Production of education/sensitization materials including calendars, brochures and the reproduction of documents that protect marine turtles in Sierra Leone. Coastal community education/sensitization campaign about the conservation of marine turtles. Training workshops for new turtle task force members on marine turtle species identification, tagging and data collection, as well as for law enforcement personnel. Evaluation of the nesting status and hatching success of the five species of marine turtles on Sherbro and Turtle Islands, Turners Peninsula and the mainland beaches surveyed by the project. Evaluation of the by-catch status of the five species of marine turtles on Sherbro and turtle Islands, Turners Peninsula and the mainland communities surveyed by the project. Community development programs within selected fishing communities including the Turtle and Sherbro islands, Turners Peninsula and the mainland coastal communities. Incorporating university students/interns into project activities in order to strengthen the building of a stable future for the project. (2021-2022)
Former Project Titles:
- Continued Development of a Community-Based Marine Turtle Conservation Program for Sierra Leone and Leatherback Conservation Initiative at Turtle, Bonthe/Sherbro Islands and the Southern Shoreline (2018-2021)
- The purpose of this project is to develop a marine turtle conservation program within Sierra Leon that will develop on the ground conservation projects and will raise awareness about the threats from poaching and accidental bycatch in fisheries to the depleted sea turtle populations. It is the intent that this project will provide leadership in organizing and implementing sea turtle conservation programs with the national government and local communities to protect and recovery sea turtle nesting populations within Sierra Leone. Activities include: 1) community based nesting beach patrols in the Turtle Islands, Sherbro Island and Turner’s Peninsula to patrol nesting beaches during November April to protect nests and nesting females from poaching, 2) collaboration with artisanal fisherman to monitor bycatch and provide training for safe release of captured turtles, and 3) conduct community outreach and education programs in coastal communities and national awareness campaigns about the protected status of sea turtles and their conservation needs.
- Continued Development of a Community-Based Marine Turtle Conservation Program for Sierra Leone and Leatherback Conservation Initiative at Turtle, Bonthe/Sherbro Islands and the Southern Shoreline (2014-2018)
- The recipient will conduct community based nesting beach conservation programs in the Turtle Islands, Sherbro Island and Turner’s Peninsula during November -April, work with artisinal fisherman to monitor bycatch and provide training for safe release of comatose turtles, and conduct community outreach and education programs in coastal communities.
- Continued Development of a Marine Turtle Conservation Program for Sierra Leone, and Leatherback Conservation Initiative at the Turtle and Bonthe/Sherbro Islands and the Southern Shoreline (2009-2014)
- This project will support community based marine turtle conservation programs for key leatherback nesting beaches in Sierra Leone. This project will have a special emphasis on community involvement, capacity building, and environmental education and outreach and local communities.
- Continued Development of a Marine Conservation Program for Sierra Leone and a New Leatherback Conservation Initiative at Turtle Islands (2008-2009)