MARINE TURTLE RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION, MASIRAH ISLAND, OMAN, WITH A FOCUS ON THE DECLINING LOGGERHEAD POPULATION

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION EFFORTS FOR THE OMAN LOGGERHEAD NESTING POPULATION THROUGH SURVEYS TO MONITOR LOGGERHEAD NESTING POPULATION TRENDS AND ADDRESS NESTING BEACH THREATS SUCH AS BEACH DRIVING, LIGHT POLLUTION AND NESTING BEACH TRASH AND ABANDONED FISHING NETS.

ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: (1) IMPLEMENTING STANDARDIZED NESTING BEACH SURVEYS ALONG THE ENTIRE 65 KM OF NESTING BEACH (2) CONDUCTING ONE COMMUNITY MUNICIPAL BEACH CLEANUP AND TWO FISHING NET CLEANUPS EACH YEAR AND (3) CONDUCTING OUTREACH AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS WITH THE MASIRAH ISLAND COMMUNITY AND GENERAL PUBLIC AND (4) WORKING WITH THE MASIRAH COMMUNITY AND OTHER LOCAL ENTITIES TO ADDRESS THE LIGHT POLLUTION, BEACH DRIVING AND POACHING ISSUES THAT THREATEN NESTS AND NESTING TURTLES.