Turtle Day seeks protection of endangered marine species

“The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) has marked World Turtle Day, observed annually on May 23, by reaffirming Qatar’s commitment to protecting sea turtles and preserving their natural habitats as part of the country’s broader environmental conservation strategy. The ministry further stressed the ecological importance of marine turtles, particularly endangered species, as key indicators of healthy marine ecosystems and balanced coastal environments. The ministry noted that safeguarding sea turtles remains an integral part of Qatar’s national efforts to conserve biodiversity and protect marine wildlife. Field teams from the Wildlife Development Department, working in coordination with the Marine Protection and Nature Reserves departments, continue to monitor the 2026 nesting season of the hawksbill turtles, which began in late March across several key coastal sites. These include Fuwairit beach, Al Ghariyah beach, Al Maroona beach, and Ras Rakan Island. Wildlife Development Department assistant director Dr Dhafi Heedan pointed out that the current nesting season has so far recorded more than 150 nesting cases, underscoring the significance of Qatar’s coastal habitats and the suitability of the country’s environmental conditions for sustaining the lifecycle of hawksbill turtles. He noted that monitoring teams observed repeated returns of female turtles to the same nesting locations, a scientifically recognised behaviour known as “site fidelity.” Some females were documented returning multiple times during the season, laying as much as 85 eggs on each visit. This behaviour highlights the critical importance of these nesting grounds and the need for their continued protection. In the meantime, Dr Haidan identified abandoned fishing cages and damaged fishing nets left in the marine environment as among the most serious direct threats to sea turtles. He called on fishermen and sea-goers to cooperate by adopting responsible practices and avoiding the disposal or abandonment of fishing gear that could harm marine life. Accordingly, the ministry reported the recent discovery of three dead green turtles near the Al Safliya Island area. Necessary samples were collected to scientifically document the cases and determine the causes of death, supporting ongoing monitoring and conservation efforts aimed at reducing risks to marine turtles in their natural habitat. In addition, specialised teams responded to several reports involving injured and exhausted green and hawksbill turtles, providing the animals with the required veterinary care. Further, the Wildlife Development Department recently organised a specialised training workshop for staff from the Nature Reserves Department. The workshop focused on scientific methods for taking accurate measurements of sea turtles during nesting seasons, as well as the use of an approved digital monitoring and documentation system to record, isolate, and number nesting sites in the field. The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to continuing the protection of sea turtles and their natural habitats, while calling on government entities, civil society organisations, and members of the public to support national conservation efforts and help preserve Qatar’s valuable marine environmental heritage.

Summary generated from the RSS feed of Gulf Times Education. All article rights belong to the original publisher. Click through to read the full piece on www.gulf-times.com/community/education.