PART III: ACHIEVEMENT OF 2014 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION 5. Achievements of the Project Implementation for the Year 2014
SEAFDEC 2 Approximately 30
6. Project Evaluation
A number of technical documents are developed in collaboration and cooperation with the participating countries, namely Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia, and used for the tuna resources survey in Sulu and Sulawesi seas. Similar sub-regional initiatives could be further developed based on experiences and lessons learned from this project. Resource persons from the member countries are fully utilized.
Table 8 Project Evaluation (for annual, mid-term, and end of project)
Evaluation Criteria From Project Leader
Views %
How were inputs and activities converted to results?
Stock status of tuna resources in Sulu and Sulawesi seas can be reported for further development of appropriate fishery policy to sustain the tuna resources in that sub-regional waters. It can be considered that the project could successfully facilitate the development of scientific evidence to support management of fisheries in the project participating countries.
100
How well did the Results contribute to the Achievement of the project purpose/
objectives?
Project provided a fora where participating countries can discuss and agree on work plan, data recording-input-analysis-reporting.
100
Which has benefited on society and sector?
Very much benefit to the participating countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines. In addition, other sub- regional countries can also use this as the format for develop their own similar initiatives.
100
Have products and benefits been maintained?
After completion of the project activities, it is envisaged that the participating countries will use the existing mechanism developed by the project for their future work on the assessment of tuna resources in Sulu and Sulawesi Seas.
100
134
Appendix 15 of Annex 4 PROJECT DOCUMENT
Project id: 04201002 Program Categories: Programs under the ASEAN-SEAFDEC FCG/ASSP Mechanism
Project Title: Research and Management of Sea Turtles in Foraging Habitats in the Southeast Asian Waters
Program Thrust: IV Total Duration: 5 years (2010-2014)
Lead Department: MFRDMD Lead Country: Malaysia
Project Sponsor: JTF Project Partner: TD & TUMEC, DoF Malaysia Proposed Budget: 222,566 USD This year budget: [2014] USD 11,500
Prepared by Masaya Katoh & Syed Abdullah
Project Leader Mr. Syed Abdullah & Ms.
Wahidah 1. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND
Southeast Asian countries have been recognized as one of major nesting sites for sea turtles in the world.
These reptiles are highly migratory and share several certain foraging habitats in the Southeast Asian region. Thus, regional cooperation among member countries in conserving sea turtles is vital to ensure their survival. In addition, regional effort should be undertaken to reduce the mortality especially due to accidental catch by fishing gears. This project is aimed to conduct several research activities to collect information about sea turtles in the foraging habitats, to reduce sea turtle mortality by fisheries, and to formulate the management plans of fisheries to protect sea turtles in this region.
Sea turtle activities correspond to #5 of Resolution at the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Conference in 2011 (Further develop regional initiatives to promote a responsible fisheries management mechanism, taking into account the specific social, economic, cultural, ecological and institutional contexts and diversity of ASEAN and ASEAN fisheries in the spirit of the development of the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community) and #29 of Plan of Action (Recognizing the different management approaches that are required, sustainably manage major critical coastal habitats, such as mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass; and develop and disseminate information and guidance on appropriate tools and interventions).
The performance indicators will be numbers of tagged sea turtles and studied individuals for DNA analysis in the research activities and publication of the plan of action for managing foraging habitats of sea turtles in the region.
2. PROJECT
2.1 Goal/Overall Objectives and Performance Indicators The objectives of this project are:
1) To collect ecological parameters of several pilot foraging habitats of sea turtles to study the key factors to manage these areas for sea turtle conservation;
2) To collect, compile, and review information of sea turtles migration corridors, nesting/foraging habitats, and their population structures in the region by genetic, satellite tracking, and conventional tagging studies for conservation and enhancement of the sea turtle populations in the ASEAN region;
3) To review fishing activities in the region which are possibly interacting with sea turtle populations in their foraging/nesting habitats and migration routes in space and time;
4) To promote responsible fishing gears and practices by conducting commercial demonstrations and experimental trials of modified specific fishing gears to protect sea turtle populations in the region;
and
5) To formulate and propose management plans on fishing activities and other activities to conserve and enhance sea turtle populations in the region based on the scientific information.
135 2.2 Expected Outcomes and Outputs
The expected outputs of the project include the biological and ecological information of sea turtles and their foraging habitats, which can be used for development of the management and conservation plans of sea turtles, and promotion of mitigation measures for fisheries suitable for the ASEAN region to reduce the incidental capture of sea turtles.
The regional plan of action on sea turtle foraging habitats will be formulated by the end of the project.
Through implementation of the plan of action, incentives for conservation among fishers and ordinary people will be established in the future. The incentives for conservation will be expected outcomes.
2.3 Project Description/Framework Activity 1: Meeting/Workshop
SEAFDEC/MFRDMD organized two workshops and one regional meeting and three preparatory meetings to implement the project. The meeting participants discussed an action plan for managing foraging habitats of sea turtles in the region.
Activity 2: Research on Sea Turtle Foraging Populations
SEAFDEC/MFRDMD and other partner organizations with participants from selected member countries conducted two scientific surveys for ecological parameters in pilot foraging habitats (Lawas and Mabul and Sipadan islands). During the surveys, tissue samples of sea turtles (most of them were green turtles, Chelonia mydas) were obtained for genetic study. Probable natal origins were defined through Mixed Stock Analysis (MSA) of mtDNA sequencing data employing Bayes software. Inconel tagging activities were continued in member countries. MFRDMD conducted the satellite telemetry study. Information about sea turtle poaching will be discussed at the regional meeting. All available scientific data have been used to prepare an action plan for managing foraging habitats of sea turtles in the region.
Activity 3: Interaction between Sea Turtles and Fishing (TD)
TD conducted the study for modification of responsible fishing gears and their practices to reduce the sea turtles by-catch. The use of c-hook in hook-and-line fishing was promoted in SEAFDEC Member Countries.
Activity 4: Action Plan for Managing Foraging Habitats of Sea Turtles
An action plan for managing foraging habitats of sea turtles in the region has been formulated based on the scientific information. The action plan includes management on fishing activities that threaten adult sea turtles and abatement of egg poaching. The purpose of the action plan is to conserve and enhance sea turtle populations in the region.
Activity 5: Publication
Two reports (i) Regional Plan of Action and (ii) Information on Sea Turtle Populations and Migration of Sea Turtles will be published. The report (ii) intends to summarize sea turtle activities conducted by SEAFDEC/MFRDMD since the first workshop on marine turtle research and conservation in 1996.
3. PROGRESS/ACHIEVEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES IN THE YEAR 2014 3.1 Activities Achievements in the Year 2014
Achievements based on Activities Duration Remarks Activity 6: Publication
Sub-Activity 6.1:
Two reports will be published:
i. Regional Plan of Action on Sea Turtle Foraging Habitats in Southeast
Jan. -Dec. Report No. (i) will be published by end of October 2014 and
136 Asian Waters; and
ii. Information on Populations and Migration on Sea Turtles in Southeast Asian Region.
The report (ii) intends to summarize sea turtle activities conducted by SEAFDEC/MFRDMD since the first workshop on marine turtle research and conservation in 1996.
the report No. (ii) will be published by December 2014
3.2 Evaluation of the Project Outcomes Till the Year 2014 3.2.1 Theme/Program Thrust and Issues:
(1) Theme/Program Thrust:
Research and management of sea turtles in foraging habitats in the Southeast Asian waters/
Thrust IV: Providing Policy & Advisory Services for Planning & Executing Management of Fisheries (2) Issues in the region at the beginning of the study:
Conservation of endangered marine animals in relation to fisheries is now matters of global concern. In the Southeast Asian region, six of the seven species of sea turtles in the world are distributed. They are highly migratory and recognized as the endangered species. Successful conservation and enhancement of sea turtle resources requires the scientific evidences on their ecological aspects such as migratory routes, reproductive and feeding behaviors and genetic structure, and on the status of incidental catch and habitat reduction related to their mortality.
3.2.2 Expected Final Goal of the Project:
To contribute to the formulation of a management/action plan of sea turtles inhabited in the ASEAN region with reference to the biological and ecological information;
To contribute to the formulation of management plans of fisheries that are suspected to have relationship with sea turtle habitats in space and time;
To develop and distribute mitigation measures for fisheries suitable for the ASEAN region to reduce the incidental capture of sea turtles.
3.2.3 “Steps” Toward Achieving Final Goal:
Step 1: Conservation and management of sea turtles