The Mamanuca Sea Turtle Conservation Project is funded by the United Nations Development Programme – Global Environment Facility, Small Grants Programme (UNDP – GEF Small Grant Programme. The focus of the project is to help implement the Best Practice Guideline and Policy document and the Mamanuca Sea Turtle Community Based Management Plan and to meet the requirement of the National Turtle Recovery Plan in the protection of the critically endangered sea turtles.
The team continues to strengthen advocacy in awareness by conducting Talanoa Sessions with resort members that spearhead Best Practices Guidelines for sea turtles. The programme highlights on the following areas:

  • Mamanuca Sea Turtle Conservation Project Activities and Outcomes
  • Biology of Sea Turtles
  • Mana Rehabilitation Project
  • Laws & Regulations that protects sea turtle population
  • Turtle Tagging & Releasing Guidelines
  • Best Practices & Guidelines during turtle nesting and hatching season
  • Boating issues for migratory turtles
  • Strengthening on communication strategies

A total of 148 staff from Likuliku, Malolo, Mana, Tokoriki, Navini, Namotu, SSI and Tavarua attended the evening awareness programme at their respective resorts. The programme was designed to promote interactive group discussions amongst staff from various departments and assessing their understanding on the key areas by providing a post test questions and evaluation forms. Each resort also designed a contact tree for any incidence of turtle sightings or reported cases of turtle nesting, injury or suspected nests on the beach. The MES team hopes to continue visiting the remaining resorts in the coming months.