Head of Ruaa Centre Meets with Amran Community to Advance “Save the Sea Turtles in the Gulf of Aden” project

Aden – Ruaa Centre Media

Dr. Jacqueline Mansour Al-Battani, Head of the Ruaa Centre for Strategic Studies, Consulting, and Training, held an extensive meeting on Thursday in Amran with the Sea Turtle Protection Association, local fishermen, and community activists. The meeting was part of the “Save the Sea Turtles in the Gulf of Aden” project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the Small Grants Programme (SGP).

In her opening remarks, Dr. Al-Battani praised the association’s outstanding role in promoting environmental awareness and protecting marine biodiversity. She reaffirmed Ruaa Centre’s commitment to supporting community-based initiatives that safeguard marine species from both natural and human-induced threats.

Dr. Al-Battani underscored the importance of local participation in the project’s implementation, noting that its success depends heavily on community engagement and collective volunteer efforts.

During the discussions, participants outlined several key challenges facing the association and local fishermen, including limited financial and logistical resources, as well as the effects of rising sea levels, which have destroyed more than 26 turtle nests, according to Mohammed Al-Suwaid, Chairman of the Sea Turtle Protection Association.

The Ruaa Centre team presented an overview of the project’s goals, scope, timeline, and target sites. They also emphasised the project’s focus on empowering local communities through training and involvement in field monitoring, documentation, and conservation activities during the nesting season.

Attendees noted a decline in violations against turtles on Al-Azizi Island thanks to awareness campaigns, while similar violations have increased along the Faqm coast, highlighting the urgent need for stronger monitoring and community enforcement across coastal areas.

At the close of the meeting, participants expressed their appreciation to the Ruaa Centre for its continued efforts since 2021 in supporting turtle conservation and promoting environmental awareness. They commended the Centre’s role in fostering collaboration with the Amran Sea Turtle Protection Association, which has helped strengthen local capacity to protect marine life in the Gulf of Aden.