Conclusion of the Turtle Monitoring & Protection Training and Launch of the Field Monitoring Program at Al-Azizi Island

The Ruaa Centre for Strategic Studies, Consultation, and Training concluded the training course on mechanisms for monitoring and protecting marine turtles during the nesting season along the Gulf of Aden coast, with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Small Grants Programme (SGP), and in coordination with the General Authority for Environmental Protection. The training was implemented as part of the project “Save the Marine Turtles in the Gulf of Aden.”

The conclusion of the course marked the transition to the practical phase, with a field deployment to Al-Azizi Coast, where camps were set up to officially launch the field monitoring and direct observation phase of marine turtles during the nesting season. This phase aims to apply the knowledge and skills acquired by participants throughout the training.

Participants received hands-on training conducted by Dr. Salem Basis and Dr. Abdullah Al-Hindi, covering methods for weighing marine turtles, tagging them, and handling them in a scientific and safe manner, ensuring their protection during monitoring activities in accordance with approved environmental standards.

During the field deployment, two awareness signboards were installed at the site to raise community awareness about the importance of protecting marine turtles, preserving their nesting sites, and highlighting the threats facing this endangered species.

The launch of the monitoring activities comes within ongoing efforts to protect nesting sites, track marine turtle movements, and reduce risks threatening them, contributing to the preservation of marine biodiversity along the Gulf of Aden coast and strengthening field-based environmental action in partnership with relevant authorities.

Colonel Jamal Mohsen, Commander of Salah Al-Din Police, confirmed that during the four-month nesting season, tourism activities on the island will be suspended due to their direct harm to turtle nests. He also emphasized the ban on catching marine turtles and the use of Israeli fishing nets, which pose a serious threat to them.

At the conclusion of the course, Dr. Jaklin Mansour Al-Battani, Head of the Ruaa Centre, expressed her gratitude to all supporting entities, partners, trainers, and participants for their efforts and cooperation in ensuring the success of the training and the launch of the field monitoring phase. She reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to continuing programs and initiatives aimed at protecting the marine environment and promoting environmental sustainability along the Gulf of Aden coast.

Field monitoring activities are scheduled to continue for four months, during which nesting sites will be documented, turtle movements monitored, and related environmental data recorded, strengthening protection efforts and conserving this important marine species.