Continued Hunting Threatens Yemen’s Sea Turtles

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Aden – Mohammed Al-Hasani Five species of sea turtles inhabit the Yemeni marine environment: the green turtle, the hawksbill turtle, the loggerhead turtle, the olive ridley turtle, and the leatherback turtle

All of these species are classified as “endangered species” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), according to the General Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in Aden

EPA says that all of these species are classified as endangered by the IUCN due to the sharp decline in their numbers worldwide

In Yemen, poaching and unlicensed hunting of turtles increase the risk of extinction of these marine creatures, whose disappearance threatens to disrupt the ecological balance of the Yemeni marine environment

Salem Khamisan, a resident of Socotra Island who has been fishing for 12 years, said that he and a large group of fishermen in the governorate have targeted and hunted sea turtles, driven by the soaring demand and scarcity of sea turtle meat

“Here, many fishermen hit the jackpot when they catch a sea turtle,” he noted, explaining that the turtles are consumed directly and believed by some to enhance sexual potency, fueling even greater demand

More than 143 cases of hunting of sea turtles, some of which are rare, have been monitored, and the report has monitored the uses of turtles after they have been hunted, which varied between use for food and use for medical purposes related to the belief in their ability to increase sexual potency

 Based on rough estimates, Salem alone captured over twenty sea turtles in 2023, a feat mirrored by several others in the same endeavor

 The report monitored cases of poaching in six governorates (Shabwah, Socotra, Aden, Hodeida, Hadramaout, and Al-Mahrah) during the period (May – December) of last year

 Over 143 cases of sea turtle hunting were monitored, including some involving rare species

The report documented the diverse uses of turtles post-capture, ranging from consumption for sustenance to purported medicinal applications believed to enhance sexual potency

Additionally, turtles were utilized in the production of various materials, for trade, decoration, and by collectors of rare fauna

Furthermore, the report highlighted that many fishermen actively target turtle nests to acquire and trade their eggs

 Aden Governorate represented the largest share in the number of cases of unlicensed hunting of sea turtles with 72 cases out of a total of 143 cases, followed by Socotra Governorate with 31 cases, and the others were monitored in the other governorates, which included Shabwah, Hadramaout, and Al-Mahrah

 The cases were monitored through the report’s communication with fishermen and turtle enthusiasts in the monitored areas, in addition to data from the Ultra Consulting Company and EPA

  The Ultra’s report said that “the Yemeni shores on the Gulf of Aden are one of the most important global areas for nesting sea turtles, and they are now in dire need of protection, whether at sea or in nesting sites

 Article (52) paragraph (c) of Law No

(2) of 2006 on the regulation, exploitation, and protection of marine creatures “Prohibits any natural or legal person from hunting whales, marine mammals, and endangered turtles or using their eggs except for scientific research with a license from the Ministry

” This comes in addition to the cases of death that were monitored and amounted to dozens in Shabwah and Aden governorates, and the deaths of sea turtles are linked to environmental and oil pollution and fishing waste

Unlicensed hunting is the primary threat to sea turtles in Yemen

Marine pollution is another factor contributing to the deaths of sea turtles and the deterioration of their surrounding environment, due to the leakage of oil, chemicals, solid and liquid waste into the sea from industrial facilities and ships, according to a report by Dr

Abdulmenam Bin Habtoor, head of General Authority for Geological Survey and Mineral Resources – Shabwah Branch

 The prolonged conflict in Yemen, spanning nine years, coupled with inadequate law enforcement, has exacerbated environmental vulnerability, leading to multiple disasters

Sea turtles, integral to the ecosystem, have fallen victim to poaching and mortality due to various factors associated with environmental pollution

According to the report, a large number of sea turtles have been monitored dying on the governorate’s beaches

Bin Habtoor attributes the cause to the presence of oil and gas export facilities in ports near sea turtle habitats and nesting areas

  This comes in addition to oil spill incidents in the coasts of Shabwah and Aden governorates

 Climate change has further exacerbated the challenges faced by sea turtles

Rising water, air, and sand temperatures, fluctuating sea levels, and intensified rainfall and storms have all disrupted the nesting, feeding, and migration habitats critical for sea turtle survival

 The temperature plays a crucial role in determining the sex of sea turtle eggs, with cooler temperatures yielding males and warmer temperatures yielding females

Local studies conducted in certain coastal regions have indicated that climate and temperature shifts have led to a significant imbalance, with the proportion of female hatchlings surpassing 90%

This imbalance poses a severe threat to the future survival of sea turtles, potentially pushing them toward extinction in the years to come

 The potential extinction of sea turtles could have dire consequences for the marine and surrounding ecosystems

Sea turtles play a crucial role in ecosystem conservation by preserving seagrass, purifying water, stabilizing sand, storing carbon and oxygen, and contributing to the trimming of seagrass and removal of old and diseased parts

Additionally, they help maintain the ecological balance within the marine food web

In a report released by Ultra Yemen Consulting Company in May 2022, Yemeni beaches emerged as among the world’s crucial nesting grounds for sea turtles

Yemen boasts an extensive array of nesting sites along its southern and eastern coastlines, encompassing reserves such as “Sharmah and Jathmun, Meyoun Island, Khor Aden, Ras Imran, Arqah, Al Nashemah, Bir Ali, Sayhout, Khalfout, and the islands within the Socotra Archipelago

”Amidst the ongoing war and political discord, law enforcement has been neglected, leading to a lack of action by concerned authorities to safeguard the environment and protect sea turtles

  Despite dispatches from local administrations in Hodeida and Aden Governorates urging the prevention of poaching and the preservation of sea turtles, there has been no tangible implementation of these directives on the ground

The Aden Prosecutor General’s Office said in a periodic report published on its website in 2021 that the Prosecutor General directed all members of the prosecution to investigate and dispose of all cases related to environmental crimes in accordance with the provisions of environmental protection laws, including wildlife trafficking crimes, each according to the spatial jurisdiction

Dr

Abdulghani Jaghman, a natural resources development consultant for Ultra Yemen Consulting Company, said that the prolonged conflict in Yemen, spanning nine years, coupled with inadequate law enforcement, has exacerbated environmental vulnerability, leading to multiple disasters

He emphasized that sea turtles, integral to the ecosystem, have fallen victim to poaching and mortality due to various factors associated with environmental pollution and oil contamination that some Yemeni ports have witnessed

Jaghman mentioned the importance of preserving sea turtles because they reduce the proliferation of jellyfish, maintain the health of coral reefs, and food strains in the sea

 Jaghman emphasized the significant contributions of sea turtles to bolstering and invigorating tourism, improving the quality of beach ecosystems, and safeguarding the marine environment

He underscored that a world devoid of sea turtles poses a threat to human existence, perpetuating a cycle of conflict

Jaghman urged a shift in behavior, stressing that there is still an opportunity to prevent the extinction of sea turtles

Protecting these enigmatic and ancient creatures could serve as a sanctuary for preserving human life

 This story was first published in Arabic on 10 February 2024ليصلك كل جديدالإعلاميون في خطرمشاورات السلام كشف التضليل التحقيقات التقارير