Ruaa Centre Organizes Awareness Lecture on the Protection of Marine Turtles in Faqm

Al-Burayqah / Center Media

Ruaa Centre for Strategic Studies, Consultancy, and Training organized on Thursday an awareness lecture in Faqm area titled “Protecting Sea Turtles in the Gulf of Aden from Extinction Is Everyone’s Responsibility.”
The event was held with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Small Grants Programme (SGP), and in cooperation with the local authority in Al-Burayqah District.

The lecture, conducted as part of the “Save the Marine Turtles in the Gulf of Aden” project, brought together a number of local fishermen with the aim of raising community awareness about their vital role in conserving marine turtles and reducing the risks threatening their survival.

At the opening of the event, Dr. Jaklin Mansour Al-Battani, head of the Centre, delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of promoting a culture of marine environmental conservation. She noted that ensuring the survival of turtles requires cooperation from all segments of society, especially coastal communities and fishermen.

Dr. Al-Battani added that coastal communities—particularly fishermen—serve as the first line of defense in protecting marine turtles from the threats they face, including unsafe fishing practices, marine pollution, and the disturbance of nesting sites.

For his part, marine biology researcher Rashidi Mahmoud stressed the severity of the threats facing turtles in the Gulf of Aden, calling for the adoption of safe and environmentally friendly fishing methods to help protect this endangered species.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Hindi delivered a scientific lecture in which he reviewed the biological behavior of marine turtles, their species, key nesting sites, and the measures that can be taken to reduce the risks they encounter.

The lecture also featured contributions from participants, who raised questions and offered suggestions reflecting the local community’s keen interest in actively contributing to marine conservation.
They also highlighted numerous issues faced by fishermen and coastal communities as well as harmful environmental practices, requesting the Centre's team to convey their concerns to relevant governmental and specialized authorities. They presented practical recommendations that would support the project’s success and reinforce its sustainable environmental goals.