Protecting Marine Life: Ruaa Centre’s Awareness Campaign Reaches Seera Fish Market

Aden – Centre Media

Ruaa Centre for Strategic Studies, Consultancy, and Training carried out a field awareness campaign on Thursday morning in the Seera Fish Market in Aden Governorate, as part of the activities of the “Save the Sea Turtles in the Gulf of Aden” project. The campaign aims to raise awareness among fishermen, vendors, and market visitors about the importance of protecting sea turtles and preventing their capture or trade.

During the campaign, the centre’s team educated fishermen on the threats faced by sea turtles during nesting seasons and explained how harmful practices contribute to the decline of their populations. The team emphasized that protecting this vital species helps preserve the ecological balance of coastal environments.

Informational posters were also displayed in various locations throughout the market, featuring messages warning against hunting, selling, or disturbing turtles and their eggs, along with guidance on how to properly handle turtles spotted near the coast.

Dr. Jaklin Mansour Al-Battani, Head of Ruaa Centre, affirmed that the campaign comes within the centre’s commitment to promoting environmental awareness in coastal communities. She noted that protecting sea turtles is a shared responsibility that requires effective cooperation between fishermen, official authorities, and civil society.

Al-Battani added that through the “Save the Sea Turtles in the Gulf of Aden” project, Ruaa Centre focuses on delivering environmental knowledge in simple and direct ways, especially in areas with high maritime activity such as the Seera Fish Market. She stressed that continuing such campaigns helps reduce harmful practices that threaten the survival of endangered turtle species.

Engineer Niazi Mustafa, Director of the Environmental Protection Office in Aden, who participated in the campaign, emphasized that these activities represent an important step in enhancing environmental awareness among fishermen. He underscored the need to comply with laws prohibiting the capture of endangered marine species, particularly sea turtles.

The campaign received positive feedback from fishermen and market visitors, who expressed their willingness to cooperate in protecting the coastline and preventing any actions that may harm sea turtles, in support of the environmental efforts undertaken through the project.