During an awareness lecture organized by Ruaa Centre, community leaders in Al-Buraiqah affirm their support for sea turtle conservation efforts

Centre’s Media

Ruaa Centre for Strategic Studies, Consultancy, and Training organized an awareness lecture on Monday, in cooperation with the local authority of Al-Buraiqah District, as part of the “Save the Sea Turtles in the Gulf of Aden” project, supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Small Grants Programme (SGP).

The event brought together leaders of community committees, civil society organizations, activists, and fishermen to raise awareness about the importance of protecting sea turtles and preserving the marine environment of the Gulf of Aden. Participants also discussed the key challenges faced by coastal communities in this regard.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Jaklin Mansour Al-Batani, Director of Ruaa Centre, welcomed the participants and emphasized that the project represents a significant step toward safeguarding endangered marine species. She highlighted the Centre’s commitment to working collaboratively with local stakeholders to promote a culture of environmental protection.

Al-Batani expressed her appreciation for the strong community engagement in the project’s initiatives, underscoring that effective protection of sea turtles requires broad cooperation among fishermen, local communities, and authorities to achieve sustainable results.

Eng. Ahmed Rajeh, Secretary to the Director General of the District, delivered a speech welcoming Ruaa Centre and its awareness efforts. He emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships between local authorities and civil society organizations to protect the marine environment and preserve nesting sites.

Colonel Saeed Saleh Alawi, Commander of the Fourth Security Zone, reaffirmed the security forces’ commitment to supporting efforts aimed at protecting the coastline. He stressed the need to combat harmful practices affecting the marine environment and highlighted the security agencies’ responsibility to enforce the law and enhance monitoring of violators.

Dr. Jamal Bawazir, Head of the Environmental Protection Unit at Ruaa Centre, presented an overview of the Centre’s activities in marine life conservation, including field campaigns focused on protecting sea turtles and promoting environmental awareness within coastal communities.

Following that, Dr. Abdullah Al-Hindi delivered a scientific lecture in which he discussed the biological behavior of sea turtles, key nesting locations in the Gulf of Aden, and the major threats they face. He also presented practical measures to mitigate these threats by encouraging environmentally friendly practices among coastal populations.

The lecture concluded with active participation from attendees, who raised questions and shared insights on the challenges facing local fishermen and the need for stronger regulatory oversight. Participants emphasized the importance of enhancing security measures and enforcing environmental regulations to protect the coastline and vital nesting sites.