Lamu Marine Conservation Project
Background
Of the seven species of Turtle in the world, five feed in Kenyan waters, Green, Hawksbill, Olive Ridley, Loggerhead and Leatherback. The first three nest on Kenyan beaches. Human activities including the deliberate or incidental catching in trawler nets/hand lines, egg collection and the destruction of nesting and foraging habitats are recognised as being the main threat to the turtles. The turtle plays a large part in the cultural beliefs of the Bajuni people where the meat and eggs are used as food, the shell is sold for export and the oil is used for medicinal remedies.
Lamu Marine Conservation Trust
Headed by Atwaa Salim and with the backing of Carol and Lars Korschen of Peponi Hotel in Lamu, the LMCT was established in 1992 to
- reduce the illegal trade of sea turtle product on the black market
- increase the survival chance of the hatchlings and enhance beach security in Lamu from the regular patrolling
- treat sick turtles with barnacles, tumours and other complications
- spread awareness of the sea turtles as an essential part of the ecosystem and biodiversity
- promote eco-tourism through the trips to see the hatchlings
- spread awareness amongst the local community through talks in schools and video presentations about the importance of turtle conservation
Practical work on the ground includes the monitoring of nest sites, hatching of turtles and tagging of turtles caught in by-catch. Patrollers, all ex-poachers, now patrol the two main nesting beaches using camels sponsored by Tusk. The patrollers work on an incentive scheme receiving bonus payments for every successful egg that hatches and nest that is protected. Ten years ago only 20 nests hatched successfully, this rose to 70 nests last year, which gives an indication of the success of the project.
Local fishermen that catch turtles by mistake now bring the animal to the Trust headquarters where they are they are measured, treated if ill, tagged and released back into the ocean. Each fisherman is put on a register and paid an incentive according to the size of the turtle (correlating with how much could be gained from the black market).
As with many other Tusk projects the success of the project lies in the commitment from the local community. In this case they have taken the plight of the turtle on board and changed their fishing and cultural practices. In addition to the direct work with turtles the Trust works with the Primary Schools on Lamu establishing tree nurseries and running an environmental after school club; the Trust has also set up a bee keeping project as an alternative form of income and has established a mobile education film library that features Tusk’s PACE project.
Tusk Trust support
Tusk has been the project’s primary donor covering its annual running costs since 2000. In addition Tusk has purchased a boat, camels and radio equipment for the beach patrollers. The project itself is able, through donations made by visitors to the project and the sale of merchandise to cover the cost of capital items each year.
Comments from the field
“We are able to be a positive ambassador for the local fisherman in the area, e.g recently we have had a lot of Pembe (Tanzanian) fishermen, fishing in the area, we were able to get a meeting together with the officals and local fishermen. We are also giving the local community opportunities to earn an extra income by providing them with the means. E.g bee hives, camels, turtle trips using local boats.”
Atwaa Salim, Project Manager
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