridley, loggerhead and leatherback. These species have been put in theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of ThreatenedSpecies, and the Vietnam Red Data Book.

At the event, Vietnam recommended Con Dao National Park as a member of theIOSEA Marine Turtle Site Network. This is a vivid illustration for the VietnameseGovernment’s commitment to preserving the rare animal, and preventing poachingtowards sustainable and responsible seafood exploitation.

At the five-day meeting held in Da Nang city, experts from 33 member states ofthe IOSEA Marine Turtle MoU, and representatives from 50 domestic and foreignnon-governmental organisations are discussing challenges and future trends insea turtle preservation work, guiding signatories and competent parties tocarry out management and preservation plan during 2020-2024, and focusing onplastic waste, climate change and sea turtle varieties./. VNA

Programme to promote conservation of endangered sea turtles

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved a programme for conserving endangered sea turtle species of Vietnam until 2025, with a vision to 2030.

Endangered baby turtles released to the sea

Baby turtles (Cheloniidae) hatched from eggs that had been moved to a beach in the Cham Islands' Marine Protected Area (MPA) were released into the ocean last weekend by the MPA's management board.